Kindergarten Science lesson to go with Mercer Mayor book

Science

Actual Size

Science / TEKS: 112.11 Kindergarten

(b) Knowledge and skills

(2) Scientific investigation and reasoning.  The student develops abilities to ask questions and seek answers in classroom and outdoor investigations.  The student is expected to:

(D) record and organize data and observations using pictures, numbers, and words;

Jackdaws: Actual Size book by Steve Jenkins, stuffed gorilla

Objective: Student will be able to measure different items and put into writing.

Activity/ Procedure:

·         Read book If I Had a Gorilla by Mercer Mayer

·         Introduce activity and explain by showing students the Actual Size book by Steve Jenkins.

·         Students will put hand on construction paper and trace around their hand with pencil

·         Students will cut out the hand they just drew

·         Students will then cut out the gorilla hand

·         Students will then glue gorilla hand on the sheet that has the place to put measurements

·         After student has glued the gorilla hand on sheet, student will measure the gorilla hand starting from the top of the longest finger to the bottom of the hand.  Student will write the measurement down in the correct spot.

·         Before students glue their hand on the paper, have students measure their hand the same way from the top of the longest finger to the bottom of the hand.  Student will then write the measurement in the correct spot.

·         Student will then glue their cut out of their hand in the middle of the gorilla’s hand.

·         Explain to the students we did this to be able to see how much bigger the gorilla is than we are.  Explain to the students to pay attention when we go to the zoo, how big they are.

Materials:

·         If I Had a Gorilla by Mercer Mayer

·         Sheet with gorilla hand to be cut out

·         Construction paper

·         Scissors

·         Pencil

·         Glue

Reteach/extend:

·         Have student write down what they think it would be like owning a gorilla.  Write advantages and disadvantages.

Assessment: Students will be assessed by how well they cut and glue and how close they were with the measurements of both hands.

Related Books: Actual Size by Steve Jenkins and Gorilla’s Story by Harriet Blackford

 Here's an example of what it would look like