LP 6: Living things- Animals

Learn animals can be vertebrate or invertebrate.  

Classify animals with backbones or no backbones. 

Create a graphic organizer that demonstrates an understanding of living things, plants, animals, vertebrates, invertebrates, and 5 vertebrate kingdoms.

Create a book that shows the 5 kingdoms; mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and fish.

Be able to describe the characteristics of the 5 kingdoms.

LP 5: December 30-January 24

We began learning about LIVING THINGS.

We sorted pictures of living vs.  non-living things.

We played a game with living and non-living things.

We sang a song about living things.

We watched a short video about living things.

We learned that living things, BREATH, GROW and REPRODUCE.

We drew a picture of a living thing.

We wrote a sentence about our picture and what makes it “living”

We cut pictures out of a magazine to show 3 living things and 3 non-living things.

We also learned that living things have needs.

We read:

  Spot the Difference- Seeds

    Spot the Difference- Flowers

    Spot the Difference- Roots

     Spot the Difference- Stem

    Spot the Difference- Leaves

    Spot the Difference- Fruit

We created a poster (1-3grade) or labeled a flower (kinder) showing the parts of a plant and it’s needs.

December classes

In December we have explored the HUMAN BODY.  We learned about 4 major organs: BRAIN, HEART, LUNGS, STOMACH.  We read books, researched information, and watched a few short videos. We also learned about BONES and MUSCLES.  We had some interesting, student led discussions about health and the implications of choices we make.

Kinders created a life size poster of themselves and attempted to label internal and external parts.

First-third grades drew and labeled a cross section of skin, our largest organ.

The second/third grade class explored the anatomy of the heart and the circulatory system.

Thursday, November 14-21, 2013

We started a new and exciting unit on the human body.  The all three classes are participating in this unit but is is scaled appropriately- kinders are not asked to do what 3rd graders are.

We started the unit by discussing INTERNAL and EXTERNAL.  We explored books about the human body and will continue to do so each time we meet to connect literacy with science.  We created a portfolio that they will place all of their activities and handouts in. 1st - 3rd grade labeled the cover of their portfolio with EXTERNAL body parts.

In class the kiddos went on a scavenger hunt for facts about SKIN.  We paired the facts with hand/body motions to help us remember what we learned.  I also had props to demonstrate the facts.

1st-3rd created a drawing of a cross-section of skin including HAIR, NERVES, LAYERS, SEBACEOUS GLANDS, and SWEAT GLANDS.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Kindergarten

Today we read a couple non-fiction texts about spiders.  Then we brainstormed facts about spiders.  Finally we practiced copying single words onto a page.  Each word represented one fact about spiders. Kiddos then were challenged to dictate a sentence about spiders then copy it from the board.

First & Second
Today we recorded our weather forecasts and created a class video.

Second & Third
We finished learning about the solar system and moved on to the elements of the scientific method and put it into practice as we designed and performed an experiment about surface temperature.

Still Catching Up...

Monday, November 4, 2013- First & Second Grade

Today we brainstormed word related to weather that we learned over the last two months.  Then, we worked on developing a weather forecast that will be filmed.

Monday, November 4, 2013- Second & Third Grade

Today we calculated the distance we could jump on different planets in our solar system.  We also compared and contrasted our weight and the distance we could jump on each planet.

Monday, November 4, 2013- Kindergarten

Today we sang a song about spiders, watched a short informational video about spiders and created a spider from construction paper.

Catching Up...

Thursday, October 31, 2013- Second & Third Grade

Our class practiced jumping 5 times.  We measured the distance of each jump in centimeters and recorded the data.  Next, we found the AVERAGE of our 5 jumps.  On Monday, we will calculate the distance of our jump on different planets in our solar system.

Thursday, October 31, 2013- Kindergarten

Today we learned about SPIDERS.  We made a LIST of things spiders CAN, HAVE and ARE.  WE started a booklet that we will continue to work on on Monday.

Thursday, October 31, 2013- First & Second Grade

Today we learned about another SCIENTIFIC TOOL called a WIND SOCK.  We  made our very own wind sock and tested it outside.