Kindergarten

LTTNLiving Things and Their Needs (L)
Starting with what kindergartners know about living and non-living things, they explore the needs of living things through pumpkin seed germination and plant growth. They also design investigations to determine which habitat Bess bugs prefer. Students make firsthand observations of how living things can change their environment to meet their needs. By the end of the unit, they apply what they’ve learned about needs to design solutions to reduce human impact on the environment.

Performance Expectations: K-LS1-1; K-ESS2-2; K-ESS3-1; K-ESS3-3; K-2-ETS1-2

Teacher supplied items (not supplied in kit): Water, crayons, markers, large drawing paper, chart paper, apple slice, stapler

  SUPPLIED LITERATURE
  Fish







 


WSWeather & Sky (E)
It all starts with “What’s the weather today?” Then kindergartners quickly move beyond by keeping records, using Venn diagrams to contrast the daytime and nighttime sky, looking for patterns in their data, and developing thermometer skills. As a final activity, they engineer a way to prevent the sun from warming the earth.

Performance Expectations: K-PS3-1; K-PS3-2; K-ESS2-1; K-ESS3-2; K-2-ETS1-1; K-2-ETS1-2

Teacher supplied items (not supplied in kit): Dry erase marker, glue sticks, Ice cubes, water, art supplies, chart paper, markers.

  SUPPLIED LITERATURE
  Sunshine







Lesson 1: Observing the Sky
Students develop a chart to share their ideas about weather, students predict weather conditions and objects that can be observed in the daytime sky and then go outside to record their observations, students predict weather conditions and objects that can be observed in the nighttime sky, and complete a take-home science activity to record their observations, and students identify and sort daytime and nighttime weather conditions and objects in the sky to discuss patterns among them.

Lesson 2: Weather Watchers
Students are introduced to weather pocket chart and how to observe weather, students learn about different types of precipitation and how they will identify each type with a symbol and draw a model of each type of precipitation. Students learn different types of cloud cover and how they will identify each with a symbol, learn about weather speed and how to identify them with a symbol and describe how wind affects objects. Students make daily observations about weather, collect data, and report their findings to the class, constructing a class graph at the end of each week.

Lesson 3: Dangerous Weather
Students analyze their weather data to look for patterns, then formulate questions about dangerous weather. Students use a model to look at how excessive rain can affect soil absorption and lead to flooding. Students use a model to explore tornadoes, practice a tornado drill, and discuss dangerous weather safety.

Lesson 4: Warming the Earth
Students review temperature words and observe a tool to measure temperature, make predictions about how temperature can change from morning to afternoon and collect data. Students draw a picture of what the thermometer would look like on a day that is snowing outside. Students plan an investigation to explore how different objects are affected by sunlight.

Lesson 5: In the Heat of the Sun
Students discuss ideas about how to stay cool in the sun. Students are challenged to build a structure that reduces the warming effect of the sun. Students test the structures that they built, identify any  problems and discuss what they can do to improve their structure's effectiveness.

 


PPGPush, Pull, Go (P)
Kindergartners bring their love of building to fun investigations of the forces that move them. This intro to physics integrates math and measurement as students build swings, tops, and ramps with Kids K’NEX. By the end of the unit, they apply what they’ve learned, engineering their own motion invention.

Performance Expectations: K-PS2-1; K-PS2-2; K-2-ETS1-1; K-2-ETS1-2

Teacher supplied items (not supplied in kit): Chart paper, crayons, markers.

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