SIERRA NEVADA JOURNEYS VIRTUAL CLASSROOM
WEEK 1 - MAKING OBSERVATIONS
This unit was designed using Next Generation Science Standards and includes Social Emotional Learning competencies. This unit encompasses activities for students of all ages.
These activities are listed in their recommended order to help deepen a student’s understanding by building on concepts from activity to activity. However, each lesson is designed with enough detailed information so that it can be a freestanding lesson. You may pick and choose which lessons to share with your students depending on what fits into your lesson plans.
Download Making Observations Teacher’s Guide with suggestions for differentiation of lessons and additional notes. If you are using Google Classroom, consider using kamiapp.com to easily integrate activity pages which are created as PDF Fillable Forms.
Community Agreements
A community agreement is a mutual understanding among learners about how they want to work together and ensure everyone feels included.
Download Community Agreements:
Instructions (download this one first)
Community Agreement Construction Paper
Community Agreement Color Page
Community Agreement Digital
Community Agreement Friendship Bracelet
Community Agreement Toilet Paper Roll
Spanish Community Agreements:
Spanish Instructions
Spanish Community Agreement Construction Paper
Spanish Community Agreement Color Page
Spanish Community Agreement Digital Page
Spanish Community Agreement Friendship Bracelet
Spanish Community Agreement Toilet Paper Roll
Gots and Needs
This tool to helps foster critical self and community reflection.
Download Gots and Needs Activity Page
Spanish Gots and Needs Activity Page
SENSORY SCAVENGER HUNT
Learn how scientists make observations. Watch the video and participate in the activities during the video. Then, download and complete the Sensory Scavenger Hunt Activity Page.
NATURE BINGO
Nature Bingo is a fun game where you can explore your neighborhood and make observations about the environment around you.
Sensory Warm-Up
Use the five senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch) to observe things and events in the environment.
Download Sensory Warm-Up Lesson
Spanish Sensory Warm-Up Lesson
I NOTICE, I WONDER
Help students develop a mindset of curiosity, and provides language tools to actively and directly engage with the natural world.
Download I Notice, I Wonder Activity Page
Spanish I Notice, I Wonder Activity Page
CREATING YOUR OWN JOURNAL
Journaling is a way to release and express thoughts, feelings and emotions by putting them down on paper using words, drawings, photos or clipping pictures out of magazines.
Download Creating Your Own Journal Instructions
Spanish Creating Your Own Journal
JOURNALING YOUR OBSERVATIONS
Using your newly made journal, become a scientist by observing the world around you and write down what you notice through the questions in the activity sheet.
Journaling Your Observations Adult Guide
Spanish Journaling Your Observations
PLANT PARTS SCAVENGER HUNT
Make observations about plants, flowers and seeds that you find in the outdoors.
Download Plant Parts Scavenger Hunt Activity Page
Spanish Plant Parts Scavenger Hunt
MINDFULNESS HIKE; SOLO CARD HIKE
Take a walk and use a series of cards (suggestions are included in the activity sheet) examine your surroundings.
Download Mindfulness Hike; Solo Card Hike Activity Page
Spanish Mindfulness Hike Activity Page
SIT-SPOT JOURNALING
Learn what is a “sit-spot” and reflect on a series of sensory exploration activities.
Download the Sit Spot Journaling Activity Page
Spanish Sit Spot Journaling
MEET A TREE
You’ll need at least two people to experience this activity that uses your senses to identify an item in a new way — blindfolded!
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