Fall 2014

Sem I-ECED372

LESSON PLAN OUTLINE

JMU Elementary Education Program

Sophia Schneider
Ms. Pittella; W.W. Robinson; Kindergarten
November 9, 2015

TITLE OF LESSON Leafy

CONTEXT OF LESSON

This activity is appropriate for this time in the school year because the students are learning
about fall themes, like pumpkins and apples, and have discussed leaves changing colors and falling
down. The students will be adequately prepared for this activity because they created a shapey earlier
in the year which was a person made from shapes. In this activity they will do the same thing with
leaves, sticks, and other items found in nature. The students have also been working on numbers and
counting and will have the opportunity to write numbers in this lesson.
OBJECTIVES AND ASSESSMENT
Developmental Objectives
1. The students will be able to describe the
resemblances of their leafy to humans.
2. The students will be able to count the
number of each type of material used and
write that number correctly.
3. The students will be able to follow the
cue cards for guidance throughout the
activity in gluing their projects effectively.

Plan for Assessment

I will watch the students as they create their leafy and ask them to tell
me about the materials that they used for its body parts.
I will compare the completed worksheets to the final project to determine
whether or not counting and writing was done successfully.
I will monitor the number of questions asked and the topics they are
asked about to find out if students are able to follow cue card directions. I
will watch for students referring back to the cue cards. Once the projects
are finished I will assess the success of the gluing skills.

RELATED VIRGINIA STANDARDS OF LEARNING (K & 1) OR FOUNDATION BLOCKS (Preschool)

Science Standards
Earth patterns, cycles, and change.
Experience the richness and excitement of scientific discovery of the natural world through the
collaborative quest for knowledge and understanding.
Use the language of science to communicate understanding.
MATERIALS NEEDED
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Fall 2014
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Colored construction paper

Various leaves
Thin twigs
Googly eyes
Glue
Cue cards
Counting worksheet
PREPARATION OF THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
I will set up the environment by placing a sheet of colored construction paper on each students desk. I
will put all of the leaves on one plate, all of the sticks and twigs on another, and any other
miscellaneous natural items on another. I will place the plates in the middle of their tables. I will place
a set of cue cards on each of the three classroom tables.
INTRODUCTION AND ORGANIZATION
I will introduce the activity to the children on the carpet rather than at their seats so they will not be
distracted by the materials at the table. I will ask them if they have noticed the leaves on trees doing
anything different recently to facilitate a discussion about changing and falling leaves. Once we have
reviewed that concept, I will ask if they remembered making shapeys. If not, I will remind them that
they made people out of shapes and that our activity will be very similar to that. I will then show them
my own example of a leafy and explain that theirs can look however they want it to. This is
important so that they can use more creativity. I will then explain the concept of cue cards and show
them that both the pictures and words tell them what to do. I will show them an example of each cue
card so that they are familiar with the instructions they are being given. I will let them know that they
should look at the cue cards for directions and ask a teacher if they dont understand.
IMPLEMENTATION
I will instruct the students to go back to their desks without touching any of the materials. I will then
explain the concept of cue cards and show them that both the pictures and words tell them what to do. I
will show them an example of each cue card so that they are familiar with the instructions they are
being given. I will let them know that they should look at the cue cards for directions and ask a teacher
if they dont understand. I will ask them to identify all of the natural materials on their tables and
explain that they can use whatever material they want for the body parts of their leafy. I will then tell
them to begin the activity and walk around to help as needed.
CLOSURE
To transition students into math activities, I will give them a fill-in-the-blank worksheet where they will
fill in the number of each natural material that they used in their creation. This will work well with their
current curriculum because the students have been practicing writing numbers.
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CLEAN-UP
The students will place their leafy by the sink so that the glue can dry, then will put them into their
mailboxes to go home. I will collect the glue and cue cards and the students will put their number
worksheet into their mailbox to take home.
DIFFERENTIATION
The cue cards will give opportunities for all students to understand instruction because the pictures supply an
explanation for students who cannot read and the words challenge emerging readers. Some students will need
more individualized instruction so I will be walking around to make sure that I give that to them. If students have
difficulty conceptualizing what a person-like figure would look like I will draw a stick figure for them so they
know what body parts they need to make.
WHAT COULD GO WRONG WITH THIS LESSON AND WHAT WILL YOU DO ABOUT IT?
A big potential problem is that students will not understand the concept of the cue cards. This class has never
used them before for instruction so they may ask a lot of additional questions or ask me for instruction again
rather than checking back on the cards. To solve this issue I will remind them that they can find the answers on
the cards. Some students may have trouble with breaking the materials so I will need to explain that they need to
use gentle hands because the leaves might be dry and breakable. If students are playing with the materials in an
unsafe way (sticks for example) those students will not be allowed to use the sticks in their creation.

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