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 Mountain Men

Grade: 4

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

1. Using the provided textbook, read and discuss about the Mountain Men in Idaho’s History.

2. While reading, fill out this graphic organizer, which documents clothing, food, shelter and family life of the Mountain Men.

3. Have the students write a creative story as if they were Mountain Men in this time period in Idaho. (Integrating Language Arts).

* For below-level learners, allow them to write short word answers in the graphic organizer. Assist them as much as possible in organizing and writing their stories.

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)

Winter

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 Winter? by Allan Fowler.

2. Use the winter slides on the power point presentation to teach the characteristics of winter.

3. Model to the students how to complete the winter sort, then split the students into partners and have them complete.

4. Review and check for understanding.

5. Have students complete the two winter pages in their seasons book. For below-level writers, have the words pre-traced.

How do the trees change?

Grades: 1

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

1. Begin by reading the story A Busy Year by Leo Lionni

2. Use the tree slide of the power point presentation to teach students how trees change through the seasons.

3. Model to students how to complete the tree sort, then divide them into groups and have them complete the sort.

4. Review to check for understanding.

5. Have the students complete the tree page in their four seasons book. For below-level writers, have the words pre-traced onto writing paper.

6. As students finish, have them complete another tree worksheet. The student picks a season, writes it on the line, then colors the tree to match the characteristics of a tree during that season.

*Home outreach: Have students take this worksheet home for their parents to help them complete.

What should I wear?

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 Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London.

2. Use the clothing power point slide from the four seasons power point presentation to teach that we wear different clothing for each season.

3. Use the clothing cards, to guide the students through deciding which clothes are appropriate for which seasons. This is also modeling for their upcoming worksheet.

4. Have the students complete the clothing worksheet, then go over as a class.

5. Review and question the students to check for understanding.

6. Have the students complete the clothing page in their four seasons book. For below-level writers, have the words pre-traced for them.

7. While the students are completing their season books, have the rotate through the computers completing the “What Will Bella Wear?” online activity. (Integration of technology)http://www.storyplace.org/preschool/activities/bellawear.asp

Color as Camouflage

Grades: 1-6

*This is a lesson I taught to first through sixth grade students as part of a weeklong science camp.

1. Spread colored worms (pipe cleaners) onto the grass. Give students a set amount of time (according to worksheet) to pick up as many worms as possible.

2. Have students count how many worms of each color they picked up. Have them fill in the chart on the worksheet.

3. Repeat the first and second step for the second amount of time.

4. Collect and analyze all data, then answer and discuss the questions on the bottom portion of the worksheet.

5. Read and discuss A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni. This book describes how chameleons change color in order to camouflage into their current environment (Language Arts Integration).

6. Give students a chameleon outline and allow them to paint as desired (integrating art). Have each student share their chameleon with the class, identifying where the animals would best camouflage.