Cooperative Learning Activity Topic- Seasons- Cooperative Learning Grade Level- 1st grade/ESL Instructional Objective- Students will work as a group to demonstrate their understanding of all four seasons, differences between them, and how these differences effect people, animals, or plants. Concepts/Standards- ASD curriculum concepts- Students should be able to identify the seasons and know the months in which they fall.  PA Standards-  Students will use knowledge of seasons to explain the effects on plants, animals, and daily life.  Materials- Clay Assorted colored tissue paper Cotton balls Construction paper Paint Brushes Butcher Paper Computer with PowerPoint program LCD projector Engagement- Explain that the children will have a wonderful opportunity to work with a group on a special project.  Explain each group.(See below for group descriptions and directions.)  Tell the children that the point of working in these groups is for them to learn to work together and to show us that they understand the seasons.  Rules:  How should you behave in the group?  What should happen if you don't?  (Students will have to sit out.) Procedure-  1. Assign students to their groups. 2. Go to each group and explain their goals for today. 3. I will work with the PowerPoint group. 4.   Find out if the cooperating teacher and the aide can work with others. Complete assessment- PowerPoint Presentation during computer time.  Play on Friday.  Clay group will display and explain their work on Friday.  Mural Group will display and explain their work on Friday. Key Discussion Questions- How does the weather change throughout the year? How do these changes effect you, animals, and plants? Closure- Thank children for their hard work.  Ask them what they learned. Assessment- Informal assessment Extension-  Talk to your families about what each group did in school today.  Think about how you can use creativity to help you understand other school subjects.

MURAL GROUP **(BRING IN AN OLD SHIRT TO PUT OVER YOUR CLOTHES.  A NOTE WILL BE SENT HOME.) 1. TALK ABOUT HOW CHILDREN PLAY IN THE DIFFERENT SEASONS. 2. DECIDE HOW YOU ARE GOING TO SHARE THE MURAL SPACE. 3. DECIDE WHO IS GOING TO DRAW/PAINT WHAT. FOR EXAMPLE: 1 CHILD DRAWS WINTER 1 CHILD DRAWS SUMMER 1 CHILD DRAWS FALL 1 CHILD DRAWS SPRING 1 CHILD DRAWS THE TITLE AND THE NAMES OF THE ARTISTS 1 CHILD WRITES AND PAINTS A SENTENCE AT THE END OF THE JOURNAL:  WE LIKE TO PLAY IN ALL OF THE SEASONS. 4. PUT YOUR SHIRT ON AND GET TO WORK. 5. CLEAN UP.

PLAY GROUP:  A BEAR THROUGH THE SEASONS 1. TALK ABOUT WHAT A BEAR DOES IN THE DIFFERENT SEASONS.  WRITE THIS DOWN. WINTER           SPRING          SUMMER           FALL 2. DECIDE ON THE CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY? WILL YOU HAVE A NARRATOR? ONE BEAR OR A BEAR FAMILY? WILL KIDS PLAY TREES OR FLOWERS OR OTHER THINGS TO SHOW THE DIFFERENT SEASONS? HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SHOW THE DIFFERENT SEASONS? LIST OF CHARACTERS 3. WRITE THE PLAY ON SCRATCH PAPER. 4. TRY THE PLAY OUT. 5. MAKE NOTES FOR THE SPEAKING CHARACTERS SO THAT THEY CAN LEARN THEIR LINES. 6. MAKE SIMPLE PROPS 7. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!

CLAY GROUP 1. TALK ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT A TREE GOES THROUGH DURING THE SEASONS. 2. LOOK AT PICTURES IN BOOKS. 3. DECIDE WHO WILL DO WHAT: 2 CHILDREN CAN MAKE A TREE FOR SUMMER 2 CHILDREN CAN MAKE A TREE FOR WINTER 2 CHILDREN CAN MAKE A TREE FOR FALL 2 CHILDREN CAN MAKE A TREE FOR SPRING * EACH PAIR SHOULD LABEL THEIR TREE WITH THE NAME OF THE SEASON AND THEIR NAMES.

POWER POINT GROUP 1. MS. W WILL EXPLAIN WHAT THE GROUP WILL DO. 2. GROUP WILL PICK BACKGROUND COLOR. 3. DECIDE WHO WILL DO WHAT: 1 CHILD WILL WRITE SENTENCES FOR EACH SEASON (4 GROUP MEMBERS) 4. STUDENTS WILL TAKE TURNS TYPING THEIR SENTENCES AND IMPORTING THEIR ICON. * THE GROUP NEEDS TO DECIDE ON A TITLE AND PUT IT ON THE TITLE PAGE. THE LAST PAGE NEEDS TO HAVE ALL OF THE STUDENTS' NAMES.