Look Up! Look Down!
The Sky’s the Limit for These Kindergartners!
Students will create their own topographic landforms using baker’s dough and paint. They will dig through the soil to discover the living and non-living substances. With water, a small mirror, and a white piece of cardboard, they will make a prism to refract the sun’s white light into the colors of the rainbow.
OBJECTIVE
Students will:
- Learn characteristics of landforms such as mountains, hills, plains, plateaus, valleys, canyons, islands, and volcanoes
- Describe environments of Earth such as deserts, forests, jungles, cities, and coastlines
- Identify the physical properties of soil, sand, rocks, and minerals
- Observe, classify, and compare substances found in the soil
- Understand that white light from the sun can be refracted into a spectrum of colors
- Observe and record the changes in the sky
LESSONS FOR THIS UNIT
Lesson 1: Tall as a Mountain, Flat as a Plain
Lesson 2: What on Earth is in the Earth?
Lesson 3: What Color Is the Sky?
REPRODUCIBLES
What on Earth Is in the Earth? Sorting Sheet (PDF)
The Sky for a Week Recording Book (PDF)
CULMINATING ACTIVITY
Take a field trip to a hilly area where you and your students can hike up a small mountain. Observe the landforms and soil as you walk and how the sky looks different from the top of the hills. You may want to also visit an observatory.
SUPPORTING BOOKS
Books for Teaching About Earth and Sky
- Teacher Store
-
Rainforest Researchers
The Teacher Store 
Rainforest Researchers
Rainforest Researchers places today's cutting-edge research inside two dramatic story lines, with compelling video and collaborative problem solving. Students face real scientific challenges based on current research in tropical forests.
With Rainforest Researchers students will:
- Understand current research efforts on tropical forests and biological diversity
- Explore the use and management of biological resources
- Understand the role of plants as critical components of gl $350.00
CD-ROM | Grades 5-8
Grades 5-8 $350.00
- Teacher Store
-
Rainforest Researchers
The Teacher Store 
Rainforest Researchers
Rainforest Researchers places today's cutting-edge research inside two dramatic story lines, with compelling video and collaborative problem solving. Students face real scientific challenges based on current research in tropical forests.
With Rainforest Researchers students will:
- Understand current research efforts on tropical forests and biological diversity
- Explore the use and management of biological resources
- Understand the role of plants as critical components of gl $199.00
CD-ROM | Grades 5-8
Grades 5-8 $199.00
ARTICLE
LESSON PLAN
ONLINE ACTIVITY
