The
Next Generation Science Standards have a complicated history. They trace back
to the 2011 National Research Council report entitled A Framework for K-12 Science Education and went through multiple drafts that were commented upon by, well, pretty much
anyone who had any interest in them.
In
the end, the drafters developed statements called “performance expectations,”
and the idea is that test questions will be closely aligned to them. So I’m
going to write out the performance expectations (PEs), word for word, and work
directly from them. I’m also going to include any “clarification statements”
specified by the people who drafted the PEs.
Here’s the first kindergarten life science PE:
observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans)
need to survive. [Clarification Statement: Examples of patterns could include that
animals need to take in food but plants do not; the different kinds of food
needed by different types of animals; the requirement of plants to have light;
and, that all living things need water.]
here are some books that can be used to directly address the PE:
Snail’s Spell by
Joanne Ryder
A Backyard Predator by
Sarah Campbell
Jack’s Garden by Henry Cole
Soil, Sun by Chris Peterson
learn by doing, so try this kinesthetic activity. Have your students count
off by fours. Number ones are members of TEAM WATER. Number twos are members of
TEAM SUNLIGHT. Threes are members of TEAM FOOD. When children are “up,” they
must use sequential letters in the alphabet to name a living thing that needs
his or her team name to survive. If TEAM SUNLIGHT starts, the first player
might say “apple tree.” If TEAM WATER comes next, the player might say “bat.”
Then a player from TEAM FOOD might say “cheetah.” Continue the game until
everyone has had a turn.
Invite your students
to create visual acrostic poems that reinforce the basic needs of plants and
animals. They may choose any of the following as a starter word: water,
sunlight, air, or food. Here’s an example:
tree]
elephant]
done, you can post their poems on a bulletin board entitled What Plants and
Animals Need to Live and Grow.
Most Popular Posts
Resignation
Re-thinking “E” Is for Everyone
We Need Diverse Nonfiction
The 5 Kinds of Nonfiction
Behind the Books: Does Story Appeal to Everyone?
10 STEM Picture Books
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Melissa Stewart
Nonfiction Authors Dig Deep by Deborah Heiligman
Is It Fiction or Nonfiction? A Twitterchat
5 Kinds of Nonfiction, Book Lists
Topics
5 Responses
Thanks for sharing this. I'm so glad you tackled these connections and I can't wait to see your book when it's finally out. At NSTA in April all the sessions on making these connections were led by publishers pushing their informational texts. I only saw children's books in the Elementary Extravaganza, so thank you!
I've been spending time this summer looking at the intersection of the standards for mathematical practice and the standards for science and engineering. It's interesting stuff. Now if I only lived in a Common Core state …
On 9/24 AAAS's ScienceNetLinks is hosting a twitter chat about the intersection of STEM/CCSS and the Common Core. Here's the link: fb.me/Z7ybkOdq
Melissa, I love your activity idea. It would be especially fun for kids, like mine, who can't sit still. I'm looking forward to more in this series.
Kirsten, if you do try it with your kids, please let me know. I'd love to see pictures and/or hear how it goes.
Thanks, Melissa. I'll definitely tune in for this.