Science Activity-Seasons

My science activity is centered around the different seasons. I will begin the unit by introducing the concept of seasons to the class. We will have a class discussion about what they have observed about the different seasons, and then I will tell them specific characteristics of each season. Following which, each student will take his/her notebook and walk around the room, stopping at marked locations that contain objects that represent a certain season. They will make their best predictions about the objects, dicussing their thoughts with their classmates, and then return to their seats as we review the answers as a class.
At the end of the week, I will assess their knowledge. Using Kidspiration, each student will click on the 'Science' section and then 'Seasons.' For the assignment, they will use the symbols on the left-hand side to describe each season. Then, they will go to 'Writing View' to describe how each picture relates to its season. Since this activity requires them to apply the knowledge they have learned, they need to find symbols for 1)what the sky would look like during each season 2) the clothes they would wear during each season, and 3) another area of their choice. As they complete their assignment, I will walk around, answering questions and providing assistance.
1. Content: Science-Kindergarten-Standard 3-Objective 1: Investigate changes in seasons
2. Pedagogy: This activity employs so many essential scientific procedures:

Observing, Classifying= First with the activity in the classroom, and then with Kidspiration, students have to observe the objects/pictures and classify them into an appropriate season
Predicting=Every discussion and activity revolves around predicting which characteristic matches with which season
Acquiring data= Studens will organize all their predictions neatly in each season
Interpreting data=The paragraph they write in 'Writing View' will require them to describe the relationship between the picture and the season
Analying data=During class discussions, we pay particular attention to everything we are learning about each individual season

This activity requires students to use their own problem solving and critical thinking skills. They are acting as real scientists as they pose questions, gather information and make valid conclusions on what they discover. However, I will be close by to scaffold their efforts.

3. Technology: Kidspiration! It's a great fit because it provides a fun, interactive activity that not only reinforces the concept to the students in an enjoyable way, but it also gives me a chance to assess their knowledge.
4. Representation: Again, this multimodal representation is so beneficial to students because it is hands-on! Students learn so much more and are able to stay engaged when their mind, eyes and hands are busy. Compared to simply looking at different seasons in the textbook, or watching a video of the leaves falling, students are able to use technology to search for objects related to different seasons and drag them to the appropriate season "box." They are able to use their prior experiences to choose which symbols they want. Through this use of technology, each individual child can complete the assignment according to their personal needs.