Coming Soon: National Wildlife Week

LIFE_COVER
National Wildlife Week
, an event sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation, is March 9-15.

Prep your students for a week of awareness about wildlife using  the book Lifetimes.

The book presents 24 “lifetimes.” Beginning with “A lifetime for a mayfly is about one day” and including a lifetime for an earthworm is about six years, for a giant sequoia is about 2,000 years, and for the universe is about 15 to 20 billion years.

LESSON PLAN: Same/Different
After reading about chimpanzees, students list similarities and differences between chimps and humans. They then expand the concept to other objects, both natural and man-made.

Suggested Grade Level: K-3

Materials:

  • The book, Lifetimes, written by teacher David Rice
  • Paper and pencil for each student

Procedure:

  1. Read aloud Lifetimes. Then read again the page about chimpanzees.
  2. As a class, list the characteristics of chimps based on the information in the book. Add information they may know from other sources. Then list some of the  characteristics of humans.
  3. Using the lists as a starting point, ask students to identify similarities between chimps and humans by making statements that begin with the word “both.” For example: Both chimps and humans can learn to use tools. Both have forward facing eyes. Both are carried by their mothers when they are young.
  4. Have students state differences following these examples: A chimp usually sleeps in a tree, and a human usually sleeps in a bed.  A chimp doesn’t wear clothes, and a human usually wears some type of clothing.
  5. After compiling a long list, divide the class into small groups of 3-5 students and have them list similarities and differences for the “Other Pairs” (below). After about 15 minutes, have students choose their best ideas and share them with the whole class.

Other Pairs: submarine-fish, window-mirror, blade of grass-fully grown tree, sun-lamp, hand-foot, sky-ocean, orange-apple, lake-puddle, flashlight-candle, table-chair

Extension:
Each plant or animal in the book is practically a lesson plan in itself, with “tell about it,” “think about it,” and “look it up” challenges.

Common Core ELA Standards (K-3)
Reading Informational Text: Key Ideas and Details: K.1, 1.1, 2.1, 3.1; K.3, 1.3, 2.3, 3.3
Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration: K.1, 1.1, 2.1, 3.1

Next Generation Science Standards (DCI)
Life Sciences:
LS1.A: Structure and Function
LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms
Ls1.C: Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms
LS1.D: Information Processing

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subscribe     Blog by Carol Malnor I love making connections: kids and nature, science and reading, fun and learning. I discovered the joy of connecting Dawn Publications' books with kids when I was a classroom teacher. Dawn's books were easy to incorporate into my lessons and the kids loved them. I used picture books with students of all ages, from primary school all the way up through 9th grade. Over the years, my relationship with Dawn changed and developed, and I authored Dawn’s Teacher’s Guides as well as writing books for children 4-14 years old. ARTICLE How to Use Creative Nonfiction Picture Books in Support of Common Core and Science ACTIVITIES Dawn Publications STANDARDS Common Core State Standards Next Generation Science Standards National Science Teachers Association Picture Perfect Science   OTHER FAVORITES Dawn Publications Children and Nature Network
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