Stefanie Wiegand
Katarski
FC 362
10 April 2013
Theme: The theme of my unit is the ocean and the unit will be called “Ocean
Explorers!” I like this theme because it can be very broad regarding the different ideas and activities, but it can also get into specific details of the ocean.
Rationale: This unit has the potential to go in many different directions. The focus could be on sea life, different bodies of water and where they are located, or even the scientific aspect of why the ocean has specific properties and characteristics. For this unit I am choosing to be broad and spontaneous in order to catch the attention of students and offer a wide range of ideas involving the ocean.
Pa Early Childhood Learning Standards:
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15.1: Constructing Knowledge
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15.4: Learning through experience
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9.1: Production and performance o 9.1a: Music and movement o 9.1b: Dramatic and performance play o 9.1c: Visual arts
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3.1a: living and non-living organisms
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3.3a: Earth and space sciences
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2.1: Numbers, number systems and relationships
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2.2: Computation and estimation
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2.4: Mathematical reasoning and connections
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2.5: Mathematical problem solving and communication
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7.1: Basic geographic literacy
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10.4: Physical activity: gross motor coordination
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10.5: Concepts, principles, and strategies of movement: fine motor coordination
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20.2: Family engagement
 20.4: Supporting children’s learning
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1.6: Speaking and listening
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1.8: Research
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1.9: Information, communication, and technology literacy
Student Population: The targeted age group is kindergarten.

Art:
1.) This activity is called Sandscapes. It allows students to get creative while working with sand and learning about sand at the beach and on the ocean floors.
For this activity, the children, with assistance from the teacher, will fill four jars of sand, leaving enough empty space at the top to shake the sand when the jar is covered. The teacher will squeeze about ten drops of different-colored food dye into each jar, cover the jar, and let a child shake it until the sand is colored. The teacher will then demonstrate how to spoon layers of different-colored sand into clear cups or jars. The more contrasting layers, the more interesting and similar to the layers of sand on beach the finished product will be. If they are using jars or bottles with covers, it's best to fill them almost to the top. The teacher can also show the children how to make interesting designs by poking the point of a knitting needle down the side of the jar or cup, allowing the colors on top to penetrate down to lower layers. Children can explore and discover that by moving the point in different ways, you can create a variety of patterns. These
Sandscape jars can be displayed in the classroom or taken home by the students.
2.) Gather the children in a circle on the floor and read the book "Bright Stanley" by Matt Buckingham. Precut large "fish" from poster board. Have bright markers, crayons or paints and large sequins available for the children to decorate their fish. Attach each fish to fishing line and hang on ceiling throughout the room.
This should remain through the unit for the entire ocean series of lessons.
Small manipulatives:
1.) This activity involves both math and the use of manipulatives. Give each child a handful of goldfish crackers and a work space. Make up word problems and let the children use their goldfish as manipulatives. Ex. Brenda went swimming one day and saw 4 beautiful goldfish swimming near her. But, all of a sudden, 2 fish got scared and swam away. How many fish were left?
2.) Students can practice observing and sorting different types of shells and other sea life. I have a container of ocean materials that contains a wide variety of shells, starfish, sand dollars, bottles of sand, bits of coral, and even a real seahorse. Students can work in a center to manipulate these objects and discuss their shapes, textures, weights, and other characteristics, and then work to put the different objects into groups.
Sensory/science:
1.) This activity is called Seawater Float. Ask students if they have ever swum in salt water. Did they know it is easier to swim or float in salt water than in fresh water? Try this experiment to demonstrate. You will need the following:

1. Fill the glass about half full of warm water.
2. Carefully slip the egg into the glass. (It should sink to the bottom.)
3. With the egg in the glass, add 1 teaspoon of salt to the glass and stir gently.
Keep adding 1 teaspoon of salt at a time until the egg floats to the surface.
Have groups explain what happened and how this would affect swimmers in salt water.
2.) This activity is called making waves. Invite children to make "wave-makers" so they can see how waves in the ocean look.
4. Help children fill their bottles about two-thirds with water. (A funnel would be helpful.)
5. Add blue or green food dye to the cooking oil to represent the color of the ocean. Then fill the bottles of water to the top with the colored cooking oil
Have the children close their bottles tightly and turn them on their sides. When they rock them gently back and forth, they can see waves.
Library/story:
1.) There are many different types of stories involving the ocean. Each day the teacher can select a book for two to read to the class during circle time before an ocean activity or lesson is started. The teacher can choose from the following list to get started:
Big Al by Andrew Clements
Swimmy by Leo Lionni
A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle
Fish Eyes by Lois Ehlert
A Million Fish...More or Less by Patricia McKissack
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
The Rainbow Fish To The Rescue by Marcus Pfister
The Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale by Marcus Pfister
Blue Sea by Robert Kalan
How to Hide an Octopus and Other Sea Creatures by Ruth Heller
Amos and Boris by William Steig
Crinkleroot's 25 Fish Every Child Should Know by Jim Arnosky
Blue Claws by Walter Lyon Krudop
Harry by the Sea by Gene Zion
Sea Dragons and Rainbow Runners: Exploring Fish With Children by Suzanne
Samson
The Little Island by Golden MacDonald
My Friend Whale by Simon James
My Very Own Octopus by Bernard Most
Waiting for the Whale by Sheryl McFarlane
2.) After you finish orally reading "Rainbow Fish", discuss the importance of

sharing in friendship.
Assist each child in making a Rainbow Fish book about sharing.
To make a book, have each child cut two fish shapes (identical in size) from construction paper.
Title one of the fish shapes, "Sharing and Caring."
Encourage the children to decorate this fish shape with paint, crayons, or makers.
Using glitter and glue, have students make one shimmering scale on this fish.
Place several sheets of paper (also cut in fish shapes) between the construction paper fish, and bind them together to make a book.
On each page, have children illustrate and write (or dictate) ways that they can share and care.
Dramatic play:
1.) Beach Prop Box- Use a small durable plastic cooler, inside it put, two beach towels, two or more size 10-14 children's swim suits, an empty sun-screen bottle, sun glasses, a bright colored hat (it is a good idea to do a head lice check daily, if hats are used), two or more empty plastic soda bottles (glue lids on for younger age children), & sand toys. The children can play with this both indoors and outdoors in the sand box.
2.) For an under the ocean theme use a large appliance box. Turn this on its' side to aide the making of a submarine. Cardboard sheets with small boxes, tubes and plastic lids attached creates an onboard computer area. Add flippers, snorkels, wet suits also. An octopus made from old stockings can sit in the area guarding a treasure chest or holding books to share with the children about the ocean.
Math:
1.) This math activity is called “Graphing our favorite ocean animals.” Ask children to decide what their favorite sea animal is. (Consider this activity near the end of the unit so that children have more choices!)
Give each child a paper fish and let them place it on the graph under their favorite. Some headers you can use are as follows: Sharks, fish, octopus, starfish, seahorse.
Once each child has had a chance to put their fish on the graph, interpret the graph using questions like "What is the favorite? Least favorite? Is there anything that is equal? How many fish in all?.
2.) This activity involves estimation. Let each child look into the fish bowl and make a "guesstimation" of how many fish are in the bowl.

Hand out the estimation sheet and let children write the estimation.
After every child has had a chance to fill in their estimation, get together as a group.
Count the fish in the bowl. This is a good time to discuss strategies such as counting by twos, making groups of ten etc. The child who was the closest to the correct answer can win the jar, or the teacher can split the jar of fish up for the entire class as a special treat.
Social studies:
1.) Circle Time
In the unit "Life Under the Sea" an opportunity to Introduce new words, such as environment, gulf, marine life and conservation, will begin to expand their vocabulary. As each word is said, have the children clap to the syllables. Show the map of the world and review the oceans that covers the earth.
Read the book A Swim Through the Sea , by Kristin Joy Pratt. This story is about a seahorse named Seamore, who encounters various sealife living in the ocean.
There is one for each letter of the alphabet, encouraging an interest in the young environmentalists. The illustrations are flowing with actions as the children anticipate each page that is turned.
2.) Observe jobs related to marine life. 
 Some of these jobs can be marine biologist, fisherman, etc… Students can use this student friendly website for children aged K-5 to discover new information. http://kids.usa.gov/jobs/index.shtml
Food and nutrition (cooking):
1.) This is tons of fun, easy, and yummy, too! The teacher and students can work in groups to prepare jello together. Blueberry jello can be mae, or any other flavor with some food coloring added. Pour the jello into molds of ocean creatures (can be found in stores).
2.) beach-snacks 
 
 Idea: 
 
 For a beach vacation, use pre-made (easier) sugar cookies, any flavor white frosting, blue food coloring and graham crackers. Mix food color with frosting, let kids spread it on cookie, then smash (and this can be very fun for the kids) the crackers and sprinkle on cookie for sand! Yum!
Music and movement (including finger plays):
1.) This activity is called Fish Story.

One, two, three, four, five
(Hold up fingers while counting)
Once I caught a fish alive.
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten
(hold up additional fingers)
Then I let it go again.
Why did I let it go?
Because it bit my finger so.
Which finger did it bite?
The little finger on the right.
(hold up pinky on the right hand)Students can also trace and cut out fish shapes using a pattern. Have them paint and glue the fish shapes onto large craft sticks.
Use puppets for fingerplays or songs.
2.) This activity is called Five Little Fishes.
Five little fishes swimming in a pool.(wiggle five fingers, move arm)
The first fish said, "This pool is cool!" (Shiver and hug yourself)
The second fish said, "This pool is deep." (Use a low voice)
The third fish said, "I want to sleep." (yawn and stretch)
The fourth fish said, "I spy a ship." (hand shading eyes)
Fishing boat comes, line goes kersplash! (throw in line)
Away the five little fishies dash. (fingers "swim" away quickly)
Field trip:
1.) The class can take a trip to a local aquarium. If the school budget does not allow this, you can visit an aquarium website and view a lot of great videos on many different types of sea life. Students can bring in popcorn or snacks and drinks. The teacher could also provide blankets and pillows so the students could get comfortable while watching and discussing the videos.
2.) The class or multiple classes at the school can have a splash day on the school grounds during the day or set it up at a nearby park. Culmination Activity:
Splash Day!!!
As a grand finale to your ocean unit, you may want to have a "Fun in the Sun
Day" or "Splash Day".
All the kindergarten teachers at the school get together and plan a day filled with all kinds of activities for the children.
Have sprinklers set up and also childrens swimming pools for the children to play

in the water.
Have a water table and put bubble solution in it or plain water and add water toys.
Fill a hard plastic childrens pool with sand and add sandbox toys.
Let the children use sidewalk chalk.
Have a bubble area set up and have some neat bubble wands, too!
Have parents volunteer to bring grills and have a cookout complete with burgers and dogs!
Here is a sample letter that you could send to the families:
Dear Parents, 
 Friday, May 23, we will have our annual Splash Day for
Kindergarten! We have various stations the children go to and do various activities at each station. This will be part of our ocean unit and it is LOTS of
FUN! 
 Each child must bring:
• a change of clothes (complete: shoes, socks, underwear,etc.)
• a towel (please label)
• they MUST wear old shoes and OLD clothes or bathing suits- these shoes and clothes will get wet.
Activities will include:
• splashing/wading pool and sprinklers
• sand tables
• water tables
• bubbles/sidewalk chalk
Thank you for your cooperation!
Bibliography: http://www.angelfire.com/la/kinderthemes/ocean.html
 Ocean Unit Ideas and
Activities from Mrs. Ayer’s kindergarten class http://www.whaletimes.org
 Ocean Themed News Letter http://www.kinderkorner.com/underthesea.html
 The ocean thematic unit ideas by Victoria Smith http://mrsleeskinderkids.blogspot.com/2011/06/oceans-of-fun.html
 Mrs. Lee’s classroom ideas for an Ocean thematic unit http://www.atozkidsstuff.com/ocean2.html#lc

Lesson Plan ideas for all disciplines http://www.teachingheart.net/oceanscienceandss.html
 Social studies ideas http://childfun.com/index.php/activity-themes/animals/108-ocean-activitytheme.html#sthash.KbyQrqtj.dpbs
 ocean recipes and snacks

http://kids.usa.gov/jobs/index.shtml
 Ocean-related careers and jobs http://www.pakeys.org/pages/get.aspx?page=career_standards  Early
Learning Standards