Lesson 1
Objective
The students will be introduced to the format of a non-fiction book and share prior knowledge with this genre.
Materials
Big book for shared reading - Think About the Weather
Chart paper
Vocabulary words on index cards - weather, storm, cloud, wind, rain, hurricane, tornado
Procedure
1. Begin by telling the students that they will be learning about a type of book called non-fiction, a book about facts and real things.
2. Explain that before reading a nonfiction book, good readers get their minds ready to understand the information they will read about.
3. Preview the book's title and look at the front and back covers for the children to begin to formulate thoughts and predictions about the content and what new things they will learn on the topic of weather.
4. Introduce vocabulary cards to start embedded so knowledge. Ask the students to discuss the words and what they already know or have experienced.
5. Do a picture walk through the book pointing out strong text features to non-fiction, such as labels, captions, diagrams, maps, photographs, charts which support and extend the text.
6. Read the book with the students, having them join in as they are able.
7. Conclude by discussing learned facts from their nonfiction reading.
Lesson 2
Objective
The students will begin a writer's workshop file to collect writings illustrations from experiments and experiences during the unit of study.
Materials
1 two-pocket folder for each student
Writing paper with area for illustration
Chart paper
Procedure
Have the children gather together on a rug area or somehow near each other to begin to discuss writer's workshop.
To introduce the method, explain that they will be writing about what they know, as that is what good writers do. Model this by writing on chart paper something you remember from the Think About the Weather book. Illustrate and write facts to demonstrate.
Have the students turn to a partner on the rug and have them brainstorm about what they would like to write about.
After two to three minutes, regain their attention and have a few share with the group their plans on what to write.
Distribute folders and have the students begin to write and illustrate as you move around and mini-conference to help them along.
Lesson 3
Objective
The students will gain a simple understanding of the different movement of the plates. Through this lesson the theory of plate tectonics will be demonstrated.
Materials
Miscellaneous puzzle pieces - some that fit and some that do not
Flour and water mixture - 2:1 ratio
Food coloring
Small zipper top bags - one per student
Procedure
1. Begin by posing the questions:
Do you like to put puzzles together? How do you know when the puzzle is done? What happens if you push the pieces together when they don't fit well?
The students should begin to recognize that force or energy would cause the pieces to become damaged and folded or buckled.
2. Introduce the vocabulary words converge, diverge, and transform, demonstrating with hand movements.
3. Tell the class they are going to move as the different types of plate boundaries.
4. Divide the class into two groups and have them stand shoulder to shoulder in two lines facing each other.
5. Instruct the two lines to move toward each other to illustrate a converging plate boundary. The lines would then move backward or away to illustrate a diverging plate boundary. And finally, one line takes a step to the right, the other, a step to the left to illustrate a transform plate boundary.
6. Distribute zipper plastic bags containing a portion of dough mixture. For younger students this hands-on activity will help demonstrate how plate movements form features - mountains at converging plate boundaries and valleys where plates move apart.
7. Ask the students:
What happens when you push the dough together? Can you make mountains and valleys?
Have the students using their own bags stress the bag by pushing together, pulling apart and pushing in opposing directions.
Lesson 4
Objective
The students will become aware of the facts of the 1943 eruption of Paricutin and create a volcanic eruption in the classroom.
Materials
Hill of Fire by Thomas P. Lewis
Writer's workshop folder
Small drink bottle
60 ml water
1 tablespoon baking soda
1/4 cup vinegar
Orange food coloring
Few drops of dishwashing detergent
Small square of tissue
Tray
Play dough
Procedure
1. Read Hill of Fire by Thomas P. Lewis, to the class. This story revolves around the eruption of Paricutin, a real volcano in Mexico, and a little boy's experiences.
2. Construct the volcano by placing the drink bottle on the tray and encasing it in playdough to create a mountain.
3. Place the water, soap, food coloring and vinegar in the drink bottle.
4. Wrap the baking soda in the tissue and drop into the bottle. The volcano will then erupt.
5. This can be repeated for emphasis and excitement. Be sure to have the "recipe" or list of procedures drawn and written on the board or chart paper for the students to use for reference.
6. Have the children write about their experiment in their folders, reminding them to list the steps that caused the volcano to erupt and to describe what happens.
Lesson 5
Objective
The class will make a model tornado and observe and record what happens.
Materials
2 clean two-liter bottles
Duct tape
Water
Glitter
Writer's workshop folder
Procedure
1. Fill one of the bottles three quarters (3/4) the way with water. Add some glitter to help enhance the effect.
2. Place the two bottles mouth to mouth and tape them securely together. Check for leaks.
3. To create the effect, turn the bottles upside down so the water will be flowing through the opening into the bottom, empty bottle.
4. Swirl slowly to help create the funnel.
5. Have the children write about their experiment in their folders, reminding them to list the steps to create a volcano and to describe what happens.
Lesson 6
Objective
The students will simulate an earthquake and record their experiment.
Materials
2 pieces foam board 22" x 28" from art supply store
Deck of cards
Several small houses, cars, trees, buildings from games, legos, train sets
Writer's workshop folder
Procedure
1. Cut one piece of foam board in two, creating two pieces 14" x 22".
2. On a desk top, place two cut pieces back together as though still one large piece. Use a desk that allows the foam board to hang beyond edges. Place full foam board sheet on top, perpendicular to cut pieces.
3. Build a house of cards, or several on the top board.
4. Move the two bottom foam board pieces by pushing them together, sliding them apart, or sliding them beside each other. This will simulate how plate tectonics affect fault lines. Repeat several times.
5. Using the model-sized pieces, create a town on the top form board. Again, create an earthquake by sliding the two foam board pieces on the bottom.
6. Have the children write about their experiment in their folders illustrating their findings and describing what they saw.
Lesson 7
Objective
The students will learn about the conditions that create a hurricane and simulate a hurricane in a bowl.
Materials
Large globe
Large round clear bowl or tub of water
Spoon
Food coloring with a dropper top
Printed photos of hurricanes from Google Images
Procedure
1. Discuss background conditions that can create a hurricane: winds blowing across the ocean in different directions begin to push of warm, moist air toward each other. Explain the air rises up and makes clouds that start to spin because of the Earth's rotation. Use the globe to show how the Earth rotates and where the tropical oceans are.
2. Tell the students you will be using the bowl as the ocean, the spoon to show how the winds move the water.
3. Moving the spoon in a circular motion around the side of a bowl, stir the water.
4. When the water is moving fast, stop stirring and immediately put several drops of food coloring into the center of the swirling water. The color will move out from the center forming bands--much as clouds in a hurricane do.
5. Show the students the photos from Google. Have them compare the printed photos to the hurricane in the bowl.
6. Have the children write about their experiment in their folders illustrating their findings and describing what they saw.
Lesson 8
Objective
The students will compile their writings into a published non-fiction text.
Materials
Writer's workshop folders
Colored paper for book covers
Markers, crayons, colored pencils
Three -hole punch
Brass fasteners
Procedure
1. Students will title their books and complete the front and back book covers. Encourage them to use information from their research.
2. Guide the students as they complete a table of contents based on experiments and information included in their research. Encourage them to include non-fiction text features such as labels in illustrations, charts, lists, directions, maps.
3. Have the students make sure their pages are in order and that their writings and illustrations are complete.
4. Put completed writings into book form. Bind the books with brass fasteners.
When students have all finished their books, host a publishing party where they present and read their books to other students, parents, classmates and teachers.
