Group items tagged

This can be used as a cross-curricular activity, extending to social studies. The class can explore flags from several different countries, or choose one country to focus on. The students can learn about why countries have flags and what the shapes and colors represent.

K.G.1 "Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to." K.G.2 "Correctly name shapes regardless of their orientations or overall size."

4.G.3 "Recognize a line of symmetry for a two-dimensional figure as a line across the figure such that the figure can be folded along the line into matching parts. Identify line-symmetric figures and draw lines of symmetry." This activity can be modified for gifted students by challenging them with more cards. Encourage them to use as many cards as they would like while participating in this activity! This activity can be used with younger ages by using objects other than cards. A big picture cut into pieces would help the students visualize symmetry, as it would be more like putting a puzzle together. The leader just gets to choose in what order the puzzle is assembled! Both players could check their work by knowing if the picture looks right.

Extensions: Connect Earth Science with Math and Art. Also includes Natural Sciences. Adaptations: Gifted students can record daily weather observations in a notebook and create a graph or tally chart of the different types of weather that they examined. ESL & Special Ed students can draw daily weather patterns in notebook or create pictograph charts of weather with tally marks to indicate frequency. 

Extensions: This activity connects science with music (sound waves). Adaptations: Gifted students can adjust the musical notes that are created by adding more or less water to each glass or create a musical tune.  Have ESL and Special Ed students give a thumbs up or down if sound is higher or lower in pitch and show why.  Do this activity in small groups to help with learning. 

Students ask questions about a variety of living things and everyday events that can be answered through shared observations.SC.K.4.1 2000Give examples of plants and animals.SC.K.4.2 2000Observe plants and animals, describing how they are alike and how they are different in the way they look and in the things they do.

SC.1.1.1 2000Observe, describe, draw, and sort objects carefully to learn about them.

5.1.2 "Describe the difference between weight and mass. Understand that weight is dependent on gravity and mass is the amount of matter in a given substance or material."

Extension: After completing the experiment with oil and water, students could experiment with other liquids and make a hypothesis whether or not the density of the two liquids will be the same or different.

Nature of Science Standard: Make predictions and formulate testable questions; plan and carry out investigations-often over a period of several lessons-as a class, in small groups or independently; perform investigations using appropriate tools and technologies that will extend the senses; use measurement skills and apply appropriate units when collecting data; test predictions with multiple trials; keep accurate records in a notebook during investigations and communicate findings to others using graphs, charts, maps and models through oral and written reports; compare the results of an investigation with the prediction. This activity can be modified for ELL students by allowing those students to be the recorder for the group. This will allow those students to participate, without having the pressure of attempting to measure and use words they may not be comfortable with yet. Allowing these students to be the recorder keeps them involved with the group, while also allowing them to practice the English words for the numbers being recorded. This activity can also be used for younger ages by shortening the activity to throwing the ball five times, rather than ten. The act of throwing the ball make take longer for these students, as well as measuring an angle.

Extensions:  Science & Music are connected in this activity. Adaptations: Gifted students can make a rubber band instrument that plays a scale or tune.  ESL & Special Ed students can draw a picture of the instrument they would like to create or help make the instrument.  (Small groups will work on this project together)

1.3.4 "Describe how animals' habitats, including plants, meet their needs for food, water, shelter and an environment in which they can live."

Extension: Students can create mobiles to reveal their understanding of the rainforest ecosystem. Using coat hanger wire and string, students can construct a three-dimensional "dependence web" utilizing the animal and people-characters in The Great Kapok Tree.

Alter the number of pictures that a student needs to collect if they struggle. Define rolls so that students who need help are in a role they can be successful to help the group. 

4.4.1    Disney Monorail ELL:  Disney website is available in many languages Gifted:  Build a model of the monorail system

Additional activities:  Math story problems based on miles traveled, number of passengers, etc.

1.1.2 Characterize materials as solid or liquid, investigate their properties, record observations and explain the choices to others based on evidence (i.e., physical properties) 1.1.3 Experiment with simple methods for separating solids and liquids based on their physical properties. Differentiation: For gifted students, have them melt a solid in different ways (microwave, oven, stovetop, heat from sun).  Ask them to predict which will melt the fastest and then record their observations

ELL - English Language Learners could work with a partner to research the site, but the sifting and categorizing process is hands on, and doesn't require strong language skills.  By using pictorial examples for instructions, ELL students can be successful in this effort.