UNIT TITLE: The Mitten

 

Author: Noreen Sharp
E-Mail Address: Nponzetti@aol.com
School: Dearborn Heights, Oak Lawn, Il  
School Home Page URL: (optional)

THEME : Winter

BROAD CONCEPT:Co-operation

GRADES:Kindergarten

INTEGRATED SUBJECTS: Mathematics, Technology, Language Arts, Science, Health, Fine Arts

UNIT GOALS AND PURPOSE:

Children will have an understanding of what cooperation means by working together and through examples of stories.  Students will describe activities which take place during the winter.  The assessment for this unit will be ongoing and performance based. I will also use classroom observations to evaluate their understanding of the unit concepts.
 

TIME FRAME: 10 day unit
 
OBJECTIVES:

In this lesson, students will:

·        Identify details in a story and sequence the events.

·        Understand what co-operation means.

·        Sort objects by attributes.

·        Identify and make patterns.

·        Retell a given story.

·        Use the Kid Pix program with success.

·        Follow directions given with accuracy.

·        Measure using non-standard units.

·        Complete and interpret a graph.

MATERIALS:

General materials and equipment

·        Mittens/gloves brought by students

·        Pre-cut paper mittens

·        Blanket

·        Mitten height chart

Technology tools

Software Used in this Unit

 __Word Processing - Microsoft Word           

 __Spreadsheet-The Graph Club

__ Multimedia-Kid Pix Deluxe 

__Brainstorming-Inspiration               

 __Other software pertaining to unit-Millie’s Math House
 
 

STATE STANDARDS ADDRESSED BY THIS UNIT:

English/Language Arts

1.A.1a Apply word analysis skills (e.g., phonics, word patterns) to recognize new words.

1.B.1a Establish purposes for reading, make predictions, connect important ideas, and link text to previous experiences and knowledge.

1.C.1c Make comparisons across reading selections.

1.C.1d Summarize content of reading material using text organization (e.g., story, sequence).                 

1.C.1f Use information presented in simple tables, maps and charts to form an interpretation.                

2.A.1a Identify the literary elements of theme, setting, plot and character within literary works

4.A.1c Follow oral instructions accurately.

4.B.1a Present brief oral reports, using language and vocabulary appropriate to the message and audience  (e.g., show and tell).

4.B.1b Participate in discussions around a common topic.

5.A.1b Locate information using a variety of resources.

 

Mathematics

6.A.1a Identify whole numbers and compare them using the symbols <, >, or = and the words "less than", "greater than", or "equal to", applying counting, grouping and place value concepts.                                                                                  

6.D.1 Compare the numbers of objects in a group.

7.A.1a Measure length, volume and weight/mass using rulers, scales and other appropriate measuring instruments in the customary and metric systems.                     

7.B.1a Given a problem, describe possible methods for estimating a given measure.                                          

7.B1c Sort, classify, and order objects by size, number, and other properties;

8.A.1a Identify, describe and extend simple geometric and numeric patterns.

 8.B.1 Solve problems involving pattern identification and completion of patterns.                     

10.A.1a Organize and display data using pictures, tallies, tables, charts or bar graphs.

10.A.1b Answer questions and make predictions based on given data.

10.B.1b Collect, organize and describe data using pictures, tallies, tables, charts or bar graphs.

 Science          

 11.A.1a Describe an observed event.

 11.A.1d Record and store data using available technologies.

                       

Physical Development and Health                  

21.B.1 Work cooperatively with another to accomplish an assigned task.

 Fine Arts

25.A.1b Drama: Understand the elements of acting, locomotor and nonlocomotor movement, vocal and   nonvocal sound, story making; the principles of plot, character, setting, problem/resolution and message; and the expressive characteristics of simple emotions.

N.C.T.M. STANDARDS ADDRESSED BY THIS UNIT:

 

STUDENT ACTIVITIES WHICH WILL PROMOTE ENGAGED LEARNING:

Opening Activity

In the classroom the students will participate in an ongoing completion of a KWL chart on Winter. The teacher will guide the students using Inspiration. The students will discuss and share information to complete the "Know" and "Want To Know" sections of the group chart. After completing the Winter unit, the students will complete the chart of what they have learned.

Activity 1

Teacher will read the story The Mitten by Jan Brett to the class. The teacher will lead a discussion about the story which will include characters, setting and sequence of events. The broad concept of co-operation will be introduced. Higher order thinking skills will be addressed. Ask questions such as "What would have happened if the animals had not made room for each other?" The students will use Kid Pix to draw a picture of their favorite character/animal in the story and name it using text. Names of animals and characters will be provided on the board.

Activity 2

After listening to the story of The Mitten at the listening center using a tape recorder and headphones, the children will visit the website www.JanBrett.com. The children will locate the animal masks from the story and select their favorite. Each child will print out the color mask. The students will retell the story using their mask. Using a large blanket as the mitten, the student will act out his/her part in sequence.

Activity 3

Read The Mitten by Alvin Tresselt. Ask student to point out some of the narrative details in the story (color of the mitten, animals appearing in the story, what happened to the mitten at the end of the story). Record their information on chart paper. Using the Presentation Projector make a Venn Diagram from Microsoft Word to compare and contrast the two versions of the story. Read each detail described on the chart and have the student decide where it belongs on the Venn diagram. The teacher will type that information using the Presentation Projector. Using a Venn diagram is a good tool for assessing comprehension and a great way to have students be aware of details in a story.

Activity 4

Make a list of all of the animals in both of the stories read to the class. Have this list available for the students to take in to the computer lab. The students will visit the website www.zoomschool.com and select an animal to learn about. With the help of their fifth grade buddy,(buddy will help with the reading) each kindergarten student will learn three facts about the animal selected. The student will paint be able to paint the animal using the online coloring option or can print out the animal page and color it in class. The kindergarten student will later share with the class the picture of the animal and the orally share the three facts as well.

 Activity 5

Using Kid Pix each student will make an animal counting book using the book template. The student will illustrate the numbers 1-10 using animal stamps with the appropriate number.

Activity 6

Designate a special day as "Mitten Day" at school. Have children sort mittens/gloves by different attributes(color, size, texture, pattern). After sorting mittens by color, record the information (which color has the least, most). Using the software program, Graph Club, the information can be made into a bar or pictograph and printed out. The children can discuss what each graph depicts.

Activity 7

As a follow-up activity to "Mitten Day" have the students use Kid Pix to draw their mittens. Each child should copy this text from the board and complete the sentence: ________’s mittens are ________ and________. The children should use color or descriptive words. Example: John’s mittens are red and furry. Print out each picture and put together a class book for the students to enjoy in the reading center.

 

Activity 8

Teacher will use pre-cut paper mittens (Elison Die cut work well) and construct a height chart on the wall. Each child will work with a partner and measure how many mittens tall he/she is. Using a digital camera, the partner will take a picture and record the data. After downloading the pictures on to the computer, using Microsoft Word, the students will type the following sentence: _________is ____mittens tall. Each partner will insert the name and number in the blanks. Each page will be printed out and made into a class book.

 

Activity 9

Have pre-cut paper mittens in blue and red. The teacher will use the mittens to show the class different types of patterns. (ABAB, ABBBABBB, AABAAB). Divide the class into two teams. The teacher will show to the class a pattern sequence and each team will have to duplicate the pattern and place their mittens in the exact same order. Each student will receive one mitten. To assess the activity discuss the different patterns made and what it took to get the patterns in the right order (co-operation, paying attention, being quick).

 

Activity 10

As a follow-up activity, have the students use the stamps on Kid Pix to make patterns. After each child has printed out their pattern these can be laminated and used at a center. Each child can exchange patterns with each other and using a washable marker can label the pattern which was made. To extend the learning Millie’s Math House can be used which has a fun patterning game.

 

SHARE YOUR IDEAS:

There are several activities in this unit which can be shared with other classes, parents, and teachers. In activity 2, the students could perform "The Mitten" for other classes using their masks. In activity 4, the students could invite their parents into the classroom to share oral presentations on "Animal Facts". In activity 7 & 8 class books were made which can be shared in the classroom in the reading center and at home with each family.

 

Culminating Project

As part of our daily routine, we discuss weather and temperature. Each student will keep a weather journal and record the weather for a five day period. The student will create a multimedia presentation using Kid Pix to illustrate and describe their weather journals. A word chart with the following words will be made available to each student to type in their presentation. Each child will draw a picture and type a sentence describing the weather for five days.

Monday           rainy                windy

Tuesday           cloudy              snowy

Wednesday      warm                cold

Thursday          temperature      degrees

Friday              sunny

 

Rubric for final project:

                                              Slideshow has a title slide with name 5 points

                                              Slideshow contains five slides with pictures and text 25 points

                                              Correct spelling 10 points

                                              Complete sentences 10 points                                      

                                              Total 50 points

 

STUDENT AND TEACHER ROLES:

            Teacher

·        Act as a guide and facilitator for the students.

·        Provide experiences and activities by incorporating opportunities for authentic tasks.

·        Redirects, coaches and models for the student.

·        Provides a connection between classroom experiences and real-life situations.

Student

·        Be an active participant and develop products of real use to themself.

·        Have opportunities to explore new ideas and tools.

·        Collaborate with peers and share knowledge

·        Discover concepts and apply skills by interacting with other people.

 

ADDITIONAL REFERENCE PRINT RESOURCES STUDENTS MAY USE :

Childcraft

World Book Encyclopedia
 
 

THE FOLLOWING BOOKS CONTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TOPIC:

The Mitten by Jan Brett                                 A Snowy Day by Erza Jack Keats

The Mitten by Alvin Tresselt                             Winter Magic by Eveline Hasler

Winter Harvest by Jane Aragon                         Runaway Mittens by Jean Rogers

The Snowman by Raymond Briggs                         A Winter Journey by David Updike

Whose Footprints by Molly Cox                           Has Winter Come? By Wendy Watson

 
 
 
FOR ADDITIONAL ONLINE INFORMATION AND MEDIA PERTAINING TO THIS UNIT, TEACHERS MAY WANT TO USE THE FOLLOWING INTERNET ARTICLES:  (minimum 6 sites)

 

Title1: Wonderful Winter Websites

URL1: http://www.trackstar.hprtec.org/main/display.php3?track_id=92287

Description1: This January unit was created for First graders. It includes worksheets, puzzles, activities, and winter websites to celebrate the whole month.


Title2: A Snowy Unit

URL2: http://www.teachingheart.net/snowyunit.html

Description2: Several activities for integrating all of the subject areas including science, music, poetry, cooking, math and language arts.
 

Title3: Winter Fun

URL3: http://www.icomm.ca/daycare/cardsb11.html#CIB1295

Description3: Songs, games, art projects, fingerplays and lots of winter fun.
 
 
Title4: Kindergarten Kafe

URL4: http://www.kkafe.net/199798/kkb3.html

Description4: Great units, great links and other lesson plans submitted by teachers.
 
 
Title5: Jan Brett’s website

URL5: http://www.janbrett.com/

Description5: This site has a wealth of information.  When using her books, there are several activities and units that accompany her stories.
 

Title6: Kinder Korner

URL6: http://www.kinderkorner.com/snow.html

Description6:  This site is a favorite of mine.  It has great pictures of projects used it the classroom by the children, and offers a lot of classroom management tips too.
 
 
 

RELEVANT INFORMATION, STUDENTS WILL VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEB SITES: (minimum 6 sites)

 

Title1: Billy Bear 4 Kids-Winter Fun

URL1: http://www.billybear4kids.com/holidays/winter/fun.htm

Purpose of Use1: Drill and practice

Description1: Games, wordsearch, activities and puzzles with a winter theme.
 
 

Title2: Winter Fun

URL2: http://www.first-school.ws/activities/seasons/

Purpose of Use2: Practice using problem solving skills.

Description2: Ages 3+ and older:
This activity will help children learn about the winter season, and involve children in a problem solving activity dressing up a snowman with different winter clothing combinations. An art appreciation and reading activity is also suggested.

 

Title3: Jolly Days Winter Alphabet

URL3: http://www.childrensmuseum.org/jollydays/alphabets.htm

Purpose of Use3: Reinforce letter recognition and beginning sounds.

Description3: An interactive alphabet game. The child selects a letter and a winter picture appears.
 
 
Title4: Zoom School.com

URL4: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/school/index.shtml

Purpose of Use4: Information and facts about animals found in the forest.

Description4: Online elementary classroom with lessons in language arts, biology, and early childhood.
 
 
Title5: Kids Domain Winter Online Games

URL5: http://www.kidsdomain.com/games/winter.htm

Purpose of Use5: Practice using the mouse.

Description5: Build a snowman by dragging and clicking.
 
 
Title6: Winter Memory

URL6: http://www.primarygames.com/season_match/winter_match/winter_match.htm

Purpose of Use6: Drill and practice

Description6: Matching game using winter pictures.