NorthEast Washington ESD 101

Living Things and Their Needs (L)

Curricula: Carolina Building Blocks of Science (BBS) 

Starting with what kindergartners know about living and non-living things, they explore the needs of living things through pumpkin seed germination and plant growth. They also design investigations to determine which habitat Bess bugs prefer. Students make firsthand observations of how living things can change their environment to meet their needs. By the end of the unit, they apply what they’ve learned about needs to design solutions to reduce human impact on the environment.

Supplied Literature

Bird Beaks and How They Help Birds Survive (L)

Curricula: Extension Mini-Kit 

Students examine and contrast the morphology of bird beaks in relation to their survival in various habitats. They also analyze and contrast images depicting young animals and natural settings, alongside images of fully grown plants and animals.

Weather & Sky (E)

Curricula: Carolina Building Blocks of Science (BBS) 

It all starts with “What’s the weather today?” Then kindergartners quickly move beyond by keeping records, using Venn diagrams to contrast the daytime and nighttime sky, looking for patterns in their data, and developing thermometer skills. As a final activity, they engineer a way to prevent the sun from warming the earth.

Supplied Literature

Exploring Wind Speed and Aerodynamics

Curricula: Extension Mini-Kit 

Students engage in activities to detect wind speed by utilizing tools such as bubbles, pinwheels, and anenometers. Additionally, they construct kits and parachute devices as part of their learning experience.

Push, Pull, Go (P)

Curricula: Carolina Building Blocks of Science (BBS) 

Kindergartners bring their love of building to fun investigations of the forces that move them. This intro to physics integrates math and measurement as students build swings, tops, and ramps with Kids K’NEX. By the end of the unit, they apply what they’ve learned, engineering their own motion invention.

Exploring Rolling Systems and Gravity (P)

Curricula: Extension Mini-Kit 

Students observe and compare rolling systems featuring wheels of various sizes. During this process, they make the discovery that marbles tend to roll from higher points to lower points.