Adventures with the Monarchs
In this integrated unit, first-graders learn English language arts, math, and science standards by exploring the monarch butterfly species and the basic needs of plants. Working collaboratively, students conduct research to understand the causes behind the dwindling monarch population and investigate ways to increase it. Using their research and ideas, students design a habitat to attract the monarchs and other pollinators. The unit culminates with students presenting their habitat designs to their classmates, parents and school community.
Adventures with the Monarchs
In this integrated unit, first-graders learn English language arts, math, and science standards by exploring the monarch butterfly species and the basic needs of plants. Working collaboratively, students conduct research to understand the causes behind the dwindling monarch population and investigate ways to increase it. Using their research and ideas, students design a habitat to attract the monarchs and other pollinators. The unit culminates with students presenting their habitat designs to their classmates, parents and school community.
English Arts
Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
Identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.
Use illustrations and details in a text to describe its key ideas.
Ask and answer questions about key details in a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.
Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions when appropriate to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.
Write informative/ explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and provide some sense of closure.
Mathematics
Express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps. (Iteration)
Science
Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the basic needs of plants and animals.
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About the Teacher
Amy Mock
Mason Elementary School
Amy holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Georgia State University. She was named 2008-2009 M.H. Mason Elementary School Teacher of the Year. In 2015, she was the recipient of a $15,000 grant to build a hydro/aquaponics lab, which is the first of its kind in Gwinnett county. She hopes that the lab will not only help students master science standards, but also produce healthy foods to donate to families in the community.
