Science and Technology/Engineering
16 Kindergarten
Lauren Weiss and Margaret Krone
Reasons for Change
In kindergarten, students build on early experiences observing the world around them as they continue to make observations that are more quantitative in nature and help them identify why some changes occur. Students begin to learn to use these observations as evidence to support a claim through growing language skills. They learn that all animals and plants need food, water, and air to grow and thrive and that the fundamental difference between plants and animals is a plant’s ability to make its own food. Students build their quantitative knowledge of temperature in relation to the weather and its effect on different kinds of materials. They observe that the amount of sunlight shining on a surface causes a temperature change and they design a structure to reduce the warming effects of sunlight. They investigate motions of objects by changing the strength and direction of pushes and pulls. They provide examples of plants and animals that can change their environment through their interactions with it. In kindergarten science, students begin to identify reasons for changes in some common phenomena.[1] [2]
ESS2. Earth’s Systems
- K-ESS2-2. Construct an argument supported by evidence for how plants and animals (including humans) can change the environment.
Falcon Curriculum Core Categories
Conservation and Policy
Falcon Curriculum Essential Question
How have humans changed the environment for peregrine falcons?
Materials
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Sample Plan
Watch the Falcon Curriculum: Conservation, Beginner videos. Talk about how humans used DDT to change the environment by getting rid of insects that ate their crops and made them sick, but DDT was bad for the environment and when peregrine falcons ate the birds that ate the bugs that had DDT on them, it made the falcons lay soft-shelled eggs that couldn’t hatch.
Do the Soft Shelled Egg Experiment:
- Have them all feel how hard an eggshell is normally (you can use a hardboiled one so it doesn’t break all over them).
- Pour 1 cup vinegar into clear jar/container.
- Add the egg.
- Talk about what happens (bubbles will rise from the egg).
- Leave the egg in the vinegar for 1 day.
- Remove the egg and have them all feel it (soft). IMPORTANT: if you are using a raw egg and not hardboiled, make sure the students are gentle with it when they touch it, or it will break all over.
- Explain that this is like what happened with the peregrine falcon eggs.
ESS3. Earth and Human Activity
- K-ESS3-1(MA). Obtain and use information about weather forecasting to prepare for, and respond to different types of local weather.
Falcon Curriculum Core Categories
Animal Behavior
Falcon Curriculum Essential Question
How does weather affect peregrine falcons?
Materials
| For Instructors | For Students |
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Sample Plan
Watch the Falcon Curriculum: Behaviors video, as well as videos of the Fal