Great Works
K and Grade 1

Plants are a part of our everyday lives, and understanding how they grow and interact with the environment can encourage respect for the natural world. This unit aims to give students that understanding, showing them how human beings and nature are connected — and how both require specific care in order to thrive. 

Books

WORLD

• • Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

  • Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms by Julia Rawlinson

  • Fun and Fruit by María Teresa Barahona

  • Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book by Dr. Seuss

STEAM

• How a Seed Grows by Helene J. Jordan

• Pick, Pull, Snap! by Lola M. Schaefer

• Harlem Grown by Tony Hillery

• Butterfly Park by Elly MacKay

Knowing the weather conditions allows one to decide what to wear, what activities to engage in, and how to prepare for the day ahead. This unit teaches students about the interconnectedness of weather and emotions and how both can be unpredictable depending on the day. 

Books

WORLD

• Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

• Sometimes I'm Bombaloo by Rachel Vail

• The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

• The Tantrum That Saved the World by Megan Herbert
  
  

STEAM

• Come on Rain! by Karen Hesse

• Hurricane by David Wiesner

• The Magic School Bus Presents Wild Weather by Sean Callery

• Down Comes the Rain by Dr. Franklyn M. Branley

Math, patterns, and counting are all important components of musical composition. In addition to introducing students to the scientific method and the skills needed to build their own instruments, this unit engages students in various aspects of making — and listening to — music. 

Books

WORLD

• Pokko and the Drum by Matthew Forsythe

• Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle

• Double Bass Blues by Andrea J. Loney

• The Remarkable Farkle McBride by John Lithgow

STEAM

• Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin by Lloyd Moss

• Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

• 88 Instruments by Chris Barton

• Seven Golden Rings by Rajani LaRocca

Change, as they say, is the one constant in life. In this unit, students explore change in a variety of ways, considering its manifestations in nature and in personal experience. 

Books

WORLD

• This House, Once by Deborah Freedman

• A Chair for My Mother by Vera B Williams

• My Kicks: A Sneaker Story! by Susan Verde

• Things That Go Away by Beatrice Alemagna

STEAM

• Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson

• Verdi by Janell Cannon

• Farfallina & Marcel by Holly Keller

• Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner

Understanding the systems in the body can give children the confidence and independence to take care of their bodies and make healthy choices. In this unit, students learn about some of the body’s systems and explore the role of doctors in helping people maintain optimal health.

Books

WORLD

• • Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor by Patricia Valdez

  • Who Says Women Can't Be Doctors? by Tanya Lee Stone

  • Doctor De Soto by William Steig

  • Little Doctor and the Fearless Beast by Sophie Gilmore

STEAM

• • Human Body Learning Lab by Betty Choi MD

  • The Magic School Bus Presents: The Human Body by Dan Green

  • My Amazing Body Machine by Robert Winston

  • Inside Your Outside! by Tish Rabe

Energy, electricity, and developments in the field of physics have enabled so many human achievements, but they’ve also created a society of people who sometimes spend more time staring at screens than at the surrounding world. In this unit, students consider the pros and cons of technological advancement, learn how energy works, study sustainable energy alternatives, and explore the benefits of unplugging. 

Books

WORLD

• • When Charlie McButton Lost Power by Suzanne Collins

  • Unplugged by Steve Antony

  • My Light by Molly Bang

  • Doug Unplugged by Dan Yaccarino

STEAM

• • Energy by Andi Diehn

  • Buried Sunlight by Molly Bang

  • Newton and Me by Lynne Mayer

  • The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba

Understanding why certain animals are endangered helps students see how vital all animals are to the world we share with them. Additionally, understanding stories of individual, personal life transitions and loss can help students empathize with more abstract, global changes that may feel removed from their own lives, such as habitat loss and species loss. This unit aims to foster students’ understanding and empathy, demonstrate how humans affect animals, and show how individuals can bring awareness to the plight of endangered species. Ultimately, the lessons learned empower students to take steps to help prevent animal extinction.

Books

WORLD

• Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina

• I Miss My Grandpa by Jin Xiaojing

• The Rough Patch by Brian Lies

• Watercress by Andrea Wang

STEAM

• • Animal Ark by Kwame Alexander

  • Red Alert! by Catherine Barr

  • If Sharks Disappeared Lily Williams

  • Don't Let Them Disappear by Chelsea Clinton

Robots are now a part of life and will increasingly become more so. In this unit, students begin to explore artificial intelligence while considering what separates humans from robots — and what brings us together. Along the way, they exercise their imaginations, engage their empathy, and come to appreciate the quality of resourcefulness.

Books

WORLD

• Randy Riley's Really Big Hit by Chris Van Dusen

• Little Bot and Sparrow by Jake Parker

• Doug Unplugs on the Farm by Dan Yaccarino

• Clink by Kelly DiPucchio

STEAM

• • Curiosity by Markus Motum

  • Little Robot Alone by Patricia MacLachlan

  • If You Had a Jetpack by Lisl H. Detlefsen

  • Little Robot by Ben Hatke