Students take this 3-page kindergarten sheet outside. Page 1 has two checklists, each item with a small picture and a tick box: six living things (tree, grass, ant, bird, flower, worm) and six nonliving things (bench, rock, slide, fence, ball, door). On page 2 students draw one living thing they found and finish the frames I found a and It is living because it. The answers page lists both checklists and gives three sample sentences, for a bird, a tree and an ant.
“Recognize living and nonliving things in the schoolyard.”
Page 1 lists six of each, and students tick the ones they find.
“Give a reason why a living thing is alive.”
Page 2 asks students to finish the sentence It is living because it.
Six pictured tick boxes: tree, grass, ant, bird, flower and worm.
Six more tick boxes: bench, rock, slide, fence, ball and door.
A large drawing box for one living thing from the walk, then two sentence frames, I found a and It is living because it.
Both checklists sorted, a note that ticks will vary with the schoolyard, and three sample sentences.
Preview the pictures
Go through the twelve pictures indoors before you head out. Students then know what to look for and do not need to read every label.
Tick only what is there
Not every yard has a worm or an ant. Students tick what they really find, and the page 2 drawing can be any living thing they ticked.
Collect the reasons
Back inside, list the because endings on the board. Grows, eats and needs water usually come up first.
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