Literature Circles: Organisms

1.)    Honey… Honey… Lion! By Jan Brett

2.)    Kindergarten Competency Goal 1.02- Observe how animals interact with their surroundings.

Kindergarten Competency Goal 1.03- Observe the behaviors of several common animals.

3.)    Jan Brett wrote and illustrated this book after she took three trips with her husband to Botswana.  On one of her trips, her guide told her the story of the honeyguide.  The story can also be considered a legend.  After spending so much time in Botswana, I feel that Jan Brett was able to reproduce illustrations that were very realistic and true.  The story also has some truth behind it.  It was based on a legend that is told all through out the African country of Botswana.

4.)    For an exploration activity after reading this book, kindergarteners could create their own scene of the African plains by using the characters from this book.  After reading this book, the students should be able to see what animals mingle and what ones don’t.  They should also be able to know what their environment might look like.  This book could also be used to talk about other areas of the world, like Africa. 

Rationale

DPI Standards:

Standard 3, Indicator 1

Standard 3, Indicator 4

Context:

            During my GS-4401 class with Jeff Goodman, I created an activity idea for a kindergarten class.  This activity is based on the kindergarten science curriculum.  The activity goes along with a children’s literature book, Honey…Honey… Lion by Jan Brett.  The book helps students learn about animals and how they interact with each other in different environments.  For an exploration activity after reading this book, kindergarteners could create their own scene of the African plains by using the characters from this book.  After reading this book, the students should be able to see what animals mingle and what ones don’t.  They should also be able to know what their environment might look like.  This book could also be used to talk about other areas of the world, like Africa. 

Impact:

            This activity is a good one for a kindergarten classroom because it goes along with the curriculum, but it also uses materials that kindergarteners are interested in using.  If I teach in a kindergarten setting, I would use this activity when teaching the students about animals and their environment. 

Alignment:

            Standard 3, Indicator 1 states that teachers should have knowledge of basic life science concepts and I was able to meet this standard by knowing and coming up with an activity that compares different animals and their environment and the relationships they share.  Standard 3, Indicator 4 states that teachers should have the knowledge of controversial issues and how they impact learning.  I met this standard by choosing a piece of literature that is about another continent and it’s inhabitants.