Sept.- ongoing COMMUNITY How can we make our classroom a safe and happy place for all to learn? How can we solve problems or conflicts? How can we contribute to the community outside our classroom? Create a classroom compact to promote responsible citizenship Develop intrapersonal and interpersonal skills Social interaction and volunteerism at Neighbors in Need warehouse Letters and visits with second grade pen-pals Observation Group participation and discussions Written responses and reflections Use of Open Circle terms and skills Open Circle Skills Selfevaluations Children s literature Field trip to Neighbors in Need warehouse Field trip to Brookwood School to visit pen pals Open Circle classroom curriculum Preparing a Rainbow Day assembly about responsible citizenship and bringing in food for Neighbors In Need Sept.- ongoing MAPPING What is a continent? Where are the continents and oceans on a map? What information can we get from different types of resources Find USA on map Identify seven continents, major oceans, and countries of North America Make own map of the 7 continents Research continents to Observation Group discussion and individual participation Maps created by the children Labeling maps Maps Globes Videos Published and teachercreated theme units Puzzles and games
including atlases, globes, and maps? 1 identify key facts Make distinctions among city, state, country, and continent Atlases Literature/ informational books Create a class map of the continents Poetry/songs Sept. Dec. COMING TO AMERICA Investigate life of native settlers Observation of and participation in: Literature and informational books Early Settlers/ Later Immigration Where is the USA? Who were the native settlers? Who else came to America? When and why? How have various cultures influenced Imagine life as an immigrant using: Ellis Island simulation and literature Learn about experiences of refugees and victims of forced immigration through literature and guest speakers Research and present one s own cultural - class discussions - individual and group work Written responses: - narrative - descriptive/ creative - expository Individual presentations Interdisciplinary connections: art, library, music www.plimoth.org Videos Simulations Pilgrim and Wampanoag games Field trip to Plimoth
American society? How do Native American stories and legends help us understand Native American culture? What is your cultural heritage? Why is it important to you? * How does learning about other cultures help us to appreciate and respect all people? How do you and can you connect to your ancestors? heritage using library resources and family input Read Children of the Morning Light and other Native American stories Learn about documenting sources Discuss cause and effect of historical events Introduce sense of time through construction and analysis of personal timelines Compare and contrast: our own lives to that of native settlers and immigrants, the lives of native settlers and immigrants of cultural heritage projects Oral or written compare and contrast of cultures Construction of Wampanoag Village Plantation, Wampanoag Homesite, Mayflower II Published and teacher created theme units Historical documents and photographs Cultural Heritage Celebration Science: Sink and Float, 66 Day Observation of Mayflower food Library document about citing sources for Cultural Heritage Project Library Resource Guide Jan.-Mar. MEXICO How is daily life in Mexico similar and Compare/contrast our own lives to current Mexican culture Participation in class discussions, individual and group work Literature and informational books Videos
different to life where we live? Where in the world is Mexico? How are the lives of Mexicans similar to one another and how might they be different? What are the climates and habitats of Mexico? What are the animals and plants that live in these habitats? How have climate and geographical features affected the Mexican people over time? How do we learn about a country s culture through its traditions, art and music? What are some of the cultural contributions (in food, art, music) that Mexico has given the Investigate and experience Mexican food and art -study Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera and their artwork -sample foods that grow in Mexico -make our own representations of types of Mexican art Identify and discuss geography and climates of Mexico through books and other resources about habitats -exploration of topographical maps of Mexico -locate different climates and habitats -connect plants and animals to where they live through Final written assessment about important facts learned related to art, food and geography of Mexico Models of animals and habitats Journal reflections Map the migration routes of gray whale and monarch butterfly Comprehension questions based on reading Note-taking based on internet, video and book sources Student s written legend of a volcano (?) Published and teacher created theme units Photographs Library Resource Guide Field Trip to Café Azteca Art- study and creation of pottered Aztec suns DK s Amazing Animal Journey Legend of Mexicatl, legends of Mexican volcanoes
world? research What is migration? How and why do some animals migrate from northern North America to southern North America? -learn about the flag and crest of Mexico -track the migration of ancient Mexican people and discover what elements may have effected them (eg: volcanoes, desert, etc.) Investigate migration -learn about monarch butterflies and their migration and natural history -learn about gray whales and their migration and natural history -compare and contrast the migrations of these two animals -locate the migratory paths of monarchs and gray whales
-explore impediments to the monarch and gray whale migrations -discuss the special features of the destinations of the gray whales and monarchs