The lessons in this activity involve comparing and sorting all the signs of Spring we are seeing in nature lately. These days we observe more sunshine, a little rain, flowers, buds on bushes and trees, insects, birds, animals and much more. Continue to explore your environment, and share what you write / create / find / learn with your teacher via photos or videos, so they may be shared with your peers
Science:
As the Spring season emerges, we have noticed many things in our environment. Some of these are called “Living Things” and others are called “Non-Living Things”.
1. Write down all the signs of Spring you are seeing outside; these can include sunshine, turtles, birds nest, eggs, deer droppings, animal tracks, grass, flowers, birds, etc… (encourage your child to write any letters words as they are capable)
2. Next, you will get ready to sort all these things you are seeing in nature into the two categories: Living and Non-Living.
*First, watch the following video to learn about the differences between Living Things and Non-Living Things:
*Here is a quick re-cap and mini review video for fun:
3. Now sort all the things you wrote down earlier into the two separate categories of Living Things and Non-Living Things (feel free to download the PowerPoint file below or use a diagram with two circles in which you may sort words of Living and Non-Living Things in each circle as shown at the top of this lesson).
1. Once you have sorted your signs of Spring into the Living Things and Non-Living Things categories, count how many things are in each category. Write the number under each category.
2. Next create addition and subtraction equations using the numbers of Living Things and Non-Living Things; (Example: if you have 6 Living Things and 5 Non-Living Things, could use these numbers to create the following equations:
6 + 5 = 11 (eleven is the sum of six and five together)
6 – 5 = 1 (one is the difference if you subtract five from six)
** Draw pictures to represent your equations
3. Create other equations to find out how many Living Things you would have if you had one more or one less… draw pictures to represent your thinking.
Math Terminology: - the answer to an addition equation is called the Sum; so if you add two numbers together they become a Sum of those two numbers - the answer to a subtraction equation is called the Difference; so if you subtract one number from another number the answer is the Difference
Authentic Writing:
1. This month we are talking a lot about Life Cycles and animals; think about your favourite animal. Draw a picture of your favourite animal and four life cycle stages that animal might go through. Not all animals have a super dramatic life cycle, so it may be tricky to think about all four stages of your favourite animal’s life cycle… (Example: my favourite animal is a fox. The life cycle of a fox isn’t as dramatic as a butterfly’s, but I can still break it down into four stages:
Stage 1: newborn fox, called a “kit” (infant to 4 months old)
Stage 2: young kit, plays lots (4 to 7 months old)
Stage 3: almost adult, begins hunting on own & leaves mother (about 7 months to full maturity)
Stage 4: full grown fox, finds mate and reproduces (ten months through rest of life)
2. Imagine you are that animal, and picture yourself living through the life cycles of that animal. Tell a story as if you are that animal, explaining the stages of your life cycle, like memories from your imaginary life as a fox (Parent / Guardian: please write the story your child tells you & let them have fun with it and be silly if they like).
