Arlene Pizzo Notel 10/2/13 East Hampton Learning Center Fall Is Here!

Science Fall Season Pre-K

NYS Standards
PK.AC 2,2(a),3,5,6 PK.S 1, 1(c)

ISTE Standards
1.CI(c) 5.DC(b)

Classroom Context
The environment around us this time of year is the perfect opportunity to observe changes that signify summer changing into fall.

Concept/Skill
The students will observe the trees in the environment and recognize that the leaves changing color and falling off of the trees indicates a change of season, summer to fall.

Lesson Objective
The students will be able to identify, describe and create a fall tree using a variety of art materials. Students will be able to articulate the importance of the process of the leaves falling from the trees as a sign of the change of seasons from summer to fall.

Materials
Books: How Do You Know Its Fall? By, Allan Fowler Fall Is Here! I Love It! By, Elaine W. Good Picture cards of summer and fall trees

Crayons White construction paper Collection of natural fall leaves Chart paper Scotch tape Laptop with Smart Notebook lesson

Vocabulary
fall, autumn, leaf, season, tree, colors: brown, red, yellow, orange, green, rubbings, vein, texture, rough

Procedure 1. Introduction/Motivation
The class will go on a nature walk throughout the property surrounding the school looking for signs of the season of fall. Teacher will engage the children in a conversation of what they notice about the trees and bushes. 2. Development The class will return to school and the teacher will read, How Do You Know Its Fall? The teacher will ask the students what they saw outside of our school that is similar to what we see in the book? Can we tell from the way it looks outside that it is changing from the summer season to the fall season? If so, how can we tell? The class will make list of the things they see that tell them it is becoming fall: changing leaves and falling leaves The teacher will meet with the children two at a time during learning labs to participate in a Smart Notebook lesson comprising of interactive reinforcement of the concept of trees and their significance in indicating the change of seasons.

3. Conclusion/Closure
The teacher will read, Fall Is Here! I Love It! Following the book, the teacher and students will write down ideas about what happens in the environment that tells us it is fall on chart paper. At this time the teacher will ask students to think about any other ideas they may have about fall? What might happen next in the environment and why?

Differentiation of Instruction

Picture cards, actual leaves and books will be used to aid English Language Learners and students who are less able to understand the concepts presented in the lesson. Spanish translation will also be available for students having a difficult time receiving the concepts. Smart Notebook lesson of teacher with two students is designed to address individual needs as well.

Evaluation/Assessment
Students will have two projects available to them during learning labs. The children will be asked to do leaf rubbings. The students will be asked to choose colors that reflect the colors of the fall trees for the rubbings. Students will also be asked to create a fall tree picture, depicting an example of a tree he/she saw in either one of the fall books read or a tree seen on the nature walk.

Follow Up
This lesson will be expanded upon throughout the season. The class will eventually discuss the change in the behavior of animals, the types of fruits, vegetables and flowers harvested this time of year and the types of clothing worn as well. As the seasons change throughout the school year, this original lesson will be expanded upon.