UNIT TITLE: All About Me

Author: Vincenza Truesdale                                                        

E-Mail Address: NA

School: Grand Prairie Elementary School, Frankfort, Illinois

School Home Page URL: www.fsd157c.org

THEME: All About Me

BROAD CONCEPT: self-esteem, self-concept, respect for others

GRADES: First Grade

INTEGRATED SUBJECTS: Language Arts (Reading and Writing), Math, Social Studies, Science, Art, Technology

UNIT GOALS AND PURPOSE:

    The students will work on improving self-esteem and gaining a positive self-concept through participating in engaging activities that will have students take a close look at their personality traits and feelings. The activities will also give the students an opportunity to get to know each other and respect the similarities and differences of their classmates. Assessments will be ongoing and performance based.

TIME FRAME: There are ten activities with each activity taking at least one day.  Some activities may take several days.
 
 

OBJECTIVES:

In this lesson, students will:

 

                  Brainstorming - Inspiration

Word Processing- Kids Time Story Writer - Microsoft Word

Spreadsheet_ Grapher

Multimedia –Kid-Pix Studio Deluxe or Kid Pix Deluxe 3

 Desktop Publishing-Print Shop                                      

Other software-Talking Book - Stella Luna
 
 

STATE STANDARDS ADDRESSED BY THIS UNIT:

 

Language Arts

 

1. A.1a Apply word analysis skills (e.g., phonics, word patterns) to recognize new words.

1.A.1b Comprehend unfamiliar words using context clues and prior knowledge; verify meanings with resource materials.

1.B.1a Establish purposes for reading, make predictions, connect important ideas, and link text to previous experiences and knowledge.

1.B.1b Identify genres (forms and purposes) of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and electronic literary forms.

1.B.1d Read age-appropriate material aloud with fluency and accuracy.

1.C.1a Use information to form questions and verify predictions.

1.C.1b Identify important themes and topics.

1.C.1d Summarize content of reading material using text organization (e.g., story, sequence).

1.C.1e Identify how authors and illustrators express their ideas in text and graphics (e.g., dialogue, conflict, shape, color, characters).

1.C.1f Use information presented in simple tables, maps and charts to form an interpretation.

2.A.1a Identify the literary elements of theme, setting, plot and character within literary works.

3.A.1 Construct complete sentences which demonstrate subject/verb agreement; appropriate capitalization and punctuation; correct spelling of appropriate, high-frequency words; and appropriate use of the eight parts of speech.

3.C.1a Write for a variety of purposes including description, information, explanation, persuasion and narration.

3.C.1b Create media compositions or productions which convey meaning visually for a variety of purposes.

4.B.1a Present brief oral reports, using language and vocabulary appropriate to the message and audience (e.g., show and tell).

4.B.1b Participate in discussions around a common topic.

Math Goals

6. A.1a Identify whole numbers and compare them using the symbols <, >, or = and the words "less than", "greater than", or "equal to", applying counting, grouping and place value concepts

6.D.1 Compare the numbers of objects in groups.

10.A.1a Organize and display data using pictures, tallies, tables, charts or bar graphs.

10.A.1b Answer questions and make predictions based on given data.

10.B.1a Formulate questions of interest and design surveys or experiments to gather data.

10.B.1b Collect, organize and describe data using pictures, tallies, tables, charts or bar graphs.

10.B.1c Analyze data, draw conclusions and communicate the results.

Science Goals

11.A.1d Record and store data using available technologies.

11.A.1f Compare observations of individual and group results.

Fine Arts  

26.B.1d Visual Arts: Demonstrate knowledge and skills to create visual works of art using manipulation, eye-hand coordination, building and imagination.

 

STUDENT ACTIVITIES WHICH WILL PROMOTE ENGAGED LEARNING:

 

Activity One- Making a Class Book (Language Arts, Art, Technology)

     Read the story Things I Like to the class. Discuss the things that the character in the story liked to do and record their responses on the overhead projector. Have students share some of the things they like to do. Explain to students that they will use Kid Pix Studio Deluxe to make a page for a class book by writing a sentence describing something they like to do along with an illustration to match their sentence. Put pages together to make a “Things We Like” class book. Read book to students.  Make several copies and place them in the class library for students to read.

.

Activity Two-Creating an Acrostic Poem (Language Arts, Technology)

     Have students use Microsoft Word or any other word processing program to type their name vertically on the page.  Ask students to think of a word that begins with each letter of their name that describes something about them. Show students how to type the rest of the word next to the first letter. This would be a good activity to do with the help of a parent volunteer or buddy class.  Put finished products in the hallway to share with the rest of the students.

 

Activity Three- All About Me Book (Language Arts, Social Studies, Art, Technology)

   Have students use the “All About Me” background template in Kid Pix Deluxe 3 to make an “All About Me” book.  The pages will include:  How I Look, My Favorite …, My Friends, and Where I Live. Students can use the tools in Kid Pix Deluxe 3 to write and create illustrations for each page.  Have students share their books with other classmates.  This is a good project to display and share with parents during Open House.

 

Activity Four-All About Me Graph (Math, Social Studies, Technology)

     Discuss with the class how everyone has similarities and differences and this is what makes them so special. Talk to students about the different colors of their eyes and hair. Explain to children that they will use a graph as a way to show information. Students will use the software Graphers to make a bar graph to show each child’s hair color. After the graphs are completed help students interpret their information by discussing the results (most popular color, least, the same, How many more, etc.)  You can extend this activity by using tally marks to show the same information. You can do the same with eye color. 

 

Activity Five- Living Book/Stella Luna (Language Arts, Technology)

     Use the Living Book Software for the story Stella Luna as a reading/computer center to reinforce the theme of how we all have similarities and differences. The students can work on this activity independently or with a partner. This software focuses on vocabulary development and reading comprehension.

 

Activity Six- Picture Walk/Story Mapping (Language Arts, Technology)

    Before reading the story Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes  take the class through a picture walk to help students make predictions about the story. After reading the story to the students check their comprehension by discussing the story elements of characters, setting, problem, and solution. Use Kidspiration to make a graphic organizer.  Ask students questions about each story element.  Fill out the story map as children answer the questions.  This can be done as a whole group or students can fill out their own graphic organizer.

 

Activity Seven-Personality Quilt (Fine Arts, Technology)

     Have each student design a quilt piece for a class quilt. Students will use Kid Pix Studio Deluxe to draw a picture that describes their personality.  Glue each child’s quilt piece together to make a class quilt. Have each child share their picture with the rest of the class. This is a good way for children to get to know their classmates.

 

Activity Eight- Guess Who Writing Activity and Game (Language Arts, Social Studies, Technology)

     Using Kids Time Story Writer students will type a description about themselves with the help of a parent volunteer.  Have each child roll up their paper, tie a ribbon around it, and place it in a basket.  Each week pick one description from the basket and read it out loud to the class.  The class tries to “Guess Who?”  The student who fits the description will be selected to be the “Student of the Week.”

 

Activity Nine-All About Me Bulletin Board (Language Arts, Fine Arts, Social Studies, Technology)

     Each week a student will be chosen to be the “Student of the Week”.  During the child’s special week he/ she will be invited to make or bring in special items from home to decorate the “All About Me” bulletin board. Take their photo with a digital camera and have them make a frame for their photo out of  popsicle sticks and decorate their frame with sequins, buttons, stickers, etc. Create an information sheet using Microsoft Word or a poster using Print Shop for students to fill out and decorate with their parents with information about themselves. Have students bring in photos, their favorite book and toy to share with the rest of the class.

 

Activity Ten-Class Multimedia Presentation (Language Arts, Fine Arts, Technology)

     Each student will produce one slide for a class multimedia presentation using Kid Pix Studio Deluxe as a culminating project.  In this presentation each child will create a slide describing something he/she likes along with an illustration. The teacher will demonstrate a sentence using a beginning starter such as I like to___. Each student will write the sentence(s) and choose any tool to illustrate their sentence.

 


SHARE YOUR IDEAS: 

In activity one the students will make a class book. The book will be placed in the class library to share with the whole class.  
In activity two the students will share their acrostic poems with the rest of the school by displaying them in the hallway.
In activity three the students will display their “All About Me” books in the classroom at Open House to share with their families and other visitors.
In activity four the students will share their graphs with the rest of the class.   
In activity five the students will share their reaction to the story Stella Luna by discussing their favorite part of the story to a partner.
In activity six the students will share the story elements of the story Chrysanthemum by discussing the story with the class and displaying their story maps in the classroom.     
In activity seven the students will display their personality quilts in the hallway to share with the rest of the school. 
In activity eight the students will share their descriptions with the class each week by playing a guessing game.
In activity nine each student will be assigned a week to decorate an “All About Me” bulletin board to share with the class and classroom visitors.
In activity ten the students will get to share their individual slide for the culminating project during the class slide show presentation. This would be a great activity to share at Open House or during Parent Visitation Day.

                                                 Rubric for Culminating Project

1-Exceeds Expectation

2-Meets Expectation

3-Does Not Meet Expectations

writes two or more complete sentences

writes one complete sentence

does not write a complete sentence

uses a capital letter at the beginning of  all sentences and/or with any proper nouns within the sentences

uses a capital letter at the beginning of the sentence

does not use a capital letter at the beginning of a sentence(s)

Uses proper punctuation mark at the end of all sentences

uses proper punctuation mark at the end of the sentence

Does not use end mark(s)

Picture is deliberately organized to match the sentence(s) and /or goes beyond the sentence(s)

picture matches sentence(s)

Picture does not match sentence(s)

 

 

  Points                                         Score

4-5                                                                                      1-exceeds expectations

6-8                                                                                       2-meets expectations

9-12                                          3-does not meet expectations                      



STUDENT AND TEACHER ROLES:

The role of the teacher is to plan and prepare all the material for the activities.

The teacher will model all the activities.

The teacher will act as the facilitator of the activities and guide students through the steps needed to meet the objectives.

The teacher will support students while they work on the various projects through encouragement and positive reinforcement.

The teacher will stress the broad concept of self esteem, self concept, and respect for others throughout the unit.

The role of the students is to actively participate and complete the products in the activities.

Students will work collaboratively with others.

Students will share their work with others. 

ADDITIONAL REFERENCE PRINT RESOURCES STUDENTS MAY USE:

Picture Dictionary

 

THE FOLLOWING BOOKS CONTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TOPIC:

 
ABC I like Me! by Nancy Carlson

A Color of His Own by Leo Leonni

All I Am by Eileen Roe

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

I am Special by Kimberly Jordano (CTP)

I Like ME by Nancy Carlson

Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus

Stella Luna by Janell Cannon

The One and Only Special Me by Rozanne Lanczak Williams (CTP)
 
Things I Like by Anthony Browne
 
 

FOR ADDITIONAL ONLINE INFORMATION AND MEDIA PERTAINING TO THIS UNIT, TEACHERS MAY WANT TO USE THE FOLLOWING INTERNET ARTICLES:   

Title1: All About Me

URL1: www.kinderkorner.com/me.html

Description1: This is a mini unit containing lessons that focus on feelings, manners and behavior, alike and different, and self-esteem. These lessons can be integrated with back to school activities.
 
 

Title2: All About Me Graphing

URL2: www.atozteacherstuff.com/lessons/GraphingAllAboutMe.shtml

Description2: Ideas on how to make a chart or graph using information about students.
 
 

Title3: All About Me Unit

URL3: teachers.net/lessons/posts/1143.html

Description3: “All About Me” activities include graphing ideas, making a class book, and phonics activities.
 
 

Title4: All About Me My Senses

URL4: http://explorer.scrtec.org/explorer/explorer-db/html/783750540-447DED81.html

Description4: A unit that helps develop the concept that students will learn about the world around them through their senses.
 
 

Title5: All About Me

URL5: www.perpetualpreschool.com/preschool_themes/me/me.htm

Description5: This site contains “All About Me” songs, snack ideas, art projects, science activities, and games.


 

Title6: All About Me

URL6: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/8854/allabout.html

 Description6: This collection of ideas relating to the theme “All About Me” includes poems and songs, lesson plans, a book list, and bulletin board ideas.
 
 
 

RELEVANT INFORMATION, STUDENTS WILL VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEB SITES:

 

Title1: All About Me WebQuest

URL1: http://www.chattooga.k12.ga.us/teachers/vballinger/webquest.html

Purpose of Use1: Students can use this site to create an “All About Me” book.

Description1: This site takes students through a step by step process of creating an “All About Me” book.

 

Title2: Themes/All About Me

URL2: http://www.alphabet-soup.net/me/specialbook.html

Purpose of Use2: Students can print out the “I am Special” book or choose from several “All About Me” activities.

Description2: This site includes an “I am Special” printable book along with songs, poems, games, and a list of recommended books.

 
 

Title3: All About Me Feelings Theme

URL3: www.fastq.com/~jbpratt/education/theme/me.html

Purpose of Use3: Students can print “All About Me” worksheets or make an “All About Me” book.

Description3: Students can follow directions to make an “All About Me” book.  There are several worksheets that students can print and color.

 
 

Title4: All About Me

URL4: http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/balboa/allaboutme/

Purpose of Use4: Students can use this site to create an “All About Me” timeline.

Description4: This site provides ideas to help students create an “All About Me” timeline of activities.  Each month students can add things of interest to their timeline.
 
 

Title5: Index of Lesson Plans

URL5: www.acsd.k12.ca.us:82/docushare/dscgi/ ds.py/Index/Collection

Purpose of Use5: Student can print and fill out an “All About Me” template.

Description5: The students can print and fill out an “All About Me” template with information about themselves.
 
 
 

Title6: All About Me, My Friends, and My Family

URL6: http://www.kinderhive.net/me.html

Purpose of Use6: Students can go to this page to find songs and poems that relate to the “All About Me’ theme.

Description6: This site provides students with a collection of age appropriate songs and poems that relate to the “All About Me” theme.
 
 


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