Unit 4: Here Comes the Sun

Unit Overview: Each unit overview provides a description of the content knowledge students will gain through learning and applying literacy skills while engaging with texts. Additional information in the Resources section. 

Unit 4 in first grade provides students with the opportunity to learn about the importance of the sun and make connections to why it is crucial to life on Earth.  Other forms of renewable energy, such as  solar, wind, and hydro, will also be explored in conjunction with the power of the sun. In order to apply this newly acquired knowledge, students will closely follow the stages of plant growth through observation logs kept throughout the process. The unit will begin with exploration of the sun and the benefits of the energy it supplies.  Students will immediately begin to observe the benefits of the sun as they start the unit with the opportunity to observe seeds that they plan with their classmates.  These seeds will be observed throughout the unit through the perspective of the sun and water. Students will also continue to practice opinion writing skills throughout this unit. In kindergarten, students were asked to identify basic similarities and differences between two texts on the same topic with prompting and support from their teacher. In first grade, students will expand on these skills by independently comparing illustrations, descriptions, or procedures in two texts on the same topic. Discourse and engagement practices that allow for discussion should be used to support student language development. All foundational standards and skills are prioritized by the following phonics based activities: decoding by breaking apart two-syllable words and reading irregularly spelled words. Students will engage in phonics activities in order to decode unknown words and increase fluency.

In order to promote learning for all students the following strategies have been incorporated into the day to day lesson design. To support EL student writing we have included generative language frames and structures for specific functions. To support students with Individualized Education Plans (IEP), we have embedded the use of cognitive and metacognitive strategies (ie. graphic organizers), explicit and scaffolded instruction and, pre/post teaching strategies (ex. Vocabulary routine) throughout the unit to support students' access to grade level material. As part of the district’s equity initiative we will cultivate our students’ critical thinking skills through opinion and persuasive writing on a socially relevant topic. Students will hone their opinion and persuasive writing skills through research, drawing, and writing. Students will demonstrate learning by expressing their beliefs around alternative energy options. This unit may contain text from Wit and Wisdom and/or ReadyGen that are aligned with the content and priority standards.

Big Idea: 

• The sun gives the Earth its energy.

• The sun, the wind and water are all forms of energy.

• Water and wind can be used as sources of energy.

• Solar energy can provide power to many things in our everyday lives.

• Our food supply is dependent on the sun.

Essential Questions: 

• How big is the sun?

• How can the sun be used as energy?

• How can water and wind energy impact our environment?

• How does our food depend on the sun and other sources of energy?