Part 1

Elephants will be the overview, helping students to better understand the

habitat, anatomy, and personality of elephants. I choose elephants as the focus for
this unit in order to address and cover a science standard listed below.
1.

Unit Overview

The theme of this unit is elephants, overarching with science, understanding the
biology of this animal. The intended grade level for this unit would be third graders.
Rationale for the theme and unit Students need to be aware of animals around
the world, elephants are killed every day for their tusks (ivory), and if students are
aware of what is happening to animals maybe they will want to make a difference.
2.
Focus Standards from Kansas College and Career Ready English Language Arts
Standards, Next Generation Science Standards and/or Kansas Standards for History,
Government, Social Studies

Content area- science

3.1.2 compares basic needs of different organisms in their environment.

Writing (informational, argumentative, narrative)

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.3.a
Establish a situation and introduce a narrator and/or characters; organize an event
sequence that unfolds naturally.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and
information clearly.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.8
Recall information from experiences or gather information from print and digital
sources; take brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories.

Language (spelling, grammar, etc.)

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.1
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage
when writing or speaking.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.2.f
Use spelling patterns and generalizations in writing words.

Speaking and Listening

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.3.2
Determine the main ideas and supporting details of a text read aloud or information
presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and
orally.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.3.5
Create engaging audio recordings of stories or poems that demonstrate fluid
reading at an understandable pace; add visual displays when appropriate to
emphasize or enhance certain facts or details.
Reading - R1.3.7- Use information gained from illustrations and the words in a
text to demonstrate understand of the text (e.g. where, when, why, and how key
events occurred).
3.

Objectives see example below

4.

The students will sit quietly and listen to the teacher read the book The
saggy baggy elephant.
The students will stand up quietly and model elephant movements following
the teachers lead swing their trunks (arms) without disrupting another
elephants territory.
After listening to the story being read The saggy baggy elephant, and do
elephatnt movements, students will write in their elephant journals in
complete sentences two things they really liked about the story.
The students will sit quietly and listen to the teacher read Big, Rough, and
Wrinkly / What Am I.
The students will individually use paint and a paint brush to illustrate colorful
features about elephants from the book Draw realistic animals: Wildlife, pets
& more.
The students will (in assigned small groups) use an elephant sized paint
brush to draw on their classroom floor canvas sections of a jungle scene.

Literature Resources
Informational-

Bateman, R., & Archbold, R. (1998). Safari. Boston: Little, Brown

Butterfield, Moria., & Ford, Wayne. (1997). Big, Rough, and Wrinkly / What Am I.
Austin, TX: Raintree/Steck.
Dudley, Karen. (1997). Elephants. Austin, Tex.: Raintree Steck-Vaughn.
Fredericks, A., & McGee, J. (1999). Elephants for kids. Minnetonka, Minn.: NorthWord
Press.
Poetry- Munsterberg, Peggy., & Gallup, Tracey. (1997). Beastly banquet: Tasty
treats for animal appetites : Poems. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.
Argumentative/Persuasive- None (another Narrative) Jackson, K., & Jackson, B.
(1974). The saggy baggy elephant. New York: Golden Book ;.
Narrative - Bildner, Phil., & Pham, LeUyen. (2004). Twenty-one elephants. New
York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Website for children- https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/elephant

Art/Music (optional)- Caldwell, R. (2014). Draw realistic animals: Wildlife, pets &
more. Cincinnati, Ohio: North Light Books.