MeramecKindergarten

SocialStudies/Science

Year-at-a-Glance

September     SummerFun

                                           All About Me

                                           Making New Friends

October                  Fall Changes

November     Thanksgiving—A Harvest Festival

                                          FOSSUnit—Trees and Weather

December           Kwanzaa—A Harvest Festival

January          Winter Wonders

                                         FOSS Unit—Animals Two by Two

February         Chinese New Year

                                     FOSS Unit—Animals Two by Two

April                Spring Surprises

                           FOSS Unit—Materials in Our World

May                  Cinco de Mayo

                           FOSS Unit—Materials in Our World

Full Option Science System (FOSS) Units

Trees and Weather:                                   

The giant sequoia is the most massive living organism on Earth. It is a tree, magnificent in dimension and awe inspiring in its longevity and durability.
To a primary student, the oak on the corner, the pines at the park, and the mulberry tree at school are all giants. Systematic investigation of trees over the seasons will bring students to a better understanding of trees' place at school and in the community. Students will observe day-to-day changes in weather over the year, as well as the impact weather has on living things. The Trees and Weather Module provides students with solid experiences to help them know plants and their place on Earth. In this module, students will:

• Observe and compare trees, using the senses.
• Observe and compare the shapes of leaves; compare leaf shapes to geometric shapes.
• Identify trees as resources that are used in everyday life.
• Observe weather by using senses and simple tools.
• Communicate observations made about diff erent kinds of trees, leaves, and weather conditions orally and through drawings.
• Observe and record seasonal changes to living things.

Materials in our World:

The Materials in Our World Module provides experiences that heighten primary students' awareness, curiosity, and understanding of the physical world and provides opportunities for young students to engage in scientific and engineering practices. Students observe and compare the properties of a variety of kinds of wood, paper, and fabric, and discover what happens when they subject the materials to a number of tests and interactions. In this module, students will:

• Observe and compare physical properties of different kinds of wood samples, using the senses.
• Observe and compare properties and structures of different kinds of paper and fabric.
• Observe how wood, paper, and fabric interact with water.
• Explore the technology of making wood products.
• Observe and describe how and where fabrics are used.
• Observe, describe, and mix earth materials with water to observe properties.
• Communicate observations made about different kinds of materials, orally and through drawings.
• Use knowledge of the properties of materials to create useful and/or aesthetic objects.

Animals Two by Two:

The Animals Two by Two Module provides early-childhood students with close and personal interaction with some common land and water animals. Appropriate classroom habitats are established, and students learn to care for the animals. In four investigations, animals are studied in pairs. Students observe and care for one animal over time, and then they are introduced to another animal similar to the first but with differences in structure and behavior. The firsthand experiences are enriched with closeup photos of animals, some related to animals that students have observed in class and some to animals that are new. This process enhances observation, communication, and comparison. In this module, students will

• Observe and describe the structures of a variety of common animals–fish, birds, snails, earthworms, and isopods.
• Compare structures and behaviors of different pairs of animals.
• Observe interactions of animals with their surroundings.
• Describe properties of objects, compare them, and sort them by properties.
• Communicate observations and comparisons orally and through words and drawings.
• Handle animals carefully, and participate in the care and feeding of classroom animals.