Julianne K. Kaphar
Standards:
Science
1.1a: Students will ask questions about objects, organisms and events in the environment.
This standard will be met in a variety of ways throughout the unit, particularly in the inquiry chart at the beginning of the unit. Also, as students record observations in their science notebooks, they will be encouraged to ask questions and make predictions.
1.2b. Students will use different kinds of investigation, including observation and description, experimentation and theorizing to achieve broad understandings in science.
Students will achieve this through their observations in their science notebooks of the compost pits, the water cycle demonstrations, and the field trips.
3.3b: Students will explore the ways in which humans alter their natural environment beneficially or harmfully.
Students will recognize this as they compare and contrast from their trips to the garbage dump and to the meadow.
6.2c: Students will learn about the consequences of pollution its various impacts on quality of life.
This will be especially evident from the model of the river and pollution.
6.2b: Students will analyze the important resources needed by living things and the effect of man's use or abuse of these resources on the health of our earth.
6.4c: Students will identify and describe human-caused alterations of the environment and compare and contrast the positive and the negative effects of these alterations on living organisms.
As a result of this unit, I hope students will come away with the big ideas stated in 6.2b and 6.4c.
Mathematics
4.1: Students will collect and organize data to answer a question or test a hypothesis by comparing sets of data.
4.1a: Students will display data in graphs, tables, and charts.
4.2f: Students will use data, including statements about the data, to make a simple concluding statement about a situation
Standards 4.1, 4.1a and 4.2f will be implemented as students collect data about their own waste and organize that data into pie charts.
6.2: Students will estimate numerically and spatially.
6.3: Students will measure length, area, perimeter, circumference, diameter, height, weight, and volume accurately in both the customary and metric systems.
Standards 6.2 and 6.3 will be implemented as students measure different types of trash and estimate the amount of space taken up in landfills.
Language Arts
1.3a: Students will demonstrate strategic reading behaviors
before specific reading tasks
; they will:
1. Establish a purpose for reading. (gathering information, enjoying a literary experience, performing a task)
2. Use prior knowledge to connect previous experience to material being read (e.g., KWL Charts)
3. Preview selections and predict what will be included in them.
These three standards will be met as students meet in their guided reading groups: they will determine the purpose for the text they read, make predictions before reading, and make connections to the texts before, during and after reading.
1.5b. Students will demonstrate fluency through shared reading.
This will be accomplished through the poems and chants set up around the classroom.
1.5c. Students will demonstrate fluency through guided reading.
Students will meet in small, needs-based guided reading groups using texts related to the theme.