Weeks 10-18 • Focus: Seasonal Changes, Cultural Celebrations, and Natural Cycles
The second quarter expands the student's view from the immediate community to the wider world of nature and culture. Themes focus on seasonal changes, natural cycles, and the diverse ways people celebrate and live. Foundational skills in reading, writing, and math are reinforced and applied to more complex topics.
Academic Skills:
Content Knowledge:
Exploring the science and cultural significance of autumn
Fletcher and the Falling Leaves
by Julia Rawlinson
The Pumpkin Book
by Gail Gibbons
Strega Nona's Harvest
by Tomie dePaola
Begin leaf chromatography experiment. Gather green leaves and explore the question: "Why do leaves change color?" Set up experiment with rubbing alcohol and coffee filters.
Read Fletcher and the Falling Leaves. Focus on sensory language describing autumn. 1R4
Observe chromatography results. Discuss hidden pigments (yellows, oranges) in leaves. Collect different colored leaves for pressing.
Write a sensory poem: "In autumn, I see...", "I hear...", "I feel...", "I smell...". 1R4
Practice "making ten" strategy for addition within 20. Example: 8+6 = 8+2+4 = 10+4 = 14. 1.OA.6a
Read The Pumpkin Book. Identify main topic and key details about pumpkin growth.
Field trip to apple orchard or pumpkin patch (or virtual tour). Discuss farming as human-environment interaction. 1.6b
Create a bar graph of apples picked or pumpkins seen. Practice data representation.
Share autumn poems and observations from the week.
Read Strega Nona's Harvest. Discuss themes of community and sharing. Write narrative: "How We Carved Our Pumpkin". 1W3
Learn about harvest traditions in different cultures. How do people celebrate abundance?
Continue practicing addition/subtraction within 20. Play "Pumpkin Patch Math" games.
Make and observe paper snowflakes, noting all have six sides (defining attribute).
Create a class book about autumn traditions in families. Each child contributes a page.
Science Experiments:
Book Lists:
Exploring gratitude, community, and the historical context of Thanksgiving
Thank You, Omu!
by Oge Mora
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga
by Traci Sorell
If You Sailed on the Mayflower
by Ann McGovern
Read Thank You, Omu! Discuss themes of sharing and community generosity.
Begin creating a "Thankful Tree" - write things we're grateful for on paper leaves.
Read We Are Grateful. Learn Cherokee gratitude traditions and perspective.
Practice comparing two-digit numbers. Use playing cards to create numbers and compare. 1.NBT.3
Begin opinion writing: "What I am most thankful for" with at least one reason. 1W1
Discuss how animals prepare for winter - squirrels gathering food, bears eating extra. 1-LS1-2
"Comparing Numbers Knockout" game - practice using >, <, = symbols.
Finish and illustrate gratitude writing pieces.
Share gratitude writings. Add more leaves to Thankful Tree.
Read about the 1621 harvest celebration. Emphasize it was a three-day feast with Wampanoag and Pilgrims. Discuss historically accurate foods. 1.2a
Compare and contrast Thanksgiving then and now using a Venn diagram.
Continue comparing numbers practice. Create "Turkey Math" activities.
Create a class feast of gratitude - each child brings something to share (if possible).
Multimedia:
Activities:
Exploring winter holidays and cultural traditions globally
A World of Cookies for Santa
by M.E. Furman
Latke, the Lucky Dog
by Ellen Fischer
My First Kwanzaa
by Karen Katz
The First Day of Winter
by Denise Fleming
Read Latke, the Lucky Dog. Learn about Hanukkah traditions - menorah, eight nights, latkes. 1.1c
Create a paper menorah craft and write about favorite part of the story. 1W4
Read My First Kwanzaa. Learn about seven principles and symbols like the kinara and mkeka mat.
Create paper-strip mkeka mat while practicing patterns.
Learn about Swedish St. Lucia Day - crown of candles, saffron buns, bringing light.
Light investigation: Test materials with flashlight - transparent, translucent, opaque. 1-PS4-3
Learn about Hindu festival of lights - diyas, rangoli patterns, sweets.
Practice telling time: "Holiday Celebration Schedule" - different activities at different times. 1.MD.3
Read The First Day of Winter. Discuss shortest day of the year. Write about favorite winter celebration learned this week.
Read A World of Cookies for Santa. "Travel" to different countries to see Christmas traditions. Create a world map of celebrations.
Time practice with analog and digital clocks. Match time cards game.
Create a class book: "Celebrations Around the World" with each child illustrating and writing about one holiday.
Continue light experiments. Create shadow puppets for a multicultural story.
Book Lists:
Activities:
How animals survive winter through migration, hibernation, and adaptation
The Mitten
by Jan Brett
Over and Under the Snow
by Kate Messner
Every Autumn Comes the Bear
by Jim Arnosky
"Blubber Glove" experiment: One hand in plastic bag with shortening, compare to bare hand in ice water. Feel how blubber insulates!
Read The Mitten. Discuss how animals seek warmth and shelter.
Read Over and Under the Snow. Learn about the subnivean zone where animals live under snow.
Create sorting chart: Animals that hibernate, migrate, or adapt. 1-LS1-2
Word problems: "A squirrel stored 32 nuts in one tree and 7 in another. How many total?" Practice adding two-digit + one-digit. 1.NBT.4
Compare how animals and humans meet needs for food, water, shelter differently. 1.6a
Read informational text about an animal. Retell key details about winter survival. 1R2
Begin building winter animal habitat diorama.
Complete diorama. Present to family, explaining animal's winter adaptations.
Read Every Autumn Comes the Bear. Discuss bear hibernation preparation. Write about "If I were a bear preparing for winter..."
Learn about monarch butterfly migration. Create butterfly craft showing life cycle.
Continue two-digit addition practice with winter-themed problems.
Create class book: "How Animals Survive Winter" with each child contributing a page.
Science Materials:
Lesson Resources:
Consolidating learning and preparing mid-year assessments
This week is dedicated to reviewing the first half of the year, consolidating skills, and preparing the mid-year (second quarter) report for the district.
Play review games: "Knockout" for addition/subtraction fluency within 20. "Race to 100" for place value understanding.
Have child choose favorite book from the quarter and create a new cover, explaining their design choice.
Review favorite experiments: leaf chromatography, blubber glove, light investigation. Child explains the science behind one experiment.
Create a "Celebrations We Learned" poster showing different holidays and traditions.
Gather samples of best work from Quarter 2. Celebrate progress with special mid-year achievement certificates.
Check for progress in these areas:
Academic Skills:
Content Knowledge:
Complete and submit your second quarterly report, including:
| Title | Author | Week(s) Used |
|---|---|---|
| Fletcher and the Falling Leaves | Julia Rawlinson | Weeks 10-11 |
| The Pumpkin Book | Gail Gibbons | Weeks 10-11 |
| Strega Nona's Harvest | Tomie dePaola | Weeks 10-11 |
| Thank You, Omu! | Oge Mora | Weeks 12-13 |
| We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga | Traci Sorell | Weeks 12-13 |
| A World of Cookies for Santa | M.E. Furman | Weeks 14-15 |
| Latke, the Lucky Dog | Ellen Fischer | Weeks 14-15 |
| My First Kwanzaa | Karen Katz | Weeks 14-15 |
| The Mitten | Jan Brett | Weeks 16-17 |
| Over and Under the Snow | Kate Messner | Weeks 16-17 |
Continue your journey with Quarter 3: Patterns in Nature and Numbers, featuring winter science, famous Americans, and the properties of sound and light.
Continue to Quarter 3