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Facing Animals
Arts Integrated Lesson Plans and Materials for Teaching Animal Characteristics & Wit & Wisdom Grade 1 “Creature Features”
Field Journal
Pairs with Wit & Wisdom Chapter 3, FQ1-2
Students will draw creatures using simple shapes, lines, and textures as part of their field journal to deepen their connection to the animals they study and to create a personalized space to record observations and discoveries.
Standards
Getting Ready
Downloads
TEACH!
Brain Connections
Creators
COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS
-
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.1 – Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
NATIONAL ARTS STANDARDS
- VA:Cr2.1.1a – Explore uses of materials and tools to create works of art or design.
- VA:Cr1.2.1a – Use observation and investigation in preparation for making a work of art.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Students will draw creatures using simple shapes, lines, and textures as part of their field journal to deepen their connection to the animals they study and to create a personalized space to record observations and discoveries
- In the field journals, students will examine three creatures from the unit texts.
MATERIALS
- Blank Composition Book
- Pencil
- Colored Pencils
- Ruler
- Collage Papers
- Colored Tape
OUR APPROACH
🎧 LISTEN to our approach
CORE TEXTS
🎧 LISTEN to learn more about the core texts
- What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? by Robin Page and Steve Jenkins
- Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell.
- Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young
- Never Smile at a Monkey And 17 Other Important Things to Remember by Steve Jenkins
- Sea Horse by Chris Butterworth
FOCUSING QUESTION ONE (FQ1)
🎧 LISTEN to Sarah explain FQ1
- What is the lesson of Seven Blind Mice?
- “Mystery” boxes
- Animal Puzzles
- Visual Vocabulary Deck
FOCUSING QUESTION TWO (FQ2)
🎧 LISTEN to Sarah explain FQ2
- How did Jane Goodall make discoveries about animals?
ASSESSMENT
🎧 LISTEN to Sarah outline the assessment
- Informal Observation
- Self Reflection
- FQTs with an Integrated Rubric
- Feedback and Questioning
ARTS INTEGRATION STRATEGIES
VISUAL VOCABULARY
GLOBAL STRATEGIES
STEP ONE
Show your students how to draw animals and creatures using simple shapes, lines, and textures:
STEP TWO
Engage students in using their field journals to make observations about creatures from the unit texts:
BRAIN TARGETED TEACHING IN THE CLASSROOM
ROOT BRANCH MEDIA GROUP – BRING ROOT BRANCH TO YOUR SCHOOL!
All video content made in partnership with Baltimore’s Root Branch Media Group.
LINDA WHELIHAN
Linda Whelihan is an artist and educator who specializes in engaging individuals and building community through shared art experiences. Her background as a teacher, museum educator, and artist informs her practice and she excels at creating art-full experiences that make lasting impressions. In her studio, she employs a variety of media and art-making techniques including puppetry, creative bookmaking and recycling. She is a natural facilitator and thrives on creating connections through whimsical pieces that charm and delight. She has exhibited and conducted art-making workshops for teachers and students in the Baltimore/Washington area and in Vermont where she has lived since 2007.
SARAH AGUDA
Sarah Aguda is a 22 year veteran of City Schools, with experience teaching Prek-4th grade and general vocal music in an elementary setting. In the summer of 2010, she had her first experience with teaching through the arts and has never looked back! Sarah has served as Arts Integration Coach and Mentor for her school for the last 6 years. She loves the joy and excitement her students feel when engaging with Arts Integration. This fall, Sarah is thrilled to begin a new journey as her school’s full time Arts Integration Coach!
Seahorse Spokespuppets
Pairs with Wit & Wisdom FQ3
Students will create their own seahorse spokespuppets after learning about these fascinating creatures in Chris Butterworth’s Sea Horse. Learn more about other ideas for easily creating puppets in your classroom.
Standards
Getting Ready
Downloads
TEACH!
Brain Connections
Creators
COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS
-
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.1 – Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
NATIONAL ARTS STANDARDS
- VA:Cr2.1.1a – Explore uses of materials and tools to create works of art or design.
- VA:Cr1.2.1a – Use observation and investigation in preparation for making a work of art.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Students will create their own seahorse spokespuppets after learning about these fascinating creatures in Chris Butterworth’s Sea Horse
MATERIALS
- Popsicle Sticks
- Paper, Paper Plates, or Newspaper
- Recycled Materials
- Coloring Materials (Markers, Colored Pencils)
OUR APPROACH
🎧 LISTEN to our approach
CORE TEXTS
🎧 LISTEN to learn more about the core texts
- What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? by Robin Page and Steve Jenkins
- Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell.
- Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young
- Never Smile at a Monkey And 17 Other Important Things to Remember by Steve Jenkins
- Sea Horse by Chris Butterworth
FOCUSING QUESTION THREE (FQ3)
- How do seahorses use their unique feature?
ASSESSMENT
🎧 LISTEN to Sarah outline the assessment
- Informal Observation
- Self Reflection
- FQTs with an Integrated Rubric
- Feedback and Questioning
ARTS INTEGRATION STRATEGIES
VISUAL VOCABULARY
GLOBAL STRATEGIES
STEP ONE
Support students in creating seahorse spokespuppets! WATCH: Making a Seahorse
STEP TWO
Using recycled materials, try making other puppets with your students that feature creatures from the unit:
BRAIN TARGETED TEACHING IN THE CLASSROOM
ROOT BRANCH MEDIA GROUP – BRING ROOT BRANCH TO YOUR SCHOOL!
All video content made in partnership with Baltimore’s Root Branch Media Group.
LINDA WHELIHAN
Linda Whelihan is an artist and educator who specializes in engaging individuals and building community through shared art experiences. Her background as a teacher, museum educator, and artist informs her practice and she excels at creating art-full experiences that make lasting impressions. In her studio, she employs a variety of media and art-making techniques including puppetry, creative bookmaking and recycling. She is a natural facilitator and thrives on creating connections through whimsical pieces that charm and delight. She has exhibited and conducted art-making workshops for teachers and students in the Baltimore/Washington area and in Vermont where she has lived since 2007.
SARAH AGUDA
Sarah Aguda is a 22 year veteran of City Schools, with experience teaching Prek-4th grade and general vocal music in an elementary setting. In the summer of 2010, she had her first experience with teaching through the arts and has never looked back! Sarah has served as Arts Integration Coach and Mentor for her school for the last 6 years. She loves the joy and excitement her students feel when engaging with Arts Integration. This fall, Sarah is thrilled to begin a new journey as her school’s full time Arts Integration Coach!
Collage Imagery and Habitats
Pairs with Wit & Wisdom FQ4-5
Students will explore how animals live within habitats through movement, while also creating animal portraits that depitct textures through watercolor and collage in the form of trading cards.
Standards
Getting Ready
Downloads
TEACH!
Brain Connections
Creators
COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS
-
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.1 – Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
NATIONAL ARTS STANDARDS
- VA:Cr2.1.1a – Explore uses of materials and tools to create works of art or design.
- VA:Cr1.2.1a – Use observation and investigation in preparation for making a work of art.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Students will explore how animals live within habitats through movement
- Students will create animal portraits that depitct textures through watercolor and collage in the form of trading cards
MATERIALS
- Textured Papers
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Glue
- Colored Paper
OUR APPROACH
🎧 LISTEN to our approach
CORE TEXTS
🎧 LISTEN to learn more about the core texts
- What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? by Robin Page and Steve Jenkins
- Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell.
- Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young
- Never Smile at a Monkey And 17 Other Important Things to Remember by Steve Jenkins
- Sea Horse by Chris Butterworth
FOCUSING QUESTION FOUR (FQ4)
- How do animals from the text What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? use their unique features differently?
ASSESSMENT
🎧 LISTEN to Sarah outline the assessment
- Informal Observation
- Self Reflection
- FQTs with an Integrated Rubric
- Feedback and Questioning
ARTS INTEGRATION STRATEGIES
VISUAL VOCABULARY
GLOBAL STRATEGIES
STEP ONE
🎧 LISTEN to Sarah explain step one
Using the puppets created in the previous lesson, students will choose a habitat and act out how animals that live within the habitats move.
STEP TWO
Students will create textures using watercolors and collage to create animal trading cards:
BRAIN TARGETED TEACHING IN THE CLASSROOM
ROOT BRANCH MEDIA GROUP – BRING ROOT BRANCH TO YOUR SCHOOL!
All video content made in partnership with Baltimore’s Root Branch Media Group.
LINDA WHELIHAN
Linda Whelihan is an artist and educator who specializes in engaging individuals and building community through shared art experiences. Her background as a teacher, museum educator, and artist informs her practice and she excels at creating art-full experiences that make lasting impressions. In her studio, she employs a variety of media and art-making techniques including puppetry, creative bookmaking and recycling. She is a natural facilitator and thrives on creating connections through whimsical pieces that charm and delight. She has exhibited and conducted art-making workshops for teachers and students in the Baltimore/Washington area and in Vermont where she has lived since 2007.
SARAH AGUDA
Sarah Aguda is a 22 year veteran of City Schools, with experience teaching Prek-4th grade and general vocal music in an elementary setting. In the summer of 2010, she had her first experience with teaching through the arts and has never looked back! Sarah has served as Arts Integration Coach and Mentor for her school for the last 6 years. She loves the joy and excitement her students feel when engaging with Arts Integration. This fall, Sarah is thrilled to begin a new journey as her school’s full time Arts Integration Coach!
