Activities & Lessons
Apple Tree - Seasonal Changes
This lesson is designed to teach students about a plan life cycle using an apple tree. The lesson starts out by discussing what students know about the human life cycle and then is transferred to an apple tree's. Students will understand that this begins with a seed. They will be given a seed and invited to watch it grow throughout the seasons.
Shadows Lesson Plan
The objectives in this lesson are for students to be able to make drawings of a classmate's shadow and note the position of the sun in the sky at the time. They will be able to identify a connection between the direction of the shadow and the location of the sun as well as observe changes in shadows over time. Ultimately, in this lesson, they will develop an understanding of the Earth's motion.
Weather Observations
In this lesson, students will make and understand the importance of observing weather and its changes. Students will learn and understand that observing the weather can give us much information about the world around us.
This lesson is designed to teach students about a plan life cycle using an apple tree. The lesson starts out by discussing what students know about the human life cycle and then is transferred to an apple tree's. Students will understand that this begins with a seed. They will be given a seed and invited to watch it grow throughout the seasons.
Shadows Lesson Plan
The objectives in this lesson are for students to be able to make drawings of a classmate's shadow and note the position of the sun in the sky at the time. They will be able to identify a connection between the direction of the shadow and the location of the sun as well as observe changes in shadows over time. Ultimately, in this lesson, they will develop an understanding of the Earth's motion.
Weather Observations
In this lesson, students will make and understand the importance of observing weather and its changes. Students will learn and understand that observing the weather can give us much information about the world around us.
Websites for Kids
1. The Weather Channel Kids
This site is owned and operated by The Weather Channel that we all know and use as adults. This site has been designed specifically for kids where they can type in their zip code and their weather will populate as well as kid-friendly information about the current weather and forecast.
2. Weather Wiz Kids
Meteorologist Crystal Wicker designed this website specifically for kids to allow them to learn more about the fascinating world of weather. It’s
also a wonderful educational website for teachers and parents to give them the right tools to explain the different types of weather to children.
This site is owned and operated by The Weather Channel that we all know and use as adults. This site has been designed specifically for kids where they can type in their zip code and their weather will populate as well as kid-friendly information about the current weather and forecast.
2. Weather Wiz Kids
Meteorologist Crystal Wicker designed this website specifically for kids to allow them to learn more about the fascinating world of weather. It’s
also a wonderful educational website for teachers and parents to give them the right tools to explain the different types of weather to children.
Books
1. Four Seasons Make a Year. By Anne Rockwell. Illus. by Megan Halsey. 2004. 30p. Walker Children's, (9780802788832). Gr. 1-2.
This book, which takes place on a country farm, is a vivid recantation of what the seasons are all about. We follow a young girl as she plants seeds in the spring to when she picks tall sunflowers in the summer. The author uses rich language to engage both the students and the teachers and I love that the scene is the same; its appearance changing over time.
2. What Makes Day and Night. By Franklyn M. Branley; Illus. by Arthur Dorros. 1986. 32p. Collins, (978-0064450508). Gr. K-2.
Accompanied by NASA photographs and Dorros’s colorful, lively drawings, the text explains the Earth’s rotation in clear and simple terms. An experiment using a lamp as the ‘sun’ further clarifies the principles introduced.
Assessments
Short-Cycles Assessment
This is a test format assessment that asks students to answer questions in a variety of formats (multiple choice, illustration, matching, etc.) to exemplify their understanding of short-cyles.
Earth Science Online Test
This is a test that covers first grade science in Virginia especially earth science. These are all multiple choice questions that can be answered online or printed out and given in a written format.
This is a test format assessment that asks students to answer questions in a variety of formats (multiple choice, illustration, matching, etc.) to exemplify their understanding of short-cyles.
Earth Science Online Test
This is a test that covers first grade science in Virginia especially earth science. These are all multiple choice questions that can be answered online or printed out and given in a written format.