ahudson3 | Content Area Literacy

Mini-Unit – The Sun

Recently I came across this fantastic photo essay from TIME entitled, “Amazing Photos of the Sun.” This unique photo essay has some truly magnificent photos of the sun from different perspectives and highlighting different characteristics. All the photos are from NASA and are real images.

This photo essay would be a great addition to any science lesson about the Sun. However, I was thinking of using this photo essay when addressing the specific 5th grade Science TEK §112.16. (8)(D) – identify and compare the physical characteristics of the Sun, Earth, and Moon. As a Mini-unit, I might address the characteristics of the Sun, Earth, and Moon separately and at the end compare them.

As part of a lesson on the Sun, this photo essay could be used to expand students understanding. I might first have my students make a t-chart, with one side labeled “Known” and the other side labeled “New”. I would then ask students to list all the characteristic they know of the Sun under the correct title. The photo essay could then be shown. I think the first time I would not read the captions, but rather have students look through it and absorb the info the photos are sharing and make predictions about what they will learn. Then I would have the students add to their chart under the “New” section any info they would add from the photos or would change from their “Known” column. Finally, we would review the essay once again, reading the captions and getting more specific information to add to our charts. With this instructional strategy, students would be accessing prior knowledge and building connections to the new knowledge they are gaining.

This photo essay could also be used as a writing prompt during a unit on the Sun. You could show each image for 2 minutes and students could write down everything that comes to mind when they see the image. These snippets of writing could then be used to inspire larger pieces of writing such as an article on the Sun, a fictional story about a journey to the Sun, or a letter to someone far in the future about our current Sun.

One Great Text: My Family/ Mi Familia Chart

The “My Family” wall chart is part of a series from Scholastic called “Big Day for Pre-K.” As a wall chart, is it very different from many posters in that it doesn’t contain just drawings and labels, but it has photographs from real life situations that depict families. I found this chart being used effectively in a Bilingual Pre-K classroom. It is hanging in the dramatic play center and is accompanied by the Spanish version “Mi Familia.”

These charts offer an opportunity to engage the students in building their oral language skills. The pictures of real life scenes create a reality and connection between the concepts and the student’s lives. In addition, I like the variation of the families shown. Not only are they multicultural, but there are also different types of families represented.

When I asked several of the students about the poster and what was happening, they happily described the scenes, naming the father, mother, brother, sister, kitchen, bed, etc. One child even pointed to the lady in the first picture and said “This is Grandma.” This told me she was interpreting the scene and relating it to her own life perhaps. I also observed children interacting with the posters without adult influence. One child seemed to be conversing with the characters in the scenes.

Overall, I think these posters are a great resources for language arts connections in a Pre-K classroom and building students oral language skills. While the students are not reading words, they are able to decipher the photos and broaden their understanding of family.

Check out Scholastic’s Pre-K Curriculum to learn more.

Snippet: Just a Minute; A Trickster Tale and Counting Book

Just a Minute; A Trickster Tale and Counting Book
By Yuyi Morales

This beautifully illustrated picture book was the winner of the Pura Belpre Award in 2004 for its amazing artwork.

Just a Minute is a charming story of how Grandma Beetle tricks Señor Calavera into letting her have one more birthday.

As a counting book, it serves as a great introduction to counting in English and in Spanish. This book can also be used to build number sense by having students follow along with the counting sequence (TEKS connection – Mathematics A-3, PK-3rd grades). Additionally, I chose this book to help my bilingual Pre-K students draw connections between counting in English and counting in Spanish.

Another unique fact about this book is that every scene has Grandma Beetle’s cat in it. Sometimes she is hidden, sometime she is not. It can be quite fun for students to try to find the cat on every page.

Here is a snippet of writing from the first few pages:

When Grandma Beetle woke at dawn, she heard a know at the door. And, oh my, waiting outside she found Señor Calavera.
Señor Calavera tipped his hat. What a skinny gentleman! With a pass of his hand he signaled to Grandma Beetle. It was time for her to come along with him.

“Just a minute, Señor Calavera,” Grandma Beetle said. “I will do with you right away, I have just ONE house to sweep.”
Señor Calavera remembered he had extra time today. So he decided to wait.
UNO – One swept house, counted Señor Calavera and he rose from his seat.

“Just a minute Señor Calavera”…