Kindergarten Lesson Plans

Lesson Title: Winter Discovery
Created and Submitted by: Annette Abdallah
School Name: Killam Elementary School
District: United ISD

Role: Library Media Specialist

Grade Level: Kindergarten

Lesson Plan Objectives:
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Identify letters and sounds.
2. Use alphabet letters to create words.
3. Be able to create beginning and ending sounds.

ELA-R TEKS:
§110.10.b. Subchapter A.
(A) discuss the purposes for reading and listening to various texts (e.g., to become involved in real and imagined events, settings, actions, and to enjoy language)

Other Content Area Addressed:
Science

Standards for the 21st-Century Learner Indicators:
1.1.1 Follow an inquiry-based process in seeking knowledge in curricular subjects, and make the real-world connection for using this process in own life.
1.1.2 Use prior and background knowledge as context for new learning.
1.1.6 Read, view, and listen for information presented in any format (e.g., textual, visual, media, digital) in order to make inferences and gather meaning.

Classroom Teacher – School Librarian Collaboration:
• The librarian will provide a copy of the story Martin MacGregor’s Snowman. The librarian will highlight different words throughout the story, so that the students can create beginning and ending sounds and identify the first and last letter of each of the word. 
• The librarian will provide a Smart Board, which is available for check out in the library. The classroom teacher will use the interactive whiteboard to work on the handout #1 which also contains objects found throughout the story. 
• For the hands on activity the classroom teacher and librarian will each provide a box of “Insta Snow” by Steve Spangler, which is a container of white powder you can order through Steve Spangler’s website www.stevespangler.com. You simply add water to the powder and create synthetic snow instantly. Both the classroom teacher and the librarian will provide a container along with the winter objects listed on Initial Sounds Handout #1. These objects will be hidden in the pretend snow so that the students can identify them as they work on the handout. This allows the students to connect the lesson with a real life experience.
• The educators will document the student responses on the interactive whiteboard. Both educators will monitor and document the student responses and will assess the student learning outcomes based on those responses documented on the interactive whiteboard and the student handouts.
• For the independent practice the students will be given Handouts #2 and #3.  The students will be able to work on both handouts independently.

Measurable Outcome or Final Product: As the students learn about beginning and ending sounds, they will talk about features of winter. The students will also elaborate on their background knowledge on the other three seasons. Each student will complete beginning and ending sounds handouts.

Assessment Tools: Initial Sounds Handout #1 and Ending Sounds Handout #2

Resources:
• Martin MacGregor’s Snowman by Lisa Broadie Cook (Walker  2003)
• Two plastic boxes
• Initial Sounds Handout #1
• Ending Sounds Handout #2
• “Insta Snow” by Steve Spangler (www.stevespangler.com)
• Winter Objects
• Interactive whiteboard
• http://www.starfall.com/n/level-k/index/play.htm?f (For extension)

Estimated Lesson Time: 45 minutes

Instructional Plan Outline:

Preparation:
• The classroom teacher will provide Handouts 1 and 2 and the librarian will provide the snow, two boxes, the objects inside, and Martin MacGregor’s Snowman by Lisa Broadie Cook.
• Educators will divide the students into two groups for the search of winter objects so that each student has the opportunity to sift through the snow, pull out winter objects and make beginning and ending sounds with an object.

Motivation:
1. The librarian and the classroom teacher review the lesson plan objectives with the students.
2. The educators provide students with a hands-on activity before listening to the story to help the students connect with real-life experience.
3. As the teacher provides the students with Handout #1, the librarian models beginning and ending sounds.
4. After the students add water to the Insta Snow (create the snow), educators guide students as they search for the objects, remove one at a time, and make the beginning and ending sound.

Presentation:
5. As the librarian reads the story Martin MacGregor’s Snowman, she chooses specific words with which to reinforce the beginning and ending sounds. Students continue practice beginning and ending sounds along with her.
6. The classroom teacher documents each of the words identified by the students on the interactive whiteboard.

Guided Practice:
7. When the story is finished, the classroom teacher uses the interactive whiteboard to guide the review the beginning and ending sounds of the winter objects found throughout the story. 

Independent Practice:
8. Distribute Handouts #1 and #2 for the students to complete independently.

Closure:
9. Students read their handouts with their elbow partners and emphasize the beginning and ending sounds.

Assessment:
10. Both educators assess student responses on Handouts #1 and #2.

Extension:
11. The students will have an opportunity to continue to review beginning and ending sounds using electronic tools available at: http://www.starfall.com/n/level-k/index/play.htm?f

Lesson Plan Resources

Initial Sounds Handout #1

Ending Sounds Handout #2

ELAR_K_A_A_Abdallah_TEKS_Alignment_Lesson_Plan