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INTRODUCTION
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Within the social
studies curriculum young children begin to develop an
understanding of themselves by studying different customs
and traditions. They build an awareness of their role as
citizens by learning about responsibilities and rules.
They will have opportunities to compromise and will
identify voting as a fair way to make decisions. This
project allows the students to work collaboratively. They
will understand that people in groups work together,
listen to each other, and make plans together.
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This project provides
kindergarten and first grade students an understanding
through experience of the commitment and responsibilities
necessary for pet ownership. This is achieved by creating
a "virtual" classroom pet. The initial part of
the unit is a whole group experience. Students vote for
the classroom "virtual" pet. They then listen
to stories to gather interesting facts about the chosen
"virtual" pet. With the teacher's assistance,
the second part of the unit allows the students in pairs
to research information on the Internet and answer their
questions about an animal they have chosen as a pet.
Although much of the information collected will be
through stories, the Internet will be introduced as
another way of retrieving information.
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In the final aspect of the project the
students either draw or color their selected pets, cut
them out, and then make model pet homes. The project
requires making a home for their pet that will reinforce
the information they had learned about being a
responsible pet owner. The information gathered from the
Internet dictated how the home is made and items their
pet will need or might enjoy. (For instance, a water
bottle, toys to play with, an exercise wheel, container
for food). A daily pet care chart will be developed based
on the animals needs were the pets cleaned,
given water, fed, exercised, and played with. The
students will be responsible for finding some free time each
day to address these needs and they mark off on their
charts for 3 weeks that indeed the tasks were completed.
A written and oral presentation was given to the class by
each group.
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