CURRICULUM PLANNING & DESIGN

GROUP NAMES: EN321

TOPIC/GUIDING QUESTION: The World Around Us

Topic of Study/Investigation for the year:​ The World Around Me!
​Monthly​ Curriculum Planning & Design Form:
Months Broad Topic of Investigation

September All About Me/ Friendship

October Seasons

November Self Help Skills/ Colors

December Families/ Traditions

January Animals

February Community Helpers

March Weather/ Environment

April Earth/ Plants

*** Please select one month that you will be planning for
 ​Weekly ​Curriculum Planning & Design

Group: Tori Month: April

Broad topic/Theme 3-5 guiding questions/goals for

the week

Week #1 Recycling 3b,7b,13,22b

Why do we recycle?
What can be recycled?
What ways can we recycle
materials?

How can we measure with

recycled materials? (22b)

Week #2 Environment 3b, 11c, 27, 18d

What is an environment?
What is the environment
around me?
Where are different
environments?

What is the environment

around me? (27)

Week #3 Plants 11de, 20e, 9c

What plants are local to me?
What characteristics make a
plant?
How can plants be
sorted/classified? (13)
Where do plants grow?

Field trip to Countryside

Greenhouse.
Week #4 Pollinators 38, 19c, 20f
What is a pollinator?
What do pollinators do?
How can we help pollinators?
Where can I see pollinators?
How can I verbally express
what pollinators do? (9c)

*** Please select one week that you will be developing 5 activities for***
 ​Daily​ Curriculum Planning & Design Form

Week 1: RECYCLING

Focus/ Broad Guiding questions/goals for

topic/Theme the Week

Monday What recycling is. Why do we need to recycle?

Tuesday Recyclable materials What materials are recycled?

Wednesday Materials made from What recycled materials am I

recycling. already using?

Thursday Uses for recycled How can I use recycled

materials materials?

*** Please select one day that you will be developing 5 activities for****
 Domain/Center Weekly Activity Planning Form
Yearly Focus: The World Around Us

Monthly Focus: Earth/Plants

Centers

ART ● Cardboard boxes, egg shell containers, plastic

bottles introduced for materials to create on
● Card board

CREATIVE DRAMATICS ● Cars: old cardboard tubes (toilet paper, paper

towel, wrapping paper) cut to make tunnels
● Food/household boxes, bottles, jars integrated
into kitchen play
● Old household/daily appliances put into dress
up or office play (cell phones, cameras,
telephones, keyboards)
● Add a recycling center

BLOCKS ● Recycled blocks: old tissue, cereal, shipping,

appliance, etc. boxes filled with newspaper for
stability with ends taped shut.
LITERACY ​Michael Recycle​ by Ellie Patterson
The Adventures of an Aluminum Can ​by Alison Inches
Where Does the Garbage Go? B ​ y Paul Showers
The Lorax​ by Dr. Suess
The Tree Lady B​ y H. Joseph Hopkins
The Family of the Earth​ By Schim Schimmel
Planet of the Orb Trees b​ y Barton Ludwig

MATHEMATICS/MANIPULATI ● Button tree: make pipe cleaner tree and

VES branches. In bowl, variety of green buttons.
Students count and put the buttons on the tree
to make a spring/summer tree.
● Cap manipulatives: sort, make patterns with
different sized and colored caps from milk
cartons and pop bottles

MOVEMENT ● Class bowling: plastic bottles and a ball to

knock down pins
● Nature yoga

MUSIC ​ ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOvcW8l3RzE
h
-Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIQUOIyE7q0​ -
We’ve Got The Whole World in Our Hands
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_A3FMf3_Qw
-Mother Earth, Mother Earth
SCIENCE ● Measure lengths of recycled materials such as
boxes, newspapers, cans, bottles
● Metal experiment: tray filled with both metal and
nonmetal objects. Haves students sort with a
magnet to determine what is metal and what is
not
● Plants

SENSORY ● Bin of old paper scraps and hole punches

● Water station: plastic bottles of different sizes
and funnels for transferring water

Daily Activity Guide

S​MALL GROUP DAILY CURRICULUM ACTIVITY GUIDE

MONDAY

ACTIVITY NAME Recycled Name

DAY Monday

EDUCATIONAL GOAL TLW develop fine motor skills and letter recognition.

CURRICULAR GOAL OR DOMAIN Physical and cognitive

DEVELOPMENTAL FOCUS Fine motor, letter recognition

TIME TO COMPLETE 15 minutes

AGE RANGE OF CHILDREN 4-5

CLASSROOM LOCATION Small group tables

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 6 students per teacher

MATERIALS ● Paper with each student’s name printed or

typed in large font in center of paper
● Colorful, recycled paper
● Glue

PREP/SET UP ● Pre-write or print all student’s names in center

of paper
● Distribute paper and glue to small group tables

TEACHING STRATEGIES ● Show how to rip paper and glue it first

● Ask questions

OPENING ● Show students the paper with their names and

get them excited about making it colorful.
● Talk about how this paper was used for
something else before, and we are Reusing it
for a different purpose

BODY ● Demonstrate how to rip, and show the size that

would be appropriate for their name
● Remind that a little glue will do
● Students begin and finish project → students
are ripping and gluing their own pieces
● Example questions to ask: “How does the paper
feel?” “What else could we use this scrap paper
for” “Why did you choose the color ____?”

CLOSING ● Once students are done they may clean up their

spot and put their paper on drying rack
● Once seated again, they may pick what free
choice they will do next

POSSIBLE OUTCOMES ● Student may be uninterested and rush through

 project
● Student may be detail oriented and take long
time
● Student may struggle with ripping paper or
gluing.

EVALUATION ● Small group teacher should have notebook to

keep track if child can rip paper well

S​MALL GROUP DAILY CURRICULUM ACTIVITY GUIDE

TUESDAY

ACTIVITY NAME Measurement Walk

DAY Tuesday (if weather is bad, either do walk inside, or
reschedule for later in the week)

EDUCATIONAL GOAL Students will measure different objects in nature with

CURRICULAR GOAL OR DOMAIN Cognitive

DEVELOPMENTAL FOCUS Gross motor, writing numbers

TIME TO COMPLETE 25 minutes

AGE RANGE OF CHILDREN 4-5

CLASSROOM LOCATION Begin at small group tables (5 minutes)

Prepare students for outside weather (coats, boots, etc)
(5 minutes)
Move out doors (10 minutes)

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 1 teacher to 8 students

MATERIALS ● Each student needs a measuring tool

● One clipboard and pencil per student

PREP/SET UP ● 4 clipboards and papers

● Paper clipped to clipboard
● 4 measuring tools per table
● Prepartner students
● Double check playground is available for use/no
flooding or down limbs
● 1 laundry basket

TEACHING STRATEGIES ● Observe and assist as students measure and

draw

OPENING ● Start at small group table: remind the

appropriate use for a ruler/measuring tools.
● Explain task: Going outdoors and measuring
different things. Students will be put into pairs
(pre-determined). Students will take turns
measuring and writing.
● Line students up by small group to put on
weather appropriate clothing (Jacket, rain boots,
etc.)

BODY ● Students are lead to the playground area and

may begin measuring objects with their
measurement tools. Small groups should stay in
one small area for 2 minutes, and then may
rotate 3 times.
 ● Small group teachers should be walking around
and helping students determine lengths of
objects they have. Encourage students to spend
less time drawing the object and more time
measuring things.

CLOSING ● Gather small group together in space away to

have final discussion. Questions like “What was
the largest object you measured? How do you
know it was biggest?” should be asked to
encourage higher order thinking.
● Have students place their pencil in the clipboard
slot, and place clipboard in laundry basket.
● Students may be dismissed to have recess

POSSIBLE OUTCOMES ● Students may get distracted by wanting to play

outside
● Student may not want to work with partner or
get board
● Student may run out of space on paper

EVALUATION ● Look over papers

● Observation

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Name__________________________ 
Measuring Our World! 
 

Our Drawing Length 

 S​MALL GROUP DAILY CURRICULUM ACTIVITY GUIDE

WEDNESDAY

ACTIVITY NAME Recyclable Patterns

DAY Wednesday

EDUCATIONAL GOAL Patterns

CURRICULAR GOAL OR DOMAIN Math/Manipulatives

DEVELOPMENTAL FOCUS Pattern making

TIME TO COMPLETE 10

AGE RANGE OF CHILDREN 4-5

CLASSROOM LOCATION Small group tables

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 8 students per small group

MATERIALS ● 3 baskets of blue beads/rocks/gems

● 3 baskets of green beads/rocks/gems
● 3 baskets of small stones/rocks

PREP/SET UP ● Put one basket of each color at each small

group table

TEACHING STRATEGIES ● Assist and observe

● Remind of A,B,A,B patterns

OPENING ● Teacher should: show an example of what a

pattern. Ask questions about the
stones/rocks/gems being used like, “What does
this remind you of that is in nature?” or “I notice
a lot of green outside. Where do you see green
outside?”
● Have students read the pattern you made with
you. (“A,B,B,C,A,B,B,C”)
● Invite students to make a pattern out of the
rocks.

BODY ● Challenge students to start with making two

color patterns, if they master that ask them to
read it to you (A,B,A,B). Challenge them to
 three color pattern and have them read it when
they’re done (A,B,B,C,A,B,B,C)
● If a child does not seem to master making a two
color pattern, do not

CLOSING ● Compare patterns that students have made

● Similarities and differences
● Put stones away in correct bucket (sort)

POSSIBLE OUTCOMES ● Student will not make pattern

● Student will rush through

EVALUATION ● Observation through watching make patterns

 S​MALL GROUP DAILY CURRICULUM ACTIVITY GUIDE

THURSDAY

ACTIVITY NAME Art with Recycled Materials

EDUCATIONAL GOAL TLW recognize the different sizes and make prints on
paper.

CURRICULAR GOAL OR DOMAIN Cognitive and social

DEVELOPMENTAL FOCUS Gross motor and pattern making

TIME TO COMPLETE 15 minutes

AGE RANGE OF CHILDREN 4-5 years old

CLASSROOM LOCATION Open floor space

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 8 students

MATERIALS ● Paper Towel tubes or toilet paper tubes

● Jars of different sizes
● Lids/caps of different sizes
● Paper
● Paint
● Plates to pour paint onto

PREP/SET UP ● Cover tables with tablecloth or plastic covering

● Pour paint onto plates
● Set variety of lids, jars, paper tubes on each
table
● Put paper at each spot for students

TEACHING STRATEGIES ● Show students

● Assist with questions and concerns
● Ask questions

OPENING ● Ask students what they notice about the

different materials on the table (they are all
circular, they are different sizes, they are
same/different material)
● Show them how we are going to dip the object
into paint and put them onto the paper →
students are just watching
● Make some circles line up and some overlap,
others should be far apart
BODY ● Allow students to experiment with their dipping
● Encourage pattern making, use of different
colors, use of different object
● What happens if I turn my lid the other way?
● Allow students to have more than one paper if
they get done before others or want to try a
different technique

CLOSING ● Compare and contrast pictures

● Put all plastic and metal objects into bucket, and
throw plates and cardboard away
● Remove plastic from tables

POSSIBLE OUTCOMES ● Students will rush through or take too long

EVALUATION ● Write student explanation down

● Observe student while making
● Look at paper
 WHOLE GROUP DAILY CURRICULUM ACTIVITY GUIDE

MONDAY

ACTIVITY NAME Why Should I Recycle?

TIME TO COMPLETE 15 minutes

AGE RANGE OF CHILDREN 4-5

EDUCATIONAL GOAL TLW listen to a story and be able to say why we should
recycle.

CONTENT Literacy and science

MATERIALS ● ​ y Jen Green

Why Should I Recycle? B
● Paper chart

OPENING ● Explain the topic of study this week: Recycling

● Recycle is to reuse materials that we would normally
throw away. Have students repeat definition
● We are going to read a book called ​Why Should I
Recycle? T ​ o get a better understanding of what
recycling is!
● Review parts of a book with class (front, back,
spine)

BODY ● Read book

● Stop on flagged pages to ask checkpoint questions

CLOSING ● Fill out web on “Recycling” based on what students

remember
○ Things like Materials, trash is bad for the
earth, we want to take care of the earth
should be included in the web.

TRANSITION ● Students will transition to the next part of their day to

line up for recess.
● Teacher will dismiss by singing “If you’re a boy, a
boy, if you’re a boy, please line up” and then “If
you're a girl, a girl, If you're a girl please line up”
EVALUATIONS ● Notice how children are sitting/listening
● Who participated with what information

WHOLE GROUP DAILY CURRICULUM ACTIVITY GUIDE

TUESDAY

ACTIVITY NAME What Can Be Recycled?

TIME TO COMPLETE 10 minutes

AGE RANGE OF CHILDREN 4-5

EDUCATIONAL GOAL TWL be able to differentiate materials that can be recycled.

CONTENT Science

MATERIALS ● Chart with writing

● Paper examples of what can be recycled

OPENING ● Introduce the three groups things can be recycled

into (Paper, plastic, metal, glass)
● Ask students to describe and give examples each of
the materials and write under correct category on
chart paper

BODY ● Watch video (Peppa Pig Recycles):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il1RX6_h9Xc
● Discuss what can be recycled
● Pass out paper examples of each thing (cans, water
bottle, jars, etc.) and have students tape them on
the side or place where they would be sorted

CLOSING ● Repeat after me: The things that can be recycled

are: metal, plastic, glass, paper.

TRANSITION ● “If you’re a boy/If you’re a girl” song to dismiss to

line up
 WHOLE GROUP DAILY CURRICULUM ACTIVITY GUIDE

WEDNESDAY

ACTIVITY NAME Let’s use recycled materials!

TIME TO COMPLETE 15 minutes

AGE RANGE OF CHILDREN 4-5

EDUCATIONAL GOAL TLW recognize that they are using materials for the second
time.
TLW observe size differences

CONTENT Sorting, classifying

MATERIALS ● Garbage can

● Three recycling bins labeled → paper, plastic, metal
● Variety of recyclable household materials placed
into garbage can

SET-UP ● Set garbage can in middle of small group space

● Place paper, plastic, metal “recyclable” materials
into garbage can
● Set each of the “sorting” containers in a semicircle
around the garbage can

OPENING ● Show them that all of these materials have been

thrown away. “We don’t want all these resources to
be thrown to the landfill!” “What can we do to fix the
problem?”
○ Students should suggest recycling
● Have students point out what is going to go in each
recycling bin (paper, plastic, Metal)

BODY ● Have students each pick an object and place it in

the bin that they think it goes in until all objects have
been put into the right bin
● Questions like, “Material are you noticing in your
hand?”

CLOSING ● Ask questions: “What material do you have a lot in

 your home?” “How do you help your parents sort
recycling at home?”
● Have students help clean up materials back where
they belong and stack crates and “garbage bin”

TRANSITION ● Dismiss to recess by “If you’re a boy/If you’re a girl”

song

EVALUATIONS ● Who put what into what bin→ where classifications

thought out and correct?

WHOLE GROUP DAILY CURRICULUM ACTIVITY GUIDE

THURSDAY

ACTIVITY NAME Wasteful Wally

TIME TO COMPLETE 10 minutes

AGE RANGE OF CHILDREN 4-5

EDUCATIONAL GOAL TWL suggest ideas for less waste and articulate how to
recycle.

CONTENT Listening, social skills, articulation

MATERIALS ● Wasteful Wally puppet

● Materials for Wally to throw away
● Garbage bin
● Recycling bins

OPENING ● Introduce students to Wasteful Wally → explain he

likes to throw things away
● Remind kids that when students that Wally gets
frightened when it gets too noisy so they need to
raise their hand when they want to say something to
him

BODY ● Wally starts drinking a water and throws it into the

 garbage. Stop and ask students if that is where a
water bottle belongs.
● Have Wally grab his newspaper. He will try to
recycle it in the plastic bin
● Students should stop him and tell him that belongs
in the paper bin
● Wally asks why recycling is important → call on
students to answer his question
● Wally will take a glass jar and notice that it is not
paper or plastic and put it in the glass container.

CLOSING ● Tell students that sometimes they are going to meet

people like Wally and they will have to remind them
that their object belongs in a different bin.

TRANSITION ● “If you’re a boy/If you’re a girl” song to line up for

recess

EVALUATIONS ● Who raised their hand

● Reminding wally what can/cannot be put where

CLEAN UP ACTIVITY

In your assigned group, develop 4 transition activities that you can use with children ages 3 to 8
years old (2 for preschool & 2 for school Age children)

ACTIVITY NAME How many more minutes?

TIME TO COMPLETE 3-5 MINUTES

AGE RANGE OF CHILDREN 4-5

EDUCATIONAL GOAL TWL use listening skills to know what to

repeat and when to clean up.

CONTENT N/A

MATERIALS N/A

OPENING ● The leader of the day/week flashes

the lights and says, “5 more minutes”
and the class repeats back, “5 more
minutes”

BODY ● The leader of the day/week flashes

the lights and says, “2 more minutes”
 the class repeats back, “2 more
minutes”
● The leader of the day/week flashes
the lights and says, “Time to clean
up!” and the class repeats back, “Time
to clean up”

CLOSING ● Students and teachers begin to clean

up the room
● As students are cleaning, teacher
reminds them what their next activity
is.

TRANSITION TO NEXT PART OF DAY ● At last minute of clean up tell students

where they should be seated next

EVALUATIONS