Author: Sherry Carver
Date Created: 9/5/2003 4:43:33 PM EST

Subject(s):
Art, Mathematics, Research, Science, Weather

IMPLEMENTATION

Learning Context:
My general theme is origins. I have covered the cycles of life in people and frogs so far this year.
Due to the fact that the seasons, will be changing this month, I thought it might be good to chart the children's observations in the weather. One focus will be on, how the weather affects the foods we eat, what people wear, and the effects of weather changes on various animals. A field trip to an apple orchard, where children can count and pick apples, using all five senses will stimulate learning.
We will note what holidays people celebrate during different seasons. The history, and culture of different races can be addressed through various experiences.
The introduction of the calendar, months, weeks, days of the week can be an extension off of the seasons.
The rotation of the earth, and how it affects our days and nights. The rhythms and cycles of our bodies and our need for sleep. Healthy habits for healthy children. (Brushing teeth, regular bedtimes, etc...)
As spring approaches, new life will be the main attraction at the farms, in plants and animals. This will be a natural tie into what we learned in the fall about the beginnings of life in families. Field trips to the farm will be exciting and adventuresome for the preschoolers to see lambs, ducklings, chicks, calves, etc....Again, counting, extending vocabulary, and phonic awareness through all our activities. Writing and recording through drawings, writings, photographs and paintings, will aid in the development of small motor skills needed for handwriting.

Procedure:
1. Ask children to describe their prior knowledge of weather.
2. Write their responses on the chalkboard.
3. Ask what sound do they hear at the beginning of the word weather?
4. Ask how many parts or syllables does the word weather have? Clap out the answer. Ask children to do the same.
5. Ask children's prior knowledge of what a chart is and why are they used.
6. Ask children what a prediction is?
7. Ask children to make a prediction on how many times it will rain this week. How many sunny days we will have? Cloudy, etc.
8. Ask children what picture best represents today's weather?
9. Draw a check mark in the correct column to
chart the weather for a week and compare with the children's predictions.
10. Show the pictures in the book "What Will The Weather Be Like Today?" Ask students if they know what descriptive words are?

Hand out cotton balls, spray water bottles, hand out a few flashlights, and a few small grey blankets. Ask students to describe what item best describes what type of weather shown on the chart. Let the children dramatize the items that represent the weather.

Then collect the items. Pass out a small cup of miniature marshmellows, and cheerios. Tell them they can pretend the miniature marshmellows are pretend snowflakes. Then read the story.
For the math lesson, have the children count as you drop cotton balls from the sky. Count: One White snowflake, Two White Snowflakes, Three White Snowflakes
up to Ten.