Units

Our first unit will cover the 4 seasons:

 * This unit discusses the four seasons. While learning the different seasons children will also learn what happens to nature and animals during these times. It is important for children do learn about the environment they live in. Children will learn about the cycle of nature and what happens to the environment during the season changes and in result, will learn about animals, hibernation, and weather. **

Time Required: Basic Concepts /Skills to be taught: · ** Months of the Year ** · ** The seasons associated with each month ** · ** Animals and nature and how they are affected by the season ** · ** Hibernation, adaptation and migration ** 
 * Student will understand… **The different seasons, the importance of each season, animal and environmental changes.**
 * Student will be able to… **identify weather associated with each season, identify the months of the year and the seasons they are associated with, and hibernation, adaptation migration.**
 * 4 weeks **

Scope and Sequence

**Lesson 1 ** Title of lesson: What are the Four Seasons? Description of lesson (if you were to describe to a parent what was happening in the classroom for this lesson, what would you say in 3-5 sentences). We will start with the basics, Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. We will go over the weather patterns associated with each season (i.e cold/snow in the winter) as well as go over what months each season covers. Assignment (homework or in-class): Match the picture with the season it belongs to!! Resources/materials needed: Word document on screen, pass out as flier. We will go over assignment as a whole class participation exercise. Lesson 2 Title of lesson: Let's go on a scavenger hunt! Description of lesson: Students will go on an internet scavenger hunt to answer questions about hibernation and migration. The answers will lead them to child friendly websites where they will be provided with picture clues to help them in answering the questions.

Assignment (homework or in-class): What do animals do in the Winter? Resources/materials needed: Internet access, scavenger hunt form. This will be a group assignment in class to introduce the children to the internet. Internet resources will be provided.

Lesson 3 Title of lesson: You be the Teacher! Description of lesson : The children will be working in teams of four to present a lesson to the class. Within our unit of Seasons, each student will be an expert in a particular subject. Each student will follow their individual instructions, do the work, and then share with the class Assignment (homework or in-class): Collaborative class work, done in class using internet links. Resources/materials needed: Classworksheet Lesson 4 Title of lesson: Introduction to Hibernation, Migration, Adaptation Description of lesson (if you were to describe to a parent what was happening in the classroom for this lesson, what would you say in 3-5 sentences). I will show a fun power point presentation on the basics of Hibernation, Migration and adaptation. I will play slide show once for the class to watch and then we will use the slide to further the discussion on each topic. Assignment (homework or in-class): Resources/materials needed: powerpoint

Lesson 5 Title of lesson: CASTRO CAST! Description of lesson: A 3 part Read with Me podcast series. Children will follow along in their books while I read 3 fairytales with season themes.  Podcast #1  is called the Winter Prince, about growing up. media type="file" key="pod.mp3"

Podcast #2 is called the Autumn Princess, about a very special friendship media type="file" key="podd.mp3"

Podcast #3 is called with King of Spring, about losing your bounce and getting it back media type="file" key="poddd.mp3"

Resources/materials needed: Listening Ears! <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #0d8406; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman';">Lesson 6 Title of lesson: <span style="color: #c90d0d; font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">Create Your Own Comic or Blabberize! Description of lesson: <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Students will go to <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">[|www.toondoo.com] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">, as a class, to create their own comic regarding anything we have learned so far in class. If students do not wish to create a comic they can go to [|www.blabberize.com] to create a fun, interactive character and record a short description of what we have learned so far. Assignment: <span style="color: #4004af; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Create a comic, or blabberize. If you can not finish is class or would like to finish at home, please do!! Share with the class your story..

media type="custom" key="2360823" <span style="color: #066a79; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Lesson 7 Title of lesson: <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Youtube Fun! <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Description of lesson: <span style="color: #2c088c; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">A fun sharing of youtube videos on the topics we have learned so far. Click on the purple link!