Pre-K Guidelines/ Examples of Child Behavior VI.B.1. Child observes, investigates, describes and discusses the characteristics of organisms. Describes color, size, and shape of organisms. Describes animals needs for food, water, air, and shelter or plants needs for water, nutrients, air, and light. Compares differences and similarities of animals (fish live in water, dogs and cats have fur, all birds have feathers). Uses the tools of science (hand lens and measurement tools) to observe and discuss plants and animals. VI.B.3. Child observes, investigates, describes and discusses the relationship of organisms to their environments. Describes characteristics and differences between living and nonliving. Discusses how animals and humans depend on plants and other organisms such as birds eat seeds, cows eat grass, humans eat vegetables and meat. Observes, discusses, and records living organism (spiders, insects, worms, snails, birds) in their natural environments to learn about their habits. Observes, discusses, and records seasonal changes in the neighborhood trees and organisms (watches for birds in the spring as they collect nesting materials). Discusses how seasons affect daily life (clothes worn or activities played). Describes and explains animal behaviors (a bird building a nest). II.D.1. Child uses a wide variety of words to label and describe people, places, things, and actions Examples include but are not limited to: Demonstrates understanding by identifying and following directions that include the new vocabulary concepts. Explains his favorite part of a fiction or nonfiction book that was read. Uses the new words introduced by the teacher while engaging in theme-or content-related activities and play. Learning Objectives The student will gain knowledge of the Serengeti through observation and discussion. The bullets listed above are excerpts from the Example Student Behaviors from the Pre-K Guidelines. These are examples that demonstrate the rigor at which the students should be working. Use these as a guide when planning your instruction as they are not directly tied to EcoLand activities and content will need to be adjusted to fit your topic. 1
Quick Facts Vocabulary Serengeti means an endless plain. Serengeti is found in East Central Africa. Maasai People- An ethic group of semi nomadic people that are known for their distinctive customs and dress. Official Website for Serengeti National Park www.serengeti.org Materials World Map Globe Watch African Safari (You will find this website under the section Books) Extension Paper bags (3) Animal pictures provided Plains Grassland Migrate Prey Herbivore Omnivore Carnivore Customs Continent Books Han da s Surprise ISBN-10: 043905653 ISBN-13: 978-0439056540 A Story, A story ISBN-10: 0689712014 ISBN-13: 978-0689712012 Activity: With adult assistance, have the students locate the continent of Africa on the world map or globe and compare that to their current location. Discuss the differences between the map and the globe. Discuss how different parts of the world look and feel different. Discuss habitats that the students may be familiar to the students first. Then begin adding in habitats that may be less familiar, while discussing their similarities and difference to their known habitats. For example you may compare the forest to the dessert. Discuss the word migrate and the purpose that it serves for animals. Discuss the slides in the African Safari on the African Safari website. For example notice the landscape, trees, plants, animals. Focus on what the animals eat. The teacher will need to Google images of the Serengeti landscape for questions below or follow the below link. https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&gl=us&tbm=isch&q=habitat%20&gs=&gws_rd=ssl#hl=en&gl=us&tbm=isch&q=habitat+serengeti Questions: 1. How would you travel to the Serengeti? And why would you choose that way of travel? 2. How is the Serengeti different than where we live? 3. How is the Serengeti similar to where we live? 4. Why would animals migrate? 2
Extension Ideas/Resources: Introduce the students to the vocabulary words herbivore, omnivore, and carnivore. Prepare 3 paper bags illustrating the diet for an herbivore, omnivore and carnivore with the pictures provided. Use animal pictures provided to discuss what animals eat. The students will sort the animals into the bags. See below: Herbivore Seeds Berries Grass 3
Carnivore Meat Eggs Fish Insect 4
Omnivore Berries Meat 5
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Answer Key Herbivore Squirrel Deer Rabbit Cow Horse Carnivore Alligator Wolf Snake Bobcat Eagle Omnivore Bear Raccoon Pig Mouse Human 10 Copyright 2017 by Region 7 Education Service Center. This document may be reproduced for educational use only