Exploring Animals

Animals all around.

Have fun exploring and discovering all about the groups, characteristics, and habitats.

These are the groups covered.

An anchor chart details characteristics of each group.

Informational text is detailed for each group and organizers for students to record information.

Word work activities for each group that include specific names of animals, insects, fish that are in each group.

There are three animal sorts and three compare and contrast.

Reporting is simple and self guided using the sheets provided.  They help students gather key information and prepare to report on it.

Larger pages are available for life cycles, identifying habitats, drawing and a cover to include all student reports.  **Not shown are differentiated writing pages.

For creative reporting there is this delightful flip book for your class to report on their animal.

Find it here.

Let's Explore LIFE!

Let's explore...LIFE!

This packet was written to meet the 1st Grade Next Generation Science Standards BUT it is perfect for the exploration of plants, animals, and YOU for everyone.

Plants, Animals, and Us!

How are we alike yet different?

LET'S EXPLORE!

Each section of this packet has suggested reading (both informational and realistic fiction), a list of specific objectives to be met, and vocabulary for posting.

There is a cover for keeping all the activities together.

I like to make them into a booklet by copying and stapling.

Because of the cut and paste activities do not run them front to back.

Here you see the cover, a page with informational text to help the students gather information, and a sorting activity for pre assessment.

These pages focus on the parts of plants and their importance.

Next students complete an experiment, write about it and then reflect.

Here we see a second experiment, a life cycle activity, and again a reflection.

Animals are similar to plants.

 Cover, Informational text, sort.

Life cycles

Characteristics of specific animals.

How animals communicate...text and predictions.

Next we look at specific animals and then compare animals to plants.

In the end we look at US!

Students will explore traits, generations, communication, and survival.

There is a family/school activity sharing baby pictures and a letter from parents.

In the end each student will CREATE!

Find it here.

Check out this full packet on plants.

Sally Ride and Neil Armstrong...American Heroes

Two American Heroes

Sally Ride and Neil Armstrong

Each in their own way an explorer discovering and sharing new information for us about space.

There are vocabulary cards with pictures for posting.

They are followed by word work...ABC order, parts of speech, making words.

Informational text is available in two levels.

There is also a "reading for detail" true or false.

Next you will find idea gathering opportunities.

There are opportunities for students to write about the ideas they gatted hered as well as opinion opportunities.

For Sally the students will look at the definition for astronaut and for Neil they will look at explorer.

Again their are differentiated final write pages.

And for your math center both Neil and Sally have two math games that accompany their study.

The activities shown here are for Sally Ride.

Those available for Neil Armstrong are similar yet a differentiated.

Find it here.

Exploring Space...Patterns and Cycles

Let's explore...SPACE!

This packet was written to meet the 1st Grade Next Generation Science Standards BUT it is perfect for and exploration of patterns and cycles in space for everyone.

This is a list of the MOST important ideas presented in this packet.

Here is a list of specific books I found helpful when teaching this Unit with my class.

I especially LOVE "ME and my place in Space".

There is a cover so students can keep all of their activities together.

I like to group them as a booklet and staple it.

There is also a page that discusses the important facts students will cover while exploring space.

 12 Vocabulary cards are available for posting around the room with pictures.

There is also a 10 page mini book filled with important information for each student.

Just print on collate, cut through the middle, staple.

Students will explore the day/night sky.

Students will explore the positions of the sun and what effect it has on our earth.

Students will create an interactive sun, moon, earth to watch their rotations.

Students will explore the phases of the moon.

There is a parent note to explain what the class is studying and a homework assignment.

There are two opportunities for gathering ideas and then writing.

Each writing project has a graphic organizer, class book cover, and differentiated writing page.

Find it here.

Blast off...Reach for the Stars

If you like Exploring Space/Patterns and Cycles this may be of interest to you.

Keeping Organization Fun!

I am an organizational FREAK!

I love planning my month, week, and day!

In fact I think I have as much fun planning as I do accomplishing the tasks.

Through the years I have realized that if my "to do" lists are CUTSIE I somehow love staying organized.  I know it is a tad OCD but I just can't help it.

This year I have discovered that using "journal" in connection with my calendar has really been helpful.

I like the blank notebook style pages that I can keep right by my side and add to as needed.

As I am creating a packet I love listing what I need to include.  If I need to keep to keep tallies or design something the blank pages are so helpful.

When the project is complete I just tear out the pages and begin anew.

AND

Check out my "beribboned" paper clips!

I love them.

They make marking pages and clipping my projects together so colorful.

They were so easy to make.

I purchased a package of large paper clips and some ribbon.

Tie the ribbon on the clip and ...

You have a BRIGHT way to keep your papers and ideas together.

Staying organized has never been so much fun!