WEAVING TECHNOLOGY

INTO THEMATIC  UNITS

BROAD GOALS:

• To teach an understanding of apples through the study of plants and seeds
• To enrich science through literature and art
• To utilize computers and other technology as an integral part of the curriculum
• To use the multiple intelligences theory for developing a learning environment for all children
• To support the writing process with technology.

• To learn facts about trees, seeds and apples
• To publish a product using the computer
• To participate In and complete activities on apples
• To Interpret and compare Information on apples

• Students will complete whole group and small group activities
• Students will participate in an activity using multimedia tools
• Students will publish a fact sheet/story on apples

• CD ROM:  "KidWorks Deluxe"
• Computers
• Software: As I did not have specific software on apples, I used any age appropriate software.
• Tape recorder
• TV-VCR
• GeoSafari
• Literature: Johnny Appleseed -- Steven Kellogg

Miss Rumphlus -- Barbara Cooney
The Very Hungary Caterpillar -- Eric Carle
Picking Apples and Pumpkins -- Amy and Richard Hutchings
The Seasons of Arnold's Apple Tree – Gail Gibbons
The Story of Johnny Appleseed -- Aliki
Apple Picking Time -- Michele B. Slawson
Apple Tree! Apple Tree! -- Mary Blocksma
The Apple Pie Tree -- Zoe Hall
Johnny Appleseed and the Bears -- David Novak
Ten Apples on Top -- Theo LeSieg
Eating Fractions -- Bruce MacMillan
An Apple a Day -- Melvin Berger (Macmillan Early Science Big Books)
Six Big Apples -- Marion Walker (CTP Big Book)
On Market Street -- Anita Label
The Tiny Seed -- Eric Carle
Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom -- Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault
You Are What You Eat -- Melvin Berger (Macmillan Early Science Big Books)
• Videos: Johnny Appleseed (Rabbit Ears)

The Magic School Bus Goes to Seed
• Other Resources:

The Education Center, Inc. -- Teacher's Helper, Worksheet Magazine, Mailbox and Bookbag
Ladybug
Frank Schaffer's Schooldays
Teacher Created Materials
Evan-Moor Corporation
AIMS
Teacher's Friend Publications
MacMillan Early Science Big Books
Totline's Theme -A- Saurus and Alphabet- A-Sourus by Jean Warren
Letter of the Week by Mailbox
Creative Teaching Press
MacMillan Seasonal Activity Packs

In order for participants to use multimedia learning activities, students must first receive instructions on the use of the equipment.  After that initial instruction, students will complete the activities of the unit.

WHOLE GROUP:

• Complete brainstorming chart on apples.  List words that tell how apples LOOK and TASTE.  Use the words from the brainstorming to fill in poems.  Make apple book with poems. (See sample.)
• Read Miss Rumphlus by Barbara Cooney and books on Johnny Appleseed.  Compare and contrast using Venn diagrams.
• Solve problems using apples.  See Frank Schaffer's Schooldays Sept/Oct 1992. (Change pumpkins to apples.)
• Read lots and lots of good books (fiction and non-fiction) on apples, trees, plants and seeds.
• Complete several art projects.
• Locate major apple producing states on maps.
• Cook with apples. (See culminating activities.)
• Taste various fruits and vegetables and graph information. (See culminating activities.)

• T.L.A.
• Each student publishes a story/fact sheet on apples using "KidWorks Deluxe”

• Station 1:  Reference

Task:  Read books and magazines about apples.
Materials:  reference materials
• Station 2:  Puzzles

Task:  Match apple with worm to match upper case and lower case letters.
Match apple with worm to match numeral with counters.
Materials:  apple and worm puzzles
• Station 3:  Math

Task:  Compare an apple to different counters.
Materials:  balance, apple, bear counters, blocks, beans, other counters
• Station 4:  Computer

Task:  Use CD ROM software.  Complete activities.
Materials:  various software. (See note on page 2.)
• Station 5:  Geo Safari

Task:  Complete Geo Safari cards
Materials:  Geo Safari task cards, power source
(On Kindergarten level there are few "apple" cards)
• Station 6:  Games

Task:  Complete activities.
Materials:  The Education Center "Apple" center box.
• Station 7:  Math

Task:  Ten Apples on Top by Theo LeSieg activity
Materials:  paper, crayons, glue, scissors
• Station 8:  Computer -- Word Processing

Task:  Write about apples.
Materials:  "KidWorks Deluxe"
• Station 9:  Art

Task:   Varies
Materials:  varies
• Station 10:  Writing

Task:  Write 'a' words on apples.  Glue to tree.  Find 'a' words In magazines.
Glue them to apples.  Glue apples on tree.
Materials: butcher paper, markers, crayons, scissors, glue, magazines, apple     patterns, paper

• Complete story/fact sheet on apples.  Publish using "KidWorks Deluxe
• Make apple pie from scratch.
• Host a tasting fair.   Cut various fruits and vegetables looking for seeds.
• Taste.  Graph information.  Before cutting, guess the number of  seed(s). After cutting and counting seed(s) record results on graph entitled ONE SEED OR MANY SEEDS.

Evaluation is based on participation in all whole group, small group, and culminating activities.   Many areas on the Kindergarten Checklist may be checked off if you wish to use any of these activities for that purpose.
 
Other sites about APPLES: 

http://barracuda.electric.co.za/capefruit/kids/shop_ed.html
http://www.applejuice.org/drinkapple.html
http://www.iit.edu/~smile/ma9409.html
http://ericir.syr.edu/Projects/Newton/
http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/apple/appletg.html