Date: November 19, 2000

Grade Level: Preschool Education, Kindergarten, 1

Subject(s):

• Interdisciplinary/First Day Activities
• Arts

Description: This lesson is planned as a beginning of the school year activity. It will help the students ease into school by letting them relate what they did in the summer to learning facts about summer weather, summer activities, and the sun.

Goals: My goal is to get the students comfortable with one another and with their class environment.

Objectives: The students will tell about their summer vacations. Students will give descriptions of summer weather and hot temperatures.

Materials:

• chart paper
• yellow construction paper
• yellow and orange crepe paper
• glue
• scissors
• Spot Goes to the Beach by Eric Hill
• pictures of what summer looks like to show the class

After listening to the story, ask students how they can stay cool during the summer. Have students draw a picture of something that they did to stay cool during the summer. After everyone has completed their drawings, students will share their pictures with the class and talk about what their pictures show (storytelling).

Next, have students make a sun out of construction paper. Show students a sample and then provide directions. Each student will cut out a circle about the size of a large bowl. Then they will cut orange and yellow strips of crepe paper for "rays." Next, students will glue the crepe paper onto the yellow circle. The teacher will remind students that the sun is what makes summer hot, and water activities help you to stay cool.