Week 4: Changing Environments
Weekly Focus
Children discover how plants and animals (including humans) can change their environments to meet their needs, and learn to identify evidence of these changes.
Week at a Glance
- Understand how plants can change their environment
- Explore how animals change their environment
- Recognize how humans change the environment
- Identify evidence of environmental changes
Weekly Overview
Theme
Changing Environments
Focus Areas
- Plant changes
- Animal changes
- Human impact
- Environmental evidence
Key Vocabulary
Observing Environmental Changes
Daily Plans
Monday: How Plants Change the Environment
Daily schedule and activities
Morning Activity
Morning Circle: Introduce the concept of environmental changes
Literacy Focus
Watch video about how plants change their environment
Math Focus
Sort and count pictures of plant environmental changes
Afternoon Activity
Draw a picture showing how a plant changes its environment
Materials Needed
- Video about plant changes
- Picture cards of environmental changes
- Drawing supplies
- Chart paper
- Plant photographs
Assessment Notes
Observe students' understanding of how plants can change their environment and their ability to identify examples.
Featured Activities
Plant Hero Stations
Students rotate through stations featuring different plants that change their environment, completing activities at each station.
Duration
45 minutes
Materials
- Plant information cards
- Activity sheets
- Plant specimens or pictures
- Magnifying glasses
Learning Areas
Animal Environment Changers
Students create models of animals changing their environment (e.g., birds building nests, beavers building dams, worms making tunnels).
Duration
40 minutes
Materials
- Clay/play dough
- Natural materials
- Animal figures
- Craft sticks
- Cotton balls
Learning Areas
Environmental Changes Charades
Students act out different ways that plants and animals change their environment while classmates guess what they're portraying.
Duration
30 minutes
Materials
- Picture cards of environmental changes
- Props (optional)
- Timer
Learning Areas
Before and After Scenes
Students create before and after drawings showing how a plant or animal changed its environment.
Duration
35 minutes
Materials
- Paper divided in half
- Drawing supplies
- Before/after example cards
- Scissors
- Glue
Learning Areas
Connecting to Children's Experiences
Resources
Books
- "Beaver Builds a Lodge" by Lisa J. Amstutz
- "A Seed Is Sleepy" by Dianna Hutts Aston
- "Animal Architects" by Amy Shields
- "Bee Builds a Hive" by Pam Scheunemann
- "Plants Can't Sit Still" by Rebecca E. Hirsch
Printables
- Environmental changes sorting cards
- Plant hero information cards
- Animal environment changers cards
- Environmental detective observation sheets
- Before and after template sheets
Home Connection
Send home a family activity sheet that encourages parents/caregivers to look for evidence of plants and animals changing their environment in their neighborhood or local park.