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STEAM at Atco Elementary: Season Suitcase

This LibGuide will provide a description and importance of what STEAM is and what it looks like on our K-1 school. It will list different activities that we do in our school that involve our new STEAM enrichment.

Suggested Book

Annotated Bibliography: 

Froggy hops out into the snow but called back by his mother to put on appropriate clothing.

Additional books

Activity

Question

Can you pack a suitcase with important things that you need for a season?                

                

 

        

Challenge Description: Students will work with a partner or small group to design and pack a “suitcase” for the season of their choice. They will use a variety of material scraps and construction paper to design small objects that prepare them for that season (including severe weather that might be in that season), then glue the objects onto their paper suitcase. Examples of objects for winter might be a coat, hat, gloves, shelter, snow shovel, heater, and fireplace. Examples of items for spring might be a raincoat, rain boots, umbrella, gardening tools, or tornado shelter items. Students can also draw and color items inside the suitcase.

 

Suggested Materials: informational books about seasons and weather, picture of suitcases, crayons or markers construction paper scraps, fabric scraps, pom pom balls, pipe cleaners, toothpicks, straws, liquid glue or scotch tape

Lesson Plan

LESSON PLAN                                                         

  1. Prime students’ background knowledge about seasons and weather by reading aloud an informational book of your choice. You may also choose to project a variety Google images of seasons or types of severe weather on an interactive whiteboard so that students can discuss the similarities and differences between each one.                                                     

  2. Hold a class discussion, allowing students to share what they already know about seasons and what severe weather might be possible in each season. Brainstorm ways that we can prepare for each season. Record their ideas on the provided teacher chart and have them add ideas to their individual booklets.      

  3. Introduce permitted materials and share the challenge. Allow students to share ideas for what items they might create and “pack” in a suitcase for each season.

  4. Allow students at least 45 minutes with partners or small groups to create and add a variety of objects to their suitcases.                

  5. Hold a whole class closing discussion and reflection, allowing students to share what they created and what they learned about seasons and severe weather. Record their ideas.