Teaching Science with Kidlit: NGSS Performance Expectation K-ESS3-3

Let’s focus on yet another kindergarten PE that is lumped under Earth & Space Science, though it really has significant overlap with life science concepts. This week, my suggestions are related to land environments. Next week, I’ll look at water environments.

K-ESS3-3.Communicate and discuss solutions that will reduce the impact of humans on the land, water, air, and/or other living things in the local environment.

Here are some books that would be perfect for addressing this concept:

Where Once There Was a Wood by Denise Flemming

A Place for Butterflies by Melissa Stewart

The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry

Dumpster Diver by Janet S. Wong

No Monkeys, No Chocolate by Melissa Stewart

Finding Home by Sandra Markle

Discussion

Young children can often see and evaluate the actions of others, but they may have trouble understanding the impact of their own behaviors. And yet, they need that awareness before they can get involved in meaningful conservation. To help students develop their thinking in this direction, encourage them to discuss how they might be harming the environment without even realizing it. They can use some examples from A Place for Butterflies as thought starters. Then encourage students to suggest ways they might change their behavior to help protect animals and preserve natural environments in your community.

Activity

Invite students to pretend they are the butterfly in Where Once There Was a Wood or one of the butterflies in the Great Kapok tree’s tropical rain forest home. Ask the children to describe what it feels like to flit through the air. Then ask what they wish people would do to help them live and grow. Consider recording a few children’s responses with the video setting on a digital camera. The videos can be replayed later on your SmartBoard.