The Ocean and You!

By Amalia Nicholas and Katherine Childers

Context

The unit will be taught to a class of kindergarten students The unit will be taught to a class of kindergarten students whose primary language is Englishwhose primary language is English

Taught over a 5 day spanTaught over a 5 day span

One main teacher, one assistant, and one student One main teacher, one assistant, and one student assistant needed assistant needed

Various learning centers: writing, reading, arts and crafts, Various learning centers: writing, reading, arts and crafts, music and investigationmusic and investigation

Learning takes place in and outside of the classroomLearning takes place in and outside of the classroom

Utilizing the centers: Watching a movie, incorporating a Utilizing the centers: Watching a movie, incorporating a mixture of stories, pictures, and discussion mixture of stories, pictures, and discussion

ObjectivesStudents will:

Become familiar and informed about the concept Become familiar and informed about the concept and the effect of pollutionand the effect of pollution

Be able to relate the information they learn to the Be able to relate the information they learn to the world outside the classroomworld outside the classroom

Increase their knowledge of the environment and Increase their knowledge of the environment and what goes on in the waterwhat goes on in the water

Increase basic motor skills, improve and develop Increase basic motor skills, improve and develop their creativity their creativity

5 Day Unit ScheduleDay 1

• Discussion of unit

• Watch movie

Day 2

• Hands on, interactive activity with water and oil

Day 3

• Students design creative posters in groups

Day 4

• Field trip to Aquarium

Day 5

• Debriefing

• Read book

• Learn song

Activities: Day 1

Teacher will ask the Teacher will ask the students what they know students what they know about pollution and the about pollution and the ocean and make a list of ocean and make a list of that knowledgethat knowledge

Students will watch the Students will watch the movie “Magic in the Water” movie “Magic in the Water”

Teacher will ask the children Teacher will ask the children to identify the parts of the to identify the parts of the movie that struck the movie that struck the children and conclude with children and conclude with an investigative discussion an investigative discussion about what they learned. about what they learned.

Activities: Day 2

Students will divide into small groups. Students will divide into small groups.

In each center, there will be a plastic bottle filled with water and In each center, there will be a plastic bottle filled with water and oil and the students will observe and identify what happensoil and the students will observe and identify what happens

After the water and oil as been mixed students will soak a feather After the water and oil as been mixed students will soak a feather into the mixture and observe and feel the change into the mixture and observe and feel the change

Students will work on basic motor skills and team work by helping Students will work on basic motor skills and team work by helping to set up the centers to set up the centers

With help from the teachers the students will learn about the With help from the teachers the students will learn about the effects oil has on water and animalseffects oil has on water and animals

Activities: Day 3

Students are broken down into groups where Students are broken down into groups where they will make posters (with the help from the they will make posters (with the help from the teachers) and come up with slogans to help teachers) and come up with slogans to help make people aware of water pollutionmake people aware of water pollution

Students from each group will then present Students from each group will then present their posters to the class their posters to the class

Activities: Day 4

• Students will go on a field trip to The Students will go on a field trip to The Mystic Aquarium Institute for Exploration Mystic Aquarium Institute for Exploration

Activities: Day 5

Teach students what they Teach students what they can do to help the world can do to help the world and prevent pollutionand prevent pollution

Teacher will read, “10 Teacher will read, “10 Things I Can Do To Help Things I Can Do To Help My World” by Melanie My World” by Melanie Walsh.Walsh.

Students will then learn Students will then learn the song, “ Make a Wave” the song, “ Make a Wave” by Demi Lovato and Joe by Demi Lovato and Joe JonasJonas

EvaluationThe first day the children and the teacher will make a The first day the children and the teacher will make a list of their knowledge about what they know about list of their knowledge about what they know about the ocean and pollution and watch the film the ocean and pollution and watch the film

Through the various activities and centers the teacher Through the various activities and centers the teacher will monitor the progression of the studentswill monitor the progression of the students

At this age level it is hard to test the students on the At this age level it is hard to test the students on the information. It is more of the students understanding information. It is more of the students understanding of the topic at hand rather than memorizing factsof the topic at hand rather than memorizing facts

The teacher is more concerned with the participation, The teacher is more concerned with the participation, input and opinions of the students and will evaluate input and opinions of the students and will evaluate them based on those principlesthem based on those principles