Grade level: Grade 1.
Provincial curriculum links: Ontario.
Subject: Science.
Keywords: Insects, bugs, animals, nature, habitat.
Students will conduct a study on bugs and animals living in the naturalized area around their school.
Characteristics and needs of Living Things; Daily and Seasonal Cycles
Specific Lesson Goals
At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
Describe the different ways in which animals move through the garden to meet their needs
Classify characteristics of animals and plants by using the senses
Markers (ie. hoops)
Magnifying glasses
Observation chart that includes criteria for classification (see below) (e.g. size, colour, method of movement) to record sightings as well as a section for drawing what they noticed. (I saw, I listened, I heard, I smelled)
Preplanning: Send a letter home asking parents to dress students in suitable clothing
Students should be put into groups before venturing into naturalized area
Assign specific areas for each group
Remind students to respect the naturalized area and its inhabitants
In order to become aware of the various forms of life that can be found in a naturalized area, students will visit the naturalized area to discover what types of animal life exist and will record their findings.
By placing the hoops on the ground the students will use magnifiers to observe existing animal life only within their hoops and fill in their checklist.
In the classroom they will enter their findings on a graph and order them in classifications that have been previously outlined.
|
Date |
Animal/
Insect
|
I Saw
(size, colour, drawing)
|
I Heard |
I Smelled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Through discussion and brainstorming the students will predict what kind of animals they might find in the naturalized area and how this information might be classified.
Listening and following directions
Cooperative group skills
Proper use of tools and equipment
Application of knowledge and classification skills
This activity could be part of a larger unit on the basic needs of living things and lead to in-depth sensitization of the need to consider and respect our habitat.
This lesson can be used as an introductory lesson to teaching and learning in the naturalized area. Its format is especially appropriate for establishing these routines and basic sensitivities.
"Science Everywhere 1" Harcourt Canada
"The Icky Bug Alphabet Book" by Gerry Pallotta
"The Best Bug Parade" by Stuart J. Murphy
"Spiders" by Gail Gibbons
"The Grouchy Ladybug" and "The Quiet Cricket" by Eric Carle
Submitted by: Maggie Linton <maggie_linton@hotmail.com>