Constructivist Lesson Plan

Title: Trees and their use

Grade: Kindergarten

Teacher:

Time: 25- 30 minutes

Situation:

• Students will identify 3-4 ways how trees are used.  The student will produce 3 leaf rubbings using one color for each leaf.
• The lesson will open with the reading of Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree. Students will be asked to identify how the tree was used in the story.

  Grouping:

• The students will work in groups of three, to create a poster with the leaves.
• Materials: The Giving Tree (Shel Silverstein), 30 leaves (10 Adler, 10 Bigleaf Maple, 10 Vine Maple) crayons, white paper, butcher paper,pen
• Once the leaves are presented, then the students will be shown how to do leaf rubbings.
• The leaf will be placed on a flat surface and covered with a piece of white paper.
• Next, a crayon will be rubbed gently over the paper so that the features of the leaf appear.
• Pre-made examples of all three leaf rubbings will be presented for the students to look at.
• The students will then be dismissed to their tables to work on the rubbings. They will be instructed to share the leaves, work as neatly as possible, and use one color for each leaf.

Bridge:

• After the students have finished the rubbings, each group will share their work with the class, explaining how trees are different and why they think trees are important.
• Students will be asked if they have trees in their yards or neighborhoods and how they use them in work or play.

Questions:

• The students will be asked how the tree in the story was used.
• They will be asked if they have seen trees used that way in their yards or neighborhoods.
• The students will also be asked to state other ways that trees are used.
• The student will be asked to explain why they think trees have different shaped leafs.
• All student answers will also be recorded.

Exhibit:

• The students will share what they have learned by showing their individual rubbings to the class and discussing what new information they found out.
• Rubbings will be displayed around the classroom.
• Each student answer to questions will be posted on a ring poster bord flip chart.

Reflections:

• The rubbings will be looked over to see if they were completed neatly and in one color.The coloring should help to develop and maintain fine motor skills. The students could also focus on completing a task with few or no interruptions, maintaining attention, sitting quietly, and working neatly.
• Students will be asked:
  • if they think the rubbings are neat and if the color is correct.
  • if they are happy with their rubbing or if not what they might do to improve it .

Culled from: http://www.halcyon.com/marcs/lesson.html