(Not familiar with the NGSS standards? Then take some time to read "Getting to Know the Next Generation Science Standards: Kindergarten" first.)
Today, we're going to take a look at resources that will help you meet the "Earth & Human Activity" standard....which I just simply call the "We Love Earth" unit. I'll show you all the different parts to my We Love Earth Interactive Notebook and a few other resources too.
Just like the other interactive notebooks we've already covered, this one too comes with a set of corresponding classroom posters to hang in your room. But for this We Love Earth unit, there are only 4 simple posters included:
The cover pages for each core idea will help your students keep their notebook well organized.
-Til next time
The We Love Earth unit also comes with its own interactive notebook cover.
And just like all of the other core ideas covered, here is the vocabulary reinforcer for We Love Earth:
The Pocket full of Vocab matches the poster set (shown above), and also has additional words such as love, care, and celebrate. Have students pull the cards out of the pocket and review the meanings of the terms or how they apply to the topic of loving our Earth. They can quiz themselves, quiz a neighbor, and even write short definitions on the back to help them remember.
The Worm Challenge for this unit challenge students to consider what can be done with food that is waste. Rotten vegetables, scraps, uneaten leftovers...how can they help our Earth?
What can THEY do to make a difference? Have them come up with some ideas, and then write & draw them out. Then challenge them to keep track of ways that they put the 3 R's into practice.
As I've mentioned in each of the different interactive notebook post, I've noticed that kids LOVE to prove how smart they are. So I created this page that not only reinforces your class discussions during this unit, but also give the kids a chance to feel smart, review with their friends, and practice what they've learned.
Students simply pull out one of the many questions and either answer the questions or do what it says.
If your looking for a great 3R's song for your students to listen to or learn, Chelsea Woolhouse has put together a great video with Jack Johnson's 3Rs song:
If you're looking for additional activities to use during your Earth unit, I have a few more to show you, that are not part of the interactive notebook.
Here is a Non-Fiction Reading Comprehension resource that includes various reading passages with corresponding comprehension question sheets.
It's a perfect pack to send home for parents who are asking what they can do at home to help their little readers. All of the passages included have between a .1-1.0 reading comprehension level based on the Flesch-Kincaid reading comprehension level formula.
These FREE Earth-Themed Pathway Mazes are fun for early finishers or indoor recess.
These block-free mazes ensure that all students are able to successfully complete them! For more advanced mazers, have them draw in their own blocks...maybe some litter to clutter the path.
Learn about different types of biomes with this Our Earth Biomes Emergent Reader.
The Worm Challenge for this unit challenge students to consider what can be done with food that is waste. Rotten vegetables, scraps, uneaten leftovers...how can they help our Earth?
If you're up to it, a classroom compost would be an awesome addition to your discussions.
Not sure where to get started?
A Few Short Cuts will take you step by step to get you going. It's easier than you think...
...and the kids will LOVE digging up some worms! If you don't have an area at school that they can worm-search, then have them look around at home for some. They can put them in a clean 20 oz. bottle, or some other container with a secure lid, and bring them in.
The next two pages of the interactive notebook encourage your littles to get up close and personal with caring for the Earth.
Humans aren't the only living things that impact the Earth...animals and plants do too. In fact, they impact us as well! 'Living on Earth' gives you an opportunity to talk about how animals change their environment. The example given, is the groundhog, who digs holes in the ground to make his home. An example of how the Earth impacts us is when tree roots break the sidewalks we've created.
The next three pages shown in the above picture give students a chance to brainstorm and illustrate different objects in their day to day lives that they can reduce, reuse, and recycle.
If your looking for a great 3R's song for your students to listen to or learn, Chelsea Woolhouse has put together a great video with Jack Johnson's 3Rs song:
If you're looking for additional activities to use during your Earth unit, I have a few more to show you, that are not part of the interactive notebook.
Here is a Non-Fiction Reading Comprehension resource that includes various reading passages with corresponding comprehension question sheets.
You can help your little sweethearts develop a confidence in their reading skills while having fun at the same time! The kid-friendly font that is used in these passages makes reading the text even easier.
It's a perfect pack to send home for parents who are asking what they can do at home to help their little readers. All of the passages included have between a .1-1.0 reading comprehension level based on the Flesch-Kincaid reading comprehension level formula.
These FREE Earth-Themed Pathway Mazes are fun for early finishers or indoor recess.
These block-free mazes ensure that all students are able to successfully complete them! For more advanced mazers, have them draw in their own blocks...maybe some litter to clutter the path.
Learn about different types of biomes with this Our Earth Biomes Emergent Reader.
This "Our Earth" reader practices reading the sight word "our" while teaching your littles about the various types of biomes in our wonderful world. Each page has the repetitive pattern: "Our Earth has..." and covers deserts, oceans, forests, prairies, mountains, ponds, and more!
Well, that's it for Earth & Human Activity. Next, we'll cover some helpful resources that will help you cover the Engineering Design standards.
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