Next is Unit 7 in our Amplify Knowledge series, History of the Earth. Volcanoes, dinosaurs, rocks, minerals - this unit has all the things first graders want to learn more about.
Gallery
This is how I display the image cards for our Knowledge gallery wall.
Last year I used yarn to connect each layer of the Earth with its label. It really helped my students remember the correct order for the layers.
My students love these photographs, and wrote facts to reinforce what they learned.
History of the Earth Student Book
This year they will be creating their own student book throughout the unit. I will add pictures soon!
Ambience
The photo backdrop for this unit was a huge hit - possibly the favorite so far.
I like how it has a T-Rex, but it's not the main feature. That would be a lot to walk in and see each day!
Click here to download this pdf with ambient videos, a read aloud, and live cams that your students will love watching throughout the unit.
Artwork
At the end of every unit my students create an art piece to illustrate their favorite thing they learned about, and then they write a few sentences.
Books
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs
Our World in Pictures The Dinosaur Book
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Celebration Activities
Rock Exploration
I have 5 different rock kits that my students love exploring each year with our magnifying glasses: igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary, minerals, and a mixed set from over the years.
These kits are a huge hit each year. We also explore them during arrival time, and any indoor recess we have in the Spring too!
Model Earth
This model earth featuring the layers and temperatures is always a big hit in my class.
It was also a helpful resource when they made their own Layers of the Earth model by Lita Lita on our celebration day!
Dino Fossils
First graders always love the Knowledge block, but the stories can be long. I like to give them something to hold during the story, and these dinosaur fossils work perfectly.
Dinosaur Models
This year I got a set of miniature dinosaurs that my students are going to love to match with the book and cards!
Dino Eggs
We usually do this on a separate day, as it can take a bit longer for some students.
Soaking the eggs helps speed up the process - and cuts down on the dust!
To make the event more exciting, I created official ID badges for them before they enter the excavation zone.
They can draw their picture, but I like to use their school stickers for it. They just need to sign their name, and then they are official Junior Paleontologists!
Dinosaur Puzzle
Coloring Pages
Make Your Own Fossil
This year we are going to make our own fossils using a salt dough (2 cups of all purpose flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup water).
Then they press in objects like: shells, sticks, rocks to make imprints. After they dry, you can water color them for a beautiful effect!
Lava in a Cup
We did this activity from Sublime Science, but I never got a chance to take pictures. I will add some when we do it this year!
It's a great way to help them understand how the lava moves.
We also did the Color Explosion Experiment . It has more of an eruption (and messy effect) so they had a great time with that one!
These trays allowed everyone to have space to try it out, and they kept the mess contained too!
Don't miss the other posts in this series!
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