| TREES
MODULE MATRIX |
 |
SYNOPSIS |
SCIENCE
CONTENT |
THINKING
PROCESSES |
|
1. |
FALL
TREES |
|
Students
begin their study of trees by going on a walk looking at the
variety and structure of trees in the schoolyard. A living tree
becomes part of the classroom for 2 weeks, and students work
with representational materials to look more closely at the
shapes of trees and their parts. Students adopt trees to observe
changes throughout the year, and complete the activity by planting
their class tree on the school grounds. |
•
Trees have identifiable structures.
• Trees are a resource to people and other animals.
• Trees are growing, living organisms.
• Trees have basic needs, including water, light, and
nutrients from soil.
• Trees are identifiable by their shapes. |
•
Observe trees in the schoolyard.
• Compare trees for similarities and differences.
• Communicate observations of trees. |
|
2. |
LEAVES |
|
Students
begin with a schoolyard walk, focusing on the leaves of trees.
They match leaves with geometric shapes, go on a leaf hunt to
make comparisons of leaves, work at centers with representational
materials, and make a leaf book. This investigation concludes
with a story, Our Very Own Tree. |
•
Leaves have identifiable structures.
• Leaf shapes can be compared to geometric shapes.
• Leaves can be identified by their shapes.
• Leaves have many properties that can be compared. |
•
Observe size, shape, texture, and color of tree leaves.
• Compare the shapes of leaves to common geometric shapes.
• Compare the size and edges of leaves.
• Communicate observed similarities and differences. |
|
3. |
TREES
THROUGH THE SEASONS |
|
Students
extend their understanding of trees as a growing, changing,
living part of their world. During each season, the schoolyard
trees are visited and their twigs, leaves, flowers, and seeds
are observed and compared to those from a previous season. |
•
Trees have identifiable structures that serve different functions.
• Trees change through the seasons.
• Trees are a resource. They are useful to people and
other animals. |
•
Observe seasonal changes in the life of schoolyard trees.
• Observe the structures of twigs, flowers, fruits, seeds,
and bark of trees.
• Compare changes in parts of trees through the seasons.
• Communicate observations and
comparisons of schoolyard trees. |
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