Integrating Science across the curriculum in grades Pre-K through 2

Isabel ValentiniStar of the Sea Catholic School,

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Objective

• To introduce students in grades Pre-K through 2nd to the basic characteristics of “bugs”, their habitats, and their contribution to the environment through the use of fiction and non fiction literature, videos, and art activities.

Process

• Read a variety of fiction and non-fiction literature

• Video presentations• Class Discussions• Art activities• Snack• Role Playing Activity

Fiction and Non-Fiction Literature

• Fiction– The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Eric Carle– The Very Busy Spider – Eric Carle– The Very Grouchy Ladybug – Eric Carle– Mr. Bumble - Kim and Doug Kennedy– “Bug” series – David A. Carter

• Non-Fiction– The Icky Bug Counting Book – Jerry Pallota and Ralph Masiello– Are You A...(Spider, Ladybug...) series – Judy Allen and Tudor

Humphries– Butterfly (See How They Grow) – DK Publishing

Video Presentations

• The Magic School Bus – “Ants in Its Pants”• The Magic School Bus – “Bugs,Bugs,Bugs”• The Magic School Bus – “In a Beehive”• The Magic School Bus - “Spins a Web”• The Magic School Bus – “Butterflies”• DK Eyewitness: Insects• Web site: www.kids.nationalgeographic.com

Role Playing Activity• Students sit on the floor in a ball shape (egg)• The “eggs” hatch and they become “caterpillars”• Students crawl around on the floor like caterpillars• Teacher turns the light out and plays quiet music• The caterpillars spin cocoons (students curl up

into cocoons)• Teacher gently taps each student and “cocoon”

opens and students become butterflies (fly gently around the room)

• When all cocoons have “hatched” teacher turns on the light and plays lively music

Students will paint egg carton sections green

Butterfly Project

Butterfly Project

Butterfly Project

Students will be given a butterfly pattern and will color one side brown

Butterfly Project

Students will watercolor the other side using bright colors

Butterfly Project

Butterfly Project

Butterfly Project

When dry, students will glue “caterpillar” to water colored side of butterfly

Butterfly Project

When dry, teacher will attach Velcro or tape to butterfly so when the wings are folded over it appears to be a cocoon/chrysalis

and when it is opened the butterfly appears

Butterfly Project

Butterfly Project

• Give each student a sheet of white construction paper

• Place ink pads in a central location• Instruct students to use one finger to make

finger prints on the paper

“Don’t Bug Me!”

“Don’t Bug Me!”

After they have made a variety of prints on the page they will use colored pencils to draw legs,

antennae, wings...and scenery

“Don’t Bug Me!”

• Give each child 2 cookies in a sandwich bag • Have students crush cookies using a wooden block

or small rolling pin (this can be done while you are making pudding)

Dirt Cups

• Fill plastic cups about 2/3 full of pudding (discuss how worms live in the moist earth)

• Have students sprinkle “dirt” over the “mud”

Dirt Cups

• Give each student 2-3 gummy worms to burrow in the mud

• Enjoy!

Dirt Cups

Thank You!