South Carolina ETV
South Carolina ETV
1101 George Rogers Boulevard
Columbia, SC 29201-4761
Phone: 803-737-3545
Amazing Australia (Grade K)
Master Teacher
Christie Y. Trezevant
Time Allotment
Two weeks, intermitted in daily schedule
Overview
Australia is a fascinating land of discovery and interesting animals. Children are in awe of the continent after reading Mem Fox books or watching Crocodile Dundee movies. Use that enthusiasm to teach them about this exciting country.
Subject Matter
Social Studies
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Explain the similarities and differences between a book and a movie of the same name;
- Do simple research with the help of an adult;
- Tell simple facts about research done.
South Carolina Standards
Social Studies
K.7.2 Identify similarities and differences in the customs, patterns, and cultures of various regions.
K.8.2 Name ways people change, care for, and endanger their environment.
Media Components
Web Sites
Guide to Australia - profiles Australia's unique culture.
Tales from the Billabong is fun Web site full of games and stories about Australia.
Trishan's Oz is an Australian Web site about Australia.
Kip and Co is a place where students can learn more about the unique and not-so-unique animals found in Australia. Has a section where students can write to Kip to tell him something or even ask questions. At Kip's Adventure Track, students can receive postcards from Kip that tell a little about some of the cities and towns in Australia. Good graphics but can take awhile for them to load on a slow computer. Story area allows you to decide on two stories.Yahooligans has tons of links for students about Australia.
Mem Fox is the Web site of the author of Possum Magic. This Australian author is a wonderful writer and excellent speaker.
Materials
- Video: Scholastic Stories from Lands Near and Far, Lesson 3: "Possum Magic"
- Possum Magic by Mem Fox (Voyager Books, 1991)
- chart paper
- pen
- crayons
- markers
- Activity Sheets
Equipment
- computer
- digital camera
- scanner
- TV
- VCR
Prep for Teachers
- Preview and then bookmark all sites needed or wanted about Australia.
- Order the video, From Lands Near and Far, Possum Magic, from the school librarian or it can be ordered through SCETV.
- Set up time for video watching.
- Copy Activity Sheets (1 per student).
- Arrange for volunteers to come in and help with the Learning Activities.
- Set up snacks for the "museum" activity under the Culminating Activity.
- When using media, provide students with a Focus for Media Interaction, a specific task to complete and/or information to identify during or after viewing of video elements, Web sites or other multimedia elements.
Introductory Activity
Step 1: Read the book Possum Magic to the students. When done reading, have the students retell you the plot of the story.
Step 2: Watch the movie, Possum Magic. Provide students with a Focus for Media Interaction by telling them to note the differences and similarities between a movie and a book.
Step 3: Create a T-graph on chart paper illustrating the differences and similarities between these two types of media.
Learning Activities
Activity One
Step 1: During group time, explain to the students that they will be doing some research on the computer with an adult or volunteer.
Step 2: Explain to students they will be looking at information about the country in which the story Possum Magic took place-Australia. Also tell them to look for major cities, unique animals, unique food, customs, and native people in their journey on the computer. Distribute Activity Sheet 1.
Step 3: During center time, or whenever you have volunteers in the classroom, have each child go to a computer with a volunteer. The volunteer should read the information about Australia found on the computer to the student. The student will dictate what he or she understands and the volunteer will write it on Activity Sheet 1 in the appropriate place.
Step 4: During sharing time, the students will be able to share what they learned. Their papers should be saved for later use if necessary.
Activity Two
Step 1: During group time, have the students tell you what were the most interesting animals they found. Write these down on the chart paper. Make sure that everyone does not say the same thing.
Step 2: On Activity Sheet 2, write the child's name and the animal he or she chose. The students will use these sheets at the computer to compile everything that they find in their research.
Step 3: Have the students go to the computer with a volunteer to research that animal (the food it eats, its habitat, relatives in the animal kingdom) and to print out pictures of it.
Step 4: During sharing time, the students will be able to share what they learned. The papers should be saved for later use if necessary.
Activity Three
Step 1: During group time, explain to the students that they will be creating an "Australian Animal" quilt in the art center.
Step 2: In the art center, have pictures that have been found on the Internet by the students on the table for visual reference. There should also be markers, white paper and crayons.
Step 3: The students should use a picture of the animal they researched to draw their picture.
Step 4: Once the picture is complete, frame the picture on colored paper, hole punching around the edges.
Step 5: Have the students join the pieces together by threading the pieces together with yarn.
Step 6: Display the finished products somewhere in the room or out in the hall. This is the "museum."
Culminating Activity
Step 1: Have the children make invitations to the museum in the writing center. The visitors could be other kindergarten students, parents, or members of the school administration.
Step 2: Display all the items that the students have worked on. The students will be the guides through the museum.
Step 3: Make sure that there are several different food items for the visitors to taste.
Assessment
Base comprehension on-
- Knowledge of student at the museum.
- Dictation of research.
- Creativity in picture.
Cross-Curricular Extensions
Language Arts: Write letters to people in Australia.
Write letters to authors from Australia.
Tally the numbers of books read by an Australian author, Mem Fox for example.
Community Connections
- E-pal with students from Australia. This is a way to learn the interview process.
- Find a virtual field trip of Australia or go to the library in town and talk to librarian there about Australia.
- Have someone who has been to Australia come in and talk to the class.
Student Materials
- construction Paper
- scissors
- glue
- hole punch
- yarn
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