THEMATIC UNIT Weather

Transcription

1 THEMATIC UNIT Weather Written by Marie Cecchini Teacher Created Materials, Inc Industry Way Westminster, CA Teacher Created Materials, Inc. Made in U.S.A. ISBN Edited by Karen Tam Froloff Illustrated by Blanca Apodaca Cover Art by Cheri Macoubrie Wilson The classroom teacher may reproduce copies of materials in this book for classroom use only. The reproduction of any part for an entire school or school system is strictly prohibited. No part of this publication may be transmitted, stored, or recorded in any form without written permission from the publisher.

2 Table of Contents Introduction Sunshine by Gail Saunders-Smith (Pebble Books, 1998) Summary Sample Plan Overview of Activities Science Experiments Sunshine Color Patterning Same and Different Creative Dramatics Motor Activities Recipes Peter Spier s Rain by Peter Spier (Doubleday and Co., 1982) (Available from Doubleday Dell Seal, CAN; Bantam Doubleday Dell, UK; Transworld, AUS) Summary Sample Plan Overview of Activities Cloud Creations Ordinal Numbers Raindrops in a Row Beginning Sounds Puddle Play Gilberto and the Wind by Marie Hall Ets (Viking Press, 1963) (Available from Penguin in CAN, UK, and AUS) Summary Sample Plan Overview of Activities Wind Detectives Verbal Directions Kite Spider Kite Location Words King Size Bubble Blower Hidden Pictures The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (Viking Press, 1962) (Available from Penguin in CAN, UK, and AUS) Summary Sample Plan Overview of Activities Science Observations Snow Games Recipes Matching Patterns Building a Snowman Peter s Ride What s Missing? Across the Curriculum Language Arts: Rebus Big Book Weather Opposites Umbrella Colors Pinwheel Pictures Which Does Not Belong? Beginning Sounds Snowflake Pass Dress Peter Math: Sun-Shapes Puzzle In the Rain, I Wear... Rainy Day Math Gilberto s Balloons Sailboat Puzzle Counting Kites Peter s Pockets Snowflake Trees Counting Buttons Science: Sunshine-Shapes Book Shadow Match Waterways Sensory Art Daily Weather Forecast Sheet Art: Portable Sunshine Raindrop Hatbands Snowflake Prints Block Fort Music: Weather Songs Drama: Weather Charades Culminating Activities Weather Lotto Four Seasons Collage Seasons Poem Unit Management Weather Baby Weather Graph Bibliography #2612 Thematic Unit Weather 2 Teacher Created Materials, Inc.

3 Introduction Weather contains a captivating whole-language thematic unit created specifically for use with children at the early childhood level. For each of the four featured books, activities are included which set the stage for reading, encourage enjoyment of the book, and extend the concepts encountered. Additional activities further extend the theme of each literature selection across the curriculum, addressing all learning modalities. Several of the activities encourage cooperative learning. Directions for studentcreated Big Books, culminating activities, and unit management activities allow the students to synthesize their knowledge and create projects that can be shared beyond the classroom. This thematic unit includes literature selections summaries of four children s books with related lessons (complete with reproducible pages) that cross the curriculum language experiences and writing ideas suggestions as well as activities across the curriculum, including big books and original poetry bulletin board ideas suggestions and plans for student-created and/or interactive bulletin boards curriculum connections lessons and activities in language arts, math, science, art, music, and life skills such as cooking and physical education culminating activities shared activities which require students to synthesize their learning bibliography suggestions for additional literature and nonfiction books on the theme To keep this valuable resource intact so it can be used year after year, you may wish to punch holes in the pages and store them in a three-ring binder. Teacher Created Materials, Inc. 3 #2612 Thematic Unit Weather

4 Introduction (cont.) Why Whole Language? The strength of a whole language approach is that it involves children in using all modes of communication reading, writing, listening, illustrating, and interacting. Communication skills are interconnected and integrated into lessons that emphasize the whole of language rather than isolating its parts. The lessons revolve around selected literature. Reading is not taught as a separate subject from writing and spelling, for example. A child reads, writes (spelling appropriately for his/her level), speaks, listens, etc., in response to a literature experience introduced by the teacher. In this way, language skills grow naturally, stimulated by involvement and interaction in the topic at hand. Why Thematic Planning? A whole language program is best implemented with thematic planning. The teacher plans classroom activities correlated to specific literature selections and centered around a predetermined theme. Students tend to learn and retain more when they are applying their skills in an interesting and meaningful context. Both teachers and students will be freed from a day that is broken into unrelated segments of isolated drill and practice. Why Cooperative Learning? Children need to learn social as well as academic skills. Students must learn to work cooperatively in groups in order to function well in modern society. Group activities should be a regular part of school life, and teachers should consciously include social objectives as well as academic objectives in their planning. For example, a group working together to solve a problem may need to select a leader. The teacher should make clear to the students and monitor the qualities of good leader-follower group interaction just as he/she would state and monitor the academic goals of the project. Why Big Books? Groups of children may produce a book as a cooperative learning project. In this way, they can apply their language skills and creativity to produce something that can become a part of the classroom library to be read and reread. These books make excellent culminating projects for sharing beyond the classroom with parents, librarians, other classes, etc. Big books can be produced in many ways, and this thematic unit includes directions for at least one method you may choose. #2612 Thematic Unit Weather 4 Teacher Created Materials, Inc.

5 Sunshine Creative Dramatics Creative drama helps children develop communication skills and learn how to work cooperatively. It also offers them a creative outlet for self-expression. Share the following poem: Sun Fun The sun is out, Hooray! Hooray! Let s go to the beach, For a picnic today. We ll smooth on sunscreen, Pull on our hats, Pack a shovel, a pail, A ball, and a bat. We ll slip on sunglasses, Then be on our way, Off to the beach, On a warm, sunny day. Reread the poem to the children, and then have them act it out. Ask them questions like these: Why will we need sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses? What will we do with the ball and bat? With the shovel and the pail? Set up an area where the children can role-play a day at the beach. Provide them with such items as beach hats, visors, beach towels, terry robes, sandals, picnic baskets with play dishes and food, sunglasses, empty sunscreen bottles, swim masks, a beach ball, bathing caps, shovels, and pails. Lay a blue blanket on the floor for the water. Let the children place their towels on the beach around the water and have them make up activities to play in the water and on the beach. Make sun visors by cutting paper plates into crescent shapes. Decorate these with markers or crayons. Attach a paper strip headband to each crescent. #2612 Thematic Unit Weather 12 Teacher Created Materials, Inc.

6 Peter Spier s Rain Beginning Sounds Directions: Cut apart the words at the bottom of the page. Glue each word under the correct picture that the word names. boots cloud coat hat rain umbrella #2612 Thematic Unit Weather 22 Teacher Created Materials, Inc.