In this unit study we learned more about Memorial Day and the American Flag. This unit study has 3 days of lessons. I did this study with my 1st grader and would recommend it for Kindergarten through 3rd grade.
In this unit study we learned all about rainbows. This unit has 5 days worth of lessons. We did this unit study with cousins, from tots to 1st grade, but it would be great for Preschool age. This unit study was tons of fun for the cousins, but I guess cousins are always ton of fun whatever their doing! I made a lapbook for each child with their work from the unit so that they could go back and remember what they learned.
In this unit study we learned about ant anatomy, the ant life cycle, ant jobs, ant colonies, types of ants, and ant enemies. We spent some time outside for this unit study so I would recommend doing it during nicer weather. I did this unit study with my 1st grader and I recommend it for Kindergarten to 3rd grade.
In this unit study we learned about the life cycle of butterflies and moths, the anatomy of butterflies and moths, and the differences between butterflies and moths. We also grew a butterfly and record our observations. This unit study has 4 days worth of lessons, and it takes 3 to 4 weeks to grow the butterfly. I did this unit study with my 1st grader and I recommend it for Kindergarten to 3rd grade.
Books can be read by the child or by the parent to the child, depending on the child’s reading level. I don’t think that a child is ever too old to be read to.
Books I used in the lessons…
Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert
Creep, Crawly Caterpillars by Margery Facklam
Caterpillar to Butterfly by Camilla de la Bedoyere
What’s the Difference Between a Butterfly and a Moth? by Robin Koontz
Other age appropriate books…
Butterfly Story by Anca HaritonButterfly House by Eve Bunting The Lamb and the Butterfly illustrated by Eric Carle
Painted Lady Butterflies by Martha E. H. Rustad
The Magic School Bus the Butterfly and the Bog Beast by Nancy E. Krulik and Thompson Brothers
Can You Tell a Butterfly from a Moth by Buffy Silverman
Butterfly Video List
Wild Kratts Episode 109 Voyage of the Butterflier XT
The Magic School Bus Season 2 Episode 5 – Butterfly and the Bog Beast (DVD)
Live Butterfly Garden
We got a Butterfly Garden from www.insectlore.com. When we got the kit we sent for the caterpillars. They came in about a week.
There were 4 tiny caterpillars in a container with food and air holes in it. We did not have to open the container at all.
J recorded his observations of the caterpillars in a home made butterfly journal. He wrote an update every other day or so; he also drew a picture for each journal entry.
On day 10 two of the caterpillars hung from the top of the container in a “J” form.
By day 12 all four of them were hanging form the top in their chrysalis’. And on day 14 we opened he container and gently moved the piece of paper under the lid that they were hanging from. I pinned it onto the mesh sides of the butterfly house.
Finally on day 20 one emerged from the chrysalis. Then a few days later we set them free outside.
Catch Your Own Caterpillars
We also caught our own caterpillars and put them in our butterfly house to see what would happen.
We caught 3 that looked the same and had formed cocoons by the next morning. We also caught 2 other types of caterpillars that we had to feed leaves for a week. Since they were in the grass when we found them we took a few leaves from the different trees in our yard to see which type they would eat. Then we added new leaves from that tree every day.
The moths came out of the cocoons about 18 days after they made them.
The Butterfly House
We also took a trip to the St. Louis Butterfly House. They had tons of beautiful butterflies and flowers.
The boys really enjoyed seeing all the different types of butterflies.
They also had a chrysalis viewing area. We saw one butterfly hanging on his empty chrysalis pumping his wings.
There was a 15 minute video to watch about the life of a butterfly and a world map outline that showed where different types of butterflies lived.
Outside there was a huge stone caterpillar that they boys could play on.
The whole visit was only about an hour, but it was fun to see all the different kids of butterflies, my favorite was the blue morpho butterfly (I didn’t get a picture of one with open wings though).
Here are some of our other Elementary Unit Studies:
In this unit study we learned about Christopher Columbus and his journey to America. We also learned a little geography and about some different landforms including peninsulas, islands, and mountains. We used the books Columbus by Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire and Hands on History Christopher Columbus by Mary Tucker to accompany our daily lessons. This unit study was made for elementary students and has 7 days worth of lessons. I did this unit study with my 1st grader and recommend it for Kindergarten- 3rd grade.
Books can be read by the child or by the parent to the child, depending on the child’s reading level. I don’t think that a child is ever too old to be read to.
Books I used in the lessons…
Columbus by Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire
Hands on History Christopher Columbus by Mary Tucker.
In 1492 by Jean Marzollo
Other age appropriate books…
Christopher Columbus by Lisa Wade McCormick
Christopher Cloumbus by Stephen Krensky
What’s So Great About Christopher Columbus by Amie Jane Leavitt
Christopher Columbus by Marion Dane Bauer
You Wouldn’t Want to Sail With Christopher Columbus! By Fiona Macdonald
Christopher Columbus by Jan Gleiter and Kathleen Thompson
We celebrated 100 Day with cousins, from tots to first grade but I would recommend it for around Kindergarten age. We had fun counting to 100 over and over by counting candy, jumping jacks, seconds, inches, and lots more. We read lots of books, had a snack, completed a writing activity, and covered a ton of math concepts.
Ask the children which color has the most? Which color has the least? How many red jelly beans are there?
100 Jumping Jacks
The children jumped and counted 100 jumping jacks.
100 Piece Puzzle
The children worked a 100 piece puzzle together.
100 Quiet Seconds
The children all laid down and tried to be quiet for 100 seconds.
Name 100 Animals
We started out with the children naming as many animals as they could as I wrote them down. I tried to write down exactly what each child said so that they would feel that their ideas are just as important as others. For example if a child suggests dog and another child suggests Dalmatian I wrote them both down even though a Dalmatian is a dog. When the children started running out of ideas we used the animal books for some help.
Show the children on the yard stick what an inch looks like.
Write each child’s name on a piece of masking tape and give it to him.
Tell the children to put the tape on the floor where they think 100 inches would be from where they are standing.
Measure out 100 inches to see how the children did.
Counting Money
Materials:
100 Pennies
10 Dimes
1 Dollar Bill
Directions:
Have the children count out 100 pennies by putting them into piles of 10.
Count the piles of 10 by tens to get to 100.
Trade out each pile of 10 for a dime and then count how many dimes it takes to get to 1 dollar.
Show a 1 dollar bill.
You can also count quarters with older children.
Fruit Loop Necklace
Materials:
Yarn
Fruit Loops
Directions:
Each child counts out 100 fruit loops.
Children string the fruit loops onto the yarn.
Tie the ends of the yarn together to form the necklace.
Make 100 Day Hash
Materials:
Miss Bindergarten Celebrates 100 Days of Kindergarten by Joseph Slate and Ashley Wolff
10 small cup or bowls plus one for each child
Pretzels
Popcorn
Mini Marshmallows
Cherrios
Chocolate Chips
Peanuts
Oyster Crackers
Almonds
Raisins
Chex Cereal
Directions:
You can use the ingredients that I used, the ones in the book, or make up your own.
Put each ingredient in a different bowl (10 bowls).
Each child takes 10 pieces from each ingredient bowl and places them into his own bowl to make 100 pieces.
Sorting Number Cards
Have the children put number cards in order from 1 to 100. You can use any cards you have to make your own with index cards. I used the A Beka Numbers Flashcards.
I Wish I had 100…
I made a simple writing page for the children that said…
I wish I had 100 ______________ because _____________.
On the first day of school I couldn’t _____________, on the 100th day I can.
100 Fingers and Toes
Materials:
Poster Board
Paint
Paper Plates
Bath Tub of Garden Hose for cleaning
Children (we used 5 children)
Directions:
5 children times 10 fingers each and 10 toes each makes 100.
Set the children around the table and set a paper plate in front of each child. Pour a little paint onto each plate.
Set the poster board on the table in the middle of all the children.Each child makes a right hand print on the poster by dipping their hand in the paint on the plate and then sticking in on the poster. Then each child does it again with their left hand.
Then have the children wash their hands in the tub or with the hose. Put the poster board on the bathroom floor or outside if it’s nice out. Have the children one at a time place their right foot in the paint and then on the poster and then their left foot. Rinse their feet in the tub or with a hose immediately to avoid unwanted paint in the house.
After the paint dries, count the fingers and toes by 5’s (there should be 100).
