Sample Unit: Food
Students engage in a discussion with each other about where their food comes from. They make their thinking visible by charting their brainstorm ideas using a circle map. Following this, students refine their ideas and start to generate questions as they take field trips to a bread factory, an organic food distributor, and a farmer’s market.
Mathematical concepts of estimating, counting, and measuring are explored as students investigate the size and weight of various vegetables.
Students gain a deeper understanding of food production by learning how to gather information from non-fiction books. They are introduced to text features such as, table of contents, headings, bold words, and glossaries.
In writing, students are asked to retell a series of events in sequence related to food production. They use vocabulary words such as, first, next, and last.
The class revisits their initial brainstorm circle maps and reflect on whatthey previously knew about food production, what they learned, and what wonderings they still have.
Parents report that their students are asking for unprocessed foods at the grocery store such as 100% juice and whole grain bread. Students also are observed choosing to interact with our school garden at recess. They are eager to notice the changes that happen each day.