Pourquoi Tales

Grade: 4

*This is a lesson I taught to fourth grade students during my student teaching internship.

Discuss what a Pourquoi Tale is. Then read and discuss several Pourquoi Tales. I found that my students particularly enjoyed animal ones, such as “How the Tiger Got His Stripes.”

Have the students write their own Pourquoi Tale. Start by having them make an outline of the details of their story. Then have them write a rough draft. Assist the students in revising their tales, writing a final copy, then illustrating their tale (integrating art).

Adaptation: Allow below-level learners the chance to write at their ability; encouraging them to build their writing and vocabulary skills.

Changes in Matter

Grade: 4

*This is a science lesson I taught to fourth grade students during my student teaching internship.

Read, discuss, and complete the ‘A Heated Discussion’ worksheet, which talks about changes in matter such a condensation, evaporation, freezing, and boiling.

Show the students a solution of water and Epsom salt. Ask the students to predict what will happen if they use the solution to paint on paper.

Have the students create a scene on dark blue construction paper using crayons. Then have the students paint on the picture using the Epsom salt solution (integrating art). As the solution dries, the water evaporates, leaving the Epsom Salt.

Idaho History- Oregon Trail Postcards

Grade: 4

*This is an activity I had my fourth grade students complete during my student teaching internship.

1. This is a follow up art activity to be completed after reading and studying about the Oregon Trail.

2. Have the students think about what the various landmarks, animals, and other items seen from the covered wagon on the Oregon Trail.

3. Have students design a post card based on a sight or landmark from the Oregon Trail.

4. I had them decorate one side like a picture postcard and then write a journal entry on the other side, just like many of the journals we read while studying the Oregon Trail.

 

Adaptation: Allow below-level writers to write a shorter journal entry that is at their level.

Idaho History Missionaries

Grade: 4

*This is a lesson I taught as part of an instructional sequence during my student teaching internship.

1. Using the provided textbook, as well as the power point presentation (Integrating Technology), read and discuss the information about the missionaries that came to Idaho.

 

2. As you read, fill in the graphic organizer with as many details as possible.

3. Review and check for understanding.

4. Give each student a piece of construction paper and the picture with the state outline and missionary logo. Have the students fold the construction paper into a brochure and decorate the front as desired. (Integrating Art).

 

5. Now give each student a picture page of all the missionaries and scraps of construction paper. Have the students glue pictures to rectangles of paper, write the missionaries names, then write a description of each missionary.

   

*For below-level students, allow them to write shorter descriptions. Have correct spellings of names available.

Bird Glyph

Grades: 3-4

*This is a lesson I taught to third and fourth graders at six different elementary schools as part of an afterschool science program.

1. As a class, read and discuss the bird information sheet.

2. Have the students answer the questions on the worksheet. Have the students not only circle the box with the correct answer, but have them circle the box underneath the correct answer.

3. Have the students follow the directions in their circled box in order to color the birds sheet.

Hibernation Glyph

Grades: 5-6

*This is a lesson I taught to fifth and sixth graders at six different elementary schools as part of an afterschool science program.

1. As a class, read and discuss the hibernation information sheet.

2. Have the students answer the questions on the worksheet. Have the students not only circle the box with the correct answer, but have them circle the box underneath the correct answer.

3. Have the students follow the direction from their question worksheet to complete their bear coloring and drawing sheet.

Penguin Glyph

Grades: 1-2

*This is a lesson I taught to first and second graders at six different elementary schools as part of an afterschool science program.

1. As a class, read and discuss the penguin information sheet.

2. Have the students answer the questions on the worksheet. Have the students not only circle the box with the correct answer, but have them circle the box underneath the correct answer.

3. Have the students follow the directions under the correct answer box in order to color the penguin.

  

 

The Four Seasons

Grade: 1

*This is a lesson I taught to first grade students as part of an instructional sequence during my student teaching pre-internship.

1. Read the book Watching the Seasons by Edana Eckart.

2. Using the power point slide, teach the names and order of the four seasons. (The first slide in the picture below is the menu slide of my power point. I would open it here each day and click on the picture that I needed to go to!)

3. Model the four seasons card game, putting the seasons in the correct order, then have the students complete the activity.

4. Have the students complete the first page in their seasons book. For below-level writers, have the words outlined for these students to trace.

5. When students finish the first page in their book, have them write their name on and color the cover page, then glue it to the cover of their seasons book.

Spring

Grade: 1

*This is a lesson I taught to first grade students as part of an instructional sequence during my student teaching pre-internship.

1. Read the story How Do You Know It’s Spring? by Allan Fowler.

2. Use the spring power point slides to teach the characteristics of spring.

3. Model the spring sort to the students, then split them into groups and have them complete the activity.

4.Check for understanding.

5. Have the students complete the two spring pages in their seasons book. For below-level writers, have the words outlined for those students to trace.

Summer

Grade: 1

*This is a lesson I taught to first grade students as part of an instructional sequence during my student teach pre-internship.

1. Read the story How Do You Know It’s Summer? by Allan Fowler.

2. Use the summer power point slides to teach the characteristics of summer.

3. Model the summer sort, then split the students into partners and have them complete.

4. Review and check for understanding.

5. Have the students complete the two summer pages in their season book. For below-level writers, have the words outlined for them to trace.

Autumn/Fall

Grade: 1

*This is a lesson I taught to first grade students as part of an instructional sequence during my student teaching pre-internship.

1. Read the story How Do You Know It’s Fall? by Allan Fowler.

2. Use the fall slides of the power point to teach the characteristics of fall.

3. Model the fall sort, then split the students into small groups, and have them complete the card sort.

4. Review and question to check for understanding.

5. Have the students complete the two fall pages of their seasons book. For below-level writers, have the words pre-traced for them to trace.

6. As students finish, have them complete the jack-o'-lantern symmetry page. (Integrating Math)