Lesson 1: My Environment
Getting Started
Questions to Explore
- What makes an environment safe and healthy?
- What do people and animals need in order to live in their environments?
Facts and Definitions
- An environment is the people and things that surround a human, plant, or animal where it lives.
- A healthy environment has food, water, and shelter for the animals, plants, and people who live in it.
- Shelter provides protection from weather (for example, a house, burrow, or tree).
Skills
- Locate and describe familiar places in the home and other environments (such as bodies of water and landforms) (SS)
- Describe the function of places in the home and other environments (SS)
- Show an understanding that the letters in a written word represent the sequence of sounds in a spoken word (LA)
- Read and write numbers (M)
- Place data and ideas on a chart (M)
- Attempt to read dictated text (LA)
Materials
- crayons or colored pencils
- glue or tape* (Activity 2 - Option 2)
- scissors* (Activity 2 - Option 2)
* - denotes an optional material that may or may not be needed
Introduction
Explain to your child that an environment describes the things and people that surround us. For example, in our home environment we can find a refrigerator, family members, beds, a couch, etc. Ask your child what else she can find in her home environment. Explain that a healthy environment is one where animals and/or humans can live and grow. An animal's environment is made up of the plants, animals, insects, and land on which it lives.
Ask your child to briefly describe her environment. Explain to her that the environment for any animal or human must provide food, water, and shelter (protection from the weather). Today, the two of you will be exploring your home environment.
Note: Over the course of this unit, be sure to review the vocabulary words every day. Your child does not have to know the definitions word for word but should be able to describe each vocabulary word and use it correctly in a sentence. This review is important for memorization practice and will ensure that your child has a deep understanding of the topics presented in the unit.
Ask your child to briefly describe her environment. Explain to her that the environment for any animal or human must provide food, water, and shelter (protection from the weather). Today, the two of you will be exploring your home environment.
Note: Over the course of this unit, be sure to review the vocabulary words every day. Your child does not have to know the definitions word for word but should be able to describe each vocabulary word and use it correctly in a sentence. This review is important for memorization practice and will ensure that your child has a deep understanding of the topics presented in the unit.