Parkside First Grade

This year's learning...

Quarter 1

About EL Module 1 - Tools and Work

In this module, students engage in a study of tools and work.

In Unit 1, 1, students are introduced to hand tools through a series of “tool challenges' and work to answer the question, “Which tool is best for the job?” Following these experiences, students engage in a series of focused read-alouds, featuring people from around the world who use specific tools for certain tasks.

In Unit 2, students engage in close read-alouds, which focus on the study of characters. Through these texts, students will consider the habits of character (collaboration, perseverance, initiation) that help them make work easier and solve dilemmas.

In Unit 3, students use their classroom tools and habits of character to collaboratively create a “magnificent thing” for their classroom.

At the end of the module, students take all they have learned about tools and work to create a “magnificent thing” that fulfills an authentic classroom need (e.g., pencil holder for classroom use).

Quarter 2

About EL Module 2 - Sun, Moon, and Stars

In this module, students engage in a study of the sun, moon, and stars.

In Unit 1, students study the sun, moon, and stars through various narrative texts and begin to understand how and why the sun, moon, and stars inspire authors.

In Unit 2, students focus their study on the science concepts of observable patterns in the sky as they relate to the sun, moon, and stars. Students track their observations of the sun, moon, and stars in pictures and videos in a Sky notebook.

In Unit 3, students engage in a focused read-aloud to understand the content of the position of the sun and moon at different times of day and descriptions of the sun and moon. They then use the text again as a mentor text to study the author's craft of writing a narrative story.

At the end of the module, students use their growing understanding to compose a narrative story.

Quarter 3

About EL Module 3 - Birds' Amazing Bodies

In this module, students engage in an in-depth study of bird's bodies.

In Unit 1, students listen to various nonfiction texts as they answer the unit guiding question, “What makes a bird a bird?” Students will participate in reading, discussions, and drawing to build their background knowledge of birds.

In Unit 2, students participate in research to learn more about bird beaks and bird feathers. Students will write an informational paragraph about how beaks or feathers help birds survive.

In Unit 3, students participate in more research about how bird's key body parts help them survive in their specific habitat to aid in class discussions.

At the end of the module, students will create Bird Riddle Cards and drawings to create a riddle matching game with their classmates using their research.

Quarter 4

About EL Module 4 - Caring for Birds

In this module, students continue to build on their knowledge of birds from Module 3 and explore themodule guiding question: “Why should we care about birds?”

In Unit 1, students begin to think about this question by reading stories with characters who care for birds. Students participate in reading, discussions, and writing as they compare and contrast the characters’ experiences in these stories

In Unit 2, students learn about writing opinions as they investigate a specific bird, Pale Male, who built his nest in the heart of New York City. Students read about people’s differing opinions about this nest and then write their own opinions in response to the evidence they gather

In Unit 3, students learn about some of the problems birds face more generally and what humans can do to help them live and grow through the text "A Place for Birds" by Melissa Stewart.

At the end of the module, students create a piece of artwork and writing that serves an authentic need in their school or local community: a Feathered Friends Saver! When displayed in a window, the portrait helps to prevent birds from flying into the window.

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