GR. 1 SCIENCE UNIT

Lessons

1: Animals
2: Animal Charades
3: Animals Shapes
4: Animal Coats
5: Lunch Time
6: Animal Friends
7: Animal Sort
8: Off to Petland
9: Basic Needs for Pets
10: The Pet Vet
11: Staying Alive
12: Animal Habitats
13: Animal Adaptations
14: Animal Homes
15: Staying Alive
16: Animal Life Cycles
17: Animal Babies
18: Birds and Reptiles

Introduction to the Unit

Animals is a great topic any time of the year, as children love learning about the fascinating world of animals. Animals are all around us. Even we are animals! I teach this Science Unit during my Animal Theme, which further enhances the activity possibilities. I have included many activities which all can be modified to suit your individual classroom needs. In this unit, animals are observed and compared; their needs and their adaptations to their environment are looked at. The relationships among animals and between animals and humans are discussed, as is the development from birth or hatching to maturity.

• Ask the children to bring in any animal related items to create a class collection. You will be amazed at what comes through the door-stuffed animals, animal figurines, clothing, pictures, towels, books, games, you name it! (Take the opportunity to graph or categorize the items.)
• Create an animal mural on a bulletin board and label each picture with the name of the animal. This will prove to be invaluable as you teach your unit!
• Have the students keep an Animal Journal to record the activities and share what they have learned from them. This is a wonderful evaluation tool! (See appendix.)
• There are many Internet resources that will help make the world of animals more accessible to students. (Please see the enclosed listed web sites.) Don't be afraid to use them, as the students can find excellent animal photos and even hear the sounds they make!
• Take class trips, as seeing and touching are the best learning tools yet! (Please see the enclosed list of wonderful field trips to take your students on!)

It was my intent when writing this unit to only scratch at the surface of the wonderful world of the animal kingdom. Please supplement the activities with ideas from your own "Animals" file. I hope you have fun and enjoy the activities I have presented.

Debbie