Little Jack's CornerThe Life & Times of Jack-Evan and Family

Here is another project I found in my files!  One requirement last semester was to create a learning center for science class.  Having already done something for earth science (a unit) and life science (a discovery box), I needed to fill a physical science project requirement.

So…my learning center was based on our South Carolina physical science 2nd grade standard for “Properties and Changes in Matter” (Solids, Liquids, and Gasses).

What is a learning center?  A learning center is an area where children to go to self-learn a certain subject.  It is a self-guided, self-contained, and self-directed area that helps children reinforce ideas currently being taught to them as well as lets them make new discoveries by themselves.  Very little teacher involvement is required (although some students may need some supervision in this particular center to ensure they don’t eat the materials!  Knowyour kids well!).

This file includes everything you need to set up your own ”6 experiements in physical science” learning center (besides the actual experiment materials needed).  I’ve also included some basic instructions on setting it up. 

The only thing I don’t have in the file is the Information Booklet (I had found it online at PBS online, I think, and printed it out) and the properties glossery (not sure what happened to it – perhaps I didn’t save?).  I also do not have a bibliography list of reference books – just go to your local library and check out ones you find in the kids section!  This isn’t quite as detailed as my unit was since our project was to actually make the entire learning center ourselves and set it up in class – so this is just basic instructions.

I did make a so-called “perfect” grade on it and everyone seemed to have fun blowing up the balloons with vinegar and making their own GAK gloop!  The materials are cheap and easy to obtain as well.  This is suited for classroom and homeschoolers alike.

Feel free to modify or add to it or use it however you wish in your teaching.

DOWNLOAD FILE:

Solid Liquid Gas Learning Center 2nd Grade.pdf 

What is a webquest?  A webquest is an online teaching tool for students that is self contained, self directed, and teaches the child a specific subject at hand.  Links for research are pre-approved by the person who sets up the webquest and all of the sites are (hopefully) very child friendly.  Very little (if none!) teacher involvement is required – just set the child up at the computer and he works at his own pace.  Like unit studies, webquests may integrate many different subjects at once (math, science, social studies, language arts, etc).

Another project I did last year was a webquest for my “Teaching Children Science” methods class.  This particular one is designed to teach weather precipitation to 2nd graders (based on South Carolina’s standards).  Some of the links and youtube videos I have in the webquest may be outdated – feel free to download the webquest HTML files to your own computer and modify as you wish (if you’re handy with web design). 

The webquest can be found at http://www.colliedogowners.com/webquest/index.htm.

 I’ve listed the teacher’s guide below to show what it’s about if you’re the gotta-see-a-summary-first kinda person.

Enjoy!

(BTW – homeschoolers can check out a variety of other webquests available online by simply going to google and doing a search for your subject + webquest!).

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TEACHER’S GUIDE

SOUTH CAROLINA STANDARDS:
GRADE 2 – Weather

Standard 2-3: The student will demonstrate an understanding of daily and seasonal weather conditions. (Earth Science)

Indicators Covered
2-3.2 Recall weather terminology (including temperature, wind direction, wind speed, and precipitation as rain, snow, sleet, and hail).
2-3.3 Illustrate the weather conditions of different seasons.
2-3.6 Identify safety precautions that one should take during severe weather conditions.

ABOUT THIS WEBQUEST
In this webquest, children become kid meteorologists at WKID Weather Station. Their first assignment, from Kim Handy, is to research and deliver a report on one of the 4 types of precipitation (Rain, Sleet, Snow, Hail). The same 7 questions are asked for each of the 4 precipitation types and the children are reminded to keep these in mind as they do their research.

A kid-friendly YouTube video showing situations with each of the 4 precipitation forms is included on each research page.

Extra activities are given for fun weather learning,
 and may or may not enhance their understanding of the chosen topic.

Reports:
1 page paper describing their topic – should answer at least 5 questions.
1 page first person story describing what their day would be like if it was (Raining/Sleeting/Snowing/Hailing) outside.

Extra Credit:
For “promotion” (extra credit) within the news station, kids are encouraged to complete an oral report in front of class.

The webquest can be found at http://www.colliedogowners.com/webquest/index.htm.

 

Sun Moon Earth Complete Science Unit – 1st Grade.pdf

This morning I posted about how last semester I started on my educational teaching degree (a lifelong dream) last semester before learning of my pregnancy.  Since I saved all of my assignments from my classes, I thought I’d like to share them instead of letting them sit on my virtual computer bookshelf gathering byte dust! 

(Earlier, I posted a 30 book science bibliography.)

 Another project I did for science class is a complete unit on Earth Science – Sun, Moon, & Earth (a 1st grade standard here in South Carolina).  The unit is 39 pages, very, very detailed, and includes daily layouts for 13 lessons, 2 complete ADEPT style lesson plans (lesson 1 and lesson 9), vocabulary list, traditional & authentic assessment tests / keys,  rubrics, unit activities, learning center ideas, theme decorations, tips for teaching special-needs learners (blind, deaf, kinethetic, etc) and much more.  The only thing that I do not have included in the file below is the color pages and artwork I had printed out to hand in with my unit.

The unit covers subjects of science, math, language arts, art media, PE, social studies, and technology.

Because the unit is personalized for the time period I wrote it in and for our state, you’ll need to change a few of the details (such as the standard / indicators, field trips, etc.). 

My science teacher for this class was, in my opinion, the best teacher I’d ever had – period.  If I would have had her during high school science I probably would have went on to be a chemistry major (FYI – I hated science in HS).  With over 30 years of teaching under her belt, she believed very much in hands-on learning and scientific exploration, and I learned so much through her!  Because she was my favorite teacher I wanted to do her “justice” and show how much I learned from her – which is why I have such a thorough unit.  My end grade was a “perfect score” plus 10 extra bonus points for “going above and beyond in excellence”.  Plus, I had a blast doing it!

The unit is designed with classroom management and public school teaching in mind – but it can definately be incorporated into a homeschool setting.  It’s also designed to be completed in 13 lessons.  This can mean 2 1/2 weeks if you do a lesson each day or, if science only falls 2-3 times per week the unit will last a month or two.

The file is in PDF form – feel free to print it out, modify it, or whatever you want to do with it. (Well, anything except turning it in to your own college science class as your own project).  

Let me know if you have any questions or would like it in Word format (for editing).

DOWNLOAD FILE:

Sun Moon Earth Complete Science Unit – 1st Grade.pdf

Last year, before I learned of the pregnancy, I had made the plunge to “go back to school” and earn my Early Childhood Education Teaching degree.  Teaching has been a dream of mine since I was 14 – but it fell by the wayside as I decided to be a business management and marketing degree first instead.  So, my first semester in my new endeavor started one week before I learned about Little Jack’s appearance on the scene!    I’m not attending this semester, but I did enjoy last semester tremendously with classes such as French 101, Elementary Science Principles, Teaching Math, and Children’s Literature.  The science class was by far the hardest when it came to having to do actual projects!  We had to do a 30 book bibliography, a full science Unit, a learning center, a discovery box, and more.  It was fun, but quite time consuming.  

 

I saved all of my work too and I hate to see my projects going to waste right now!  I made A’s on all of them, so apparantly the teacher liked them.   So instead of watching them wither into electronic nothingness, I’ve decided to share them (I fully believe in educators sharing ideas).  Here is a copy of my science bibliography.  It covers pre-k through 2nd grade science, and is based on the South Carolina science standards for those grades.  Included are 10 books each in the areas of Life, Earth, and Physical science.  Non-fiction and fiction books are both represented.  I had to read all 30 of them so there is a short summary paragraphy as well.

 

Hope it helps someone!

Lisa

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SCIENCE BIBLIOGRAPHY

PRE-K THROUGH 2ND GRADE

 

LIFE SCIENCE

 

Cole, J.  (1996).  The Magic School Bus:  Ants in its Pants.

            Scholastic, Inc.:  Broadway, NY

This fictional tale, based on an episode of the same TV series, follows Mrs. Frizzle’s class as they become so tiny they’re no bigger than ants – all in the name of capturing film for their science project!  Their adventure into a real ant bed teaches children about an ant’s habitat, lifestyle, and colony roles such as foraging, guarding, food-carrying, building, and queenship.  This is a great read-aloud for story time or for use near an ant farm learning center.

 

Brandenberg, A.  (1992).  I’m Growing!.

            Harper Collins:  New York, NY.

This colorfully illustrated book simplifies all of the life changes a child is going through, by capturing a young character’s personal thoughts about himself and his family, enabling the student to understand his own body better.  Many different aspects of human growth is touched upon such as hair, fingernails, organs, and even weight.  The easy-to-read story format makes this an excellent circle time book while the children are studying organisms and life cycles.

 

Hewitt, S.  (1999).  It’s Science:  The Five Senses.

            Children’s Press:  Danbury, CT.

The Five Senses introduces kids to each of the five human senses – seeing, hearing, touch, smell, and taste – and different ways in which we might use them.  It also compares them with how animals make use of their own senses.  Each page includes interactive questions and activities the child can do such as the experiment with silent communication.  This book would be useful on a bookshelf or as a reference guide during kindergarten lessons on the senses.

 Hart, L.  (2006).  Did Dinosaurs Eat Pizza?

            Henry Holt & Company, LLC:  New York, NY.

This fun, easy to read book introduces kids to the fact that while science can explain many things, there are still much more that we may never know, especially in the case of dinosaurs, who lived millions of years before humans.  For instance, even though we have dinosaur bones, we cannot scientifically tell what color they are.  Neither can we know how exactly they sounded.  Humorous, colorful depictions of dinosaurs and funny theories will make this a must-read-aloud story time favorite.

 

Kalmon, B.  (2002).  The Life Cycle of a  Butterfly.

            Crabtree Publishing Company:  New York, NY.

This richly illustrated book guides children through each stage of a butterfly’s development from the egg, to the caterpillar, to the chrysalis stage, all the way to butterfly adulthood.  Facts about each development stage and dangers encountered along the way are also detailed.  A vocabulary glossary, easy to read sections and an experiment on how to raise your own butterfly make this a great self-study reference book for a classroom bookshelf.

 

Paul, T.  (1997).  In Fields and Meadows.

            Crabtree Publishing Company:  New York, NY.

This book covers a wide assortment of animals that are found living in fields and meadows, including deer mice, prairie dogs, owls, and moles.  Each animal’s section shows detailed color drawings and tells how they adapt the field into their home and find food.  Its reference layout and small paragraphs make this an excellent discovery box tool for habitats.

 Polacco, P.  (2003).  The Graves Family Goes Camping.

            The Penguin Group:  New York, NY.

This humorous farce follows the eccentric Graves family as they head in to the woods specimen-hunting, science experimenting camping trip.  Strangely named creatures, such as the Vernicious Knid, weird lunches (Fijian jellyfish, anyone?) and an encounter with a Flatulent Sulphuric Fermious Flying Griffin (a.k.a. Fire-breathing Dragon) provide great belly laughs while experiment methods, specimen collection, and illustrations of many insects, amphibians, and reptiles of the forest will pique interest in exploration.  This would make an excellent read-aloud story time book during lessons on the animal kingdom

 

Romanova, N.  (1985).  Once There was a Tree.

            Puffin Books:  New York, NY.

This short, easy to read story lets children follow what happens after a tree is cut down and just the stump is left.  Over time, beetles, maggots, ants, bears, birds, frogs and even an earwig made good use of the old stump.  In the end, the question of “Whose stump is it?” is proposed, summing up that it belongs to all, and because of this, it is our job to protect our earth.  This book would be a great read-aloud during lessons on habitats, forest animals, or the environment.

 

Root, P.  (2001).  Soggy Saturday.

            Candlewick Press:  Cambridge, MA.

This humorous short read follows little Bonne Bumble as she examines her dad’s farm animals one Saturday.  It had rained so hard that morning that everything had turned blue.  She saves the day by painting all of the animals their correct color again, naming them and their roles as she goes along.  This book would be a great story time read-aloud during lessons on animals and their habitats.

Whyman, K.  (2000).  Animal Kingdom: Guide to Vertebrate Classification and Biodiversity. 

            Stect-Vaughn Company:  Austin, Texas.

This book introduces children to a more in-depth understanding of animal classification.  Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, and Mammals are all covered, as well as further division into air, water, and land dwelling animals.  A glossary of bolded terms, as well as stunning photographs, help make this a great reference book for children working on animal projects in class.

EARTH SCIENCE

 

Cole, J.  (1996).  The Magic School Bus:  Wet All Over.

            Scholastic, Inc.:  Broadway, NY.

It’s time for Mrs. Frizzle to teach her class about the water cycle!  This book, based on the episode from the same TV series, follows the class as they ride the magic school bus into a glass of water where they all turn into actual water droplets.  The kids are then able to personally experience turning into vapor, becoming a cloud, pouring out as rain, and finally landing as water droplets – again and again.  This book can be used as a read-aloud story to introduce children to lessons on the water cycle, clouds, or even condensation.

 

Brown, M.  (1947).  Goodnight, Moon.

            Harper Trophy:  New York, NY.

Perhaps one of the best known modern children’s books, this book follows a little rabbit as he tries to postpone his own bedtime.  As he seeks out more and more familiar things to say goodnight to, he finds himself getting sleepier – and soon the night races in and darkness falls.  Quiet words and peaceful rhyming make this a perfect book to close out a first grader’s school day after the lessons on the moon.

 

Gibbons, G.  (1983).  Sun Up, Sun Down.

            Harcourt Brace Jovanovich:  Orlando, FL.

This bright, cheerful book introduces small children to the basic properties and roles of the sun, such as rising I the morning, giving us warmth, providing light, and setting in the evening.  Other subjects, such as shadow casting, sun gases, and earth to sun distance are also touched upon.  Short sentences and a young central character will help keep first graders attention when reading aloud during the Sun and Moon unit.

Hauser, J.  (1998).  Science Play: Beginning Discoveries for 2-6 Year Olds.

            Williamson Publishing Company:  Charlotte, VT.

This book provides teachers with over 65 activities that allow children to discover properties of the sun, wind, air, plants, light, and water.  Projects are child-friendly and utilize every day household objects.  Fun activities include walking in socks to pick up seeds and making water necklaces from empty film canisters.  This would make a terrific science project resource book for teachers throughout the year.

 

Hutchins, H.  (2004).  How Long is a Hiccup?  A Child’s Book of Time.

            Arthur Levine Books, Scholastic Inc.:  Broadway, NY.

How long is a second?  It’s the time it takes to give mom a kiss!  This adorably illustrated book simplifies units of time, converting them to easily recognized childhood experiences, giving children the feeling of how long each measure truly is.  Units covered include the second, minute, hour, day, week, month, and year.  The sing-song rhythm of the poetry makes this a wonderful read-aloud introduction to the study of time.

 

Merk, A.  (1994).  The Weather Report:  Clouds.

            The Rourk Corporation, INC.:  Vero Beach, FL.

This book introduces children to the main attributes of clouds – how they form, the different types, how rain gets in them, fog, and even their relationship with the sun.  Useful bolded vocabulary is also included in a glossary.  This would be a great on a reference bookshelf or in a learning center on clouds or weather.

Jacobs, M.  (1999).  The Library of Why:  Why Does it Rain?.

            The Rosen Publishing Group’s PowerKids Press:  New York, NY.

This book gives straightforward, one page answers to some of children’s most curious weather questions about why it storms and what causes it to happen.  Logical question arrangement, beginning with “Where does weather happen?” and concluding with “What is the water cycle?” allows children to build knowledge as they progress in the book.  This would be a very useful self-study reference guide for the bookshelf, or to cover question by question while studying weather changes.

 

Rockwell, A.  (1999).  Long Ago Yesterday.

            Green Willow Books:  New York, NY.

This collection of ten short stories introduces young children to earth science in a very simplistic way by placing the fictional children into settings the student may already be familiar with in life.  Changes in weather, seasons, air, time, gravity, and day versus night are all lessons that can be gleamed from these stories.  Each story would make a great short read-aloud during circle time when the children can discuss their own personal experiences with each other.

 

Supraner, R.  (1999).  I Can Read About:  Seasons.

            Troll Communications LLC:  Mahwah, NY.

This book provides young children with a more detailed look into the four seasons.  Colorful illustrations and diagrams depict how seasons happen and what changes we experience in the Northern Hemisphere throughout the year.  Animals, new life, outdoors activities, and plants are just a few of the changes discussed.  This book would make a great addition to the classroom bookshelf during lessons on seasonal change and weather.

Williams, J.  (2005).  Why is it Windy?.

            Enslow Elementary Publishers, Inc.:  Berkeley Heights, NY.

In Why is it Windy?, children are provided with very simple, clear-cut  answers to childhood weather questions such as “What is wind?”, “How does the sun make wind?”, “How fast is the wind blowing?”, and even “Can you see the wind?”.  Rich, photographic images, a shot glossary of terms, and a fun concluding experiment make this a terrific self-study reference guide for children, as well as a useful discovery box tool.

  
PHYSICAL SCIENCE

 

Audrey, Rev. W.  (1995).  Thomas the Tank Engine:  Stop, Train, Stop!.

            Random House:  New York, NY.

Thomas the Tank Engine is tired!  He is tired of having to stop during long trips.  One day he decides to take matters into his own hands.  Off he goes, speeding all the way to the last stop – with no breaks in between!  Along the way, passengers fall down, food spills, and a general ruckus ensues.  In the end, Thomas decides it is best for all if he kept to his old stop and go schedule.  This is a great read-aloud for helping introduce 1st graders to motion.

 

Cole, J.  (1998).  The Magic School Bus:  Stuck In the Arctic.

            Scholastic, Inc.:  Broadway, NY.

This book, based on an episode of the same TV series, follows Mrs. Frizzle’s class as they travel to the Arctic.  After the bus freezes, the children encounter many predicaments caused by the cold, such as no jackets, getting trapped on an ice floe, and encountering a polar bear.  Along the way, they discover various heat retention methods such as warm-bloodedness, use of thermoses, paper insulation in their shirts, animal fur, and finally blubber.  This will make a fun read-aloud during lessons on the mechanics of hot and cold.

 

Kleven, E.  (1994).  The Paper Princess.

            Dutton Children’s Books:  New York, NY.

The paper princess needed hair!  Should the little girl give her fluffy cotton or soft yarn hair?  Before she has time to decide a puff of wind blows the paper princess away.  The paper doll is carried away on many adventures.  Multitudes of textures and item properties are described throughout the different adventures.  In the end, the paper doll is reunited with her creator where she receives her hair.  This book would make a fun read-aloud when introducing the different properties and textures of matter to kindergarteners.

Murphy, S.  (2004).  Mighty Maddie.

            Harper Collins Children’s Books:  New York, NY.

Maddie has a mess!  When ordered to clean up her toys by mom, her alter-ego Mighty Maddie zooms around picking up toys and describing how each toy feels.  Heavy, teeny, jumbo, feather light, and lightest are just some words she uses during her mad dash to pick up bears, toy cars, and dolls.  This would be a fun read for the classroom book shelf or as a read-aloud to introduce weight and matter.

 

Lewis, K.  (2006).  Tugga-Tugga Tug Boat.

            Hyperion Books for Children:  New York, NY.

This adorable book follows a little tugboat’s journey as he races to save a burning barge.   Bouncing, bobbing, floating, and propelling are just a few words used to accurately describe the mechanics behind how the boat is working.  In the end, the boat turns out to be a play toy of a little boy in a bath tub.  Easy rhyming lines and a sing-song rhythm make this a terrific read-aloud for introducing beginning physics of movement and hydraulics.

 

Parsons, A.  (1992).  What’s Inside Boats?.

            Darling Kindersley, Inc.:  New York, NY.

What’s Inside Boats? gives children a fascinating peeled-away look into the mechanics behind eight different boats, including a rowboat, cargo boat, and racing yacht.  Diagrams with simplified explanations describe what each part does, along with actual boating terminology.  This book would work as a good tool to pique kindergarteners interest during lessons about properties of floating.

Smith, C.  (1996).  How to Draw Trucks and Cars.

            Gareth Stevens Publishing:  Milwaukee, WI.

This book’s simplistic method of using circles, triangles and squares, along with basic colors, will pique children’s interest in vehicular design, automobile roles, and motion.  Nine fun automobiles are depicted, including a sedan, jeep moving van, and even a cement mixer.  This book can be displayed on the classroom bookshelf during first grade lessons on motion.

 

Stewart, D.  (1996).  Gift of the Sun.

This easily read African tale follows Thulani on his farm as he searches for the right way to create an outstanding farm, while still being able to bask in the sun’s warmth.  He finally discovers a plan that helps him achieve an abundant life on the farm – all thanks to the warmth and light from the sun he loved so much.  This would be a good story to read aloud before lessons that discuss heat and light.

 

Ward, A.  (1992).  Project Science:  Light and Color

            Franklin Watts, Inc.:  New York, NY.

This activity book covers twelve areas of light science, including light waves, bending of light, color mixing, and lights in the sky.  Three to four simple projects are found in each area, as well as fun facts on why and how it all happens.  Making a water prism, exploring the moon’s light phases, and making shadow puppets are just a few of the activities that make this an excellent classroom activity resource for teachers.  Simple instructions and colorful illustrations make this a great learning center tool as well.

Wood, R.  (1989).  Physics for Kids:  49 Easy Experiments with Mechanics.

            Tab Books:  Blue Ridge Summit, PA.

This reference book provides numerous experiments that help young children learn about fluid and solid mechanics.  Making pulleys, pouring water through a handkerchief, and finding the center of gravity for a stack of books are just a few fun experiments included.  A few of the activities are not suggested for the youngest children as they involve the use of nails, hammers and razor blades.  The illustrations and activity information is gears towards an older audience, and at this stage should only be used as an activity reference for teachers.