Overview
1st Trimester
Introduction to Science - During the first weeks of school, the kindergartners were given an orientation to their new science classroom. They were oriented on where to find supplies, where to find science reading books and games, where the off limit areas are and hot to safely observe our class pets. Safety rules and emergency procedures (fire, earthquake, lockdown) in the science classroom were explained as well as practiced.
Germs! Germs! Germs! – As the school year started, it was important for the kindergartners to understand why the teachers are always asking them to wash their hands. The students read and discussed what are germs, what germs can do to us, and how to stop germs from spreading. Students also participated in a lab called Glow Germ. Using a lotion that glows under a black light, they were able to see how germs transfer from one person to the next with a simple hand shake. Visually seeing the germs pass from one person to the next really caught the students attention. Proper washing techniques were also demonstrated and practiced.
The Five Senses – In working towards thinking like a scientists, one of the first skills students learn in the scientific process is observations. Students observe by using all five of their senses: hearing, tasting, smelling, feeling and touching. Studenets have already learned about their sense of hearing and seeing. Some activities include Insect Bingo and Name that Sound. Theis topic will continue into the second trimester to include activities such as listening jars, feeling bags and smelling jars.
2nd Trimester
The Five Senses – Students continued their study on the Five Senses. Students participated in activities which involved using their sense of smelling, tasting, hearing, seeing and touching. Some activities included: Taste Testing, Listening Jars, Smelling Jars and Feeling Bag. Students ended the unit by putting to use all their senses for the Popcorn activity.
Classifying – One component of the scientific process is the skill of classifying objects by their attributes. Students learned that scientists sort and organize objects into groups by their color, size and shape. Activities in this unit sorting different objects, organizing themselves by certain attributes, such as shirt color and birthday.
Plants – The kindergartners began their study on plants. To start off on the complicated life of plants, they learned about the parts of a flowering plant and what plants need in order to grow. They worked on their drawing skills of a plant and labeling the parts. Students also applied their new knowledge of plant parts to their grade level plant, kalo.
