Alaska Models - Primary (K - 2)

Note: These lessons were created before 2003 and the science standards they reference use the older standards coding system.

Solar System Unit

http://pec.jun.alaska.edu:16080/~meyerv/
Solar system.pdf --Standards: Science, technology, Arts, Language Arts
This project-based unit is designed to introduce the solar system to students in grades K-3. The students culminating group project answers the essential question: Why can we live on Earth? Can we live on other planets? The students create their own three dimensional planet and justify how the planet would support life to a panel of students and teachers. Students will explore the relationships between the Sun and the Earth, how planets orbit the sun, and what elements are needed to support life for space exploration.

Garden Unit

http://pec.jun.alaska.edu:16080/~sharmae
Garden_unit.pdf --Standards: Math, Art, Geography, Science, Language Arts
Primary students practice their measurement and mapping skills by creating a planting map (drawn to scale) for a proposed School Garden. The unit starts with a “virtual” internet community garden tour. Using a variety of children’s literature for springboard activities, students learn about community gardens, how to make maps, and the benefits of gardening. Working in small groups students use information they gather from gardening “experts,” seed catalogs, books, and the internet to create well-informed garden designs. Students transfer the information from their “bird’s eye” view map to an artistic depiction of what the proposed garden will look like at the height of the growing season. The culminating task is a group presentation to the School Garden Committee in which they use their map and artwork to illustrate and defend their proposed garden design.