Daily Schedule - Theme

I teach my science, social studies, and health in blocks. I try to make sure I cover one unit from each subject each term (Sept-Nov, Dec-Mar, Apr-June). Here's a little monthly break down of how I split up the different curriculums: 

I usually have about an hour for theme (some days a half-hour), so I usually break my time into three parts: the lesson, interactive journals, and explore tubs.

I tend to read a lot of books to introduce topics and ideas. Then we might do an activity, such as these below, to reinforce the concept.

Bucket filling/bucket dipping sort in pocket chart.

Thinking of questions or wonderings we had about weather or seasons.

Rules/laws sort on the SMARTboard. 

Watch a music video about a topic such as plants. 

(Harry Kindergarten has lots of great science videos!)

Make a graph about our class eye colours.

Then we usually do a page in our interactive journals. My students have two journals--one for science and a combined one for social studies/health. I use these packs for our journals:

      

Here's an example of a design project we did. Students made their plans in their notebook, then got to build a device to protect one of their senses!

Then when they are done their journal (because some are often faster than others!), they get to choose from one of six explore tubs. Right now I only have them for science, but I'm planning how to incorporate these in social studies and health as well!!

You can read more about my explore tubs here:

What Are Explore Tubs?

Weather & Seasons Explore Tubs

Five Senses Explore Tubs

Objects & Materials Explore Tubs

Living Things Explore Tubs

Exploring shadows.

Seasons puzzles and sort.

Dress the weather kid.

Check out the rest of my daily schedule posts by clicking the picture below.

Interactive Social Studies Journal

I am so excited to share with you my newest labour of love! I created an Interactive Social Studies Journal to match up with my Interactive Science Journals! This unit is designed with the Grade 1 Manitoba Social Studies curriculum in mind, but the lessons and activities are suitable to be used with any Social Studies curriculum. (Some things are specifically Canadian though.) 

This unit is for all three clusters: I Belong, My Environment, and Connecting With Others. This unit contains a lesson idea and interactive journal page for each knowledge outcome in the curriculum. (Sometimes there is more than one activity for each outcome too.)

The reason I only created one pack and did not separate the clusters like I did with my Interactive Science Journals, is because I find that the way the curriculum sets up the clusters does not make a lot of sense. Quite often activities from Cluster 3 are more relevant in September (problem solving/solving conflicts) or they might work better with lessons from Cluster 2. I designed the pack so that the lessons can be used in any order! Feel free to mix and match however you please!

Here's a peak at what is included in this year-long, 196-page unit:

This pack unit is designed the same way as my Interactive Science Journals. For each knowledge outcome in the curriculum, there are lesson plan ideas and pictures, lesson materials (for whole group charts, sorts, etc.), and interactive social studies journal pages. These pages are designed to fit an 8-1/2x10" spiral journal, but you can easily shrink the pages or print two-to-a-page if you are using smaller journals.

Cluster 1: I Belong

1. Unit title page

2. Describe facts about Remembrance Day

3. Describe how you are important to your classroom

4. Name groups you belong to

5. Give examples of how your family celebrates it's culture

6. Describe important things about Thanksgiving

7. Sort things that are from the past and from today

8. Create a family tree

Cluster 2: My Environment

1. Unit title page

2. Label your town/city and province on a map of Canada

3. Describe facts about Canada

4. Fill in the blanks in "O Canada" (English and French version included)

5. Describe what a community is

6. Name characteristics of your community

7. Compare and contrast two community helpers

8. Match up community helpers and their tools

9. Describe what community helper you want to be when you grow up

10. Describe how we depend on the environment for survival

11. Identify your home address

12. Identify your phone number

13. Describe what globes and maps are

14. Compare and contrast globes and maps

15. Label the parts of a map

16. Label the parts of a globe

17. Use a map key to identify landmarks on a map

18. Place the seasons in order and describe how they influence your life

19. Identify needs of everyone around the world

20. Sort needs and wants

21. Discuss how commercials influence our thoughts

Cluster 3:

1. Unit title page

2. Describe your rights

3. Describe your responsibilities

4. Describe how people help each other

5. Compare and contrast Canada with another country (blank one to use with any country, or one to use with China)

6. Match Chinese New Year symbols

7. Describe the Chinese Zodiac

8. Sort things you find in the country and city

9. Class Project Idea: Identify connections to people all over the world

10. Practice problem solving using three steps

11. Describe how some famous Canadians have influenced our lives (Terry Fox, Marc Garneau, Wayne Gretzky, and Alexander Graham Bell)

12. Explain why rules and laws are important

13. Sort rules and laws

14. Sort tattling and reporting; Describe how to solve conflicts

15. Identify how to deal with bullying

16. Describe how to help with work

17. Sort public and private property

Click {here} or the picture below to check this unit out at TpT!