Suggested Monthly Plan.(teaching)(Brief Article)

By using timely topics to introduce concepts and teach corresponding skills, the Weekly Reader SCIENCE MATTERS series updates and enriches your science curriculum. Although each unit of study in SCIENCE MATTERS is only a few pages long, it is possible for students to spend at least two to four weeks engaged in lesson and enrichment activities that help them apply newly acquired concepts to a variety of situations. The following calendar can serve as an instructional guide.

Grouping: Unit openers are designed for whole-class instruction. Experiments can be conducted by individuals, pairs, or small groups. You may choose to pair a strong reader with a weaker reader or, at other times, group together students who can work independently while you work with others.

 
CALENDAR 
 
 
Day 1                          Day 2 
Unit 1 
 
Blue Jeans Celebrate             The Story of Weaving 
a Birthday!                    * Read/discuss pp. 4-5. 
* Read/discuss pp. 2-3.        * Display and classify 
* Experiment with differ-        cotton fabrics. 
  ent types of fibers to 
  make cotton thread 
  stronger. 
 
Day 5                          Day 6 
                               Unit 2 
Amazing Cotton                   Sounds of Music! 
* Read/discuss pp. 8-9.        * Read/discuss pp. 10-11. 
* Make lists of cotton         * Make presentations. 
  clothing. 
* Classify fabrics. 
 
Day 9                          Day 10 
 
  High Sounds and                Musical Pitch 
  Low Sounds                   * Read/discuss pp. 16-17. 
* Read/discuss pp. 14-15.      * Play in an impromptu 
* Invite a musician to class.    band. 
 
Day 13                         Day 14 
 
  What Causes Day and            Earth's Tilt Brings a 
  Night?                         Change of Seasons! 
* Read/discuss pp. 20-21.      * Read/discuss pp. 22-23. 
* Research night and day 
  cycles of other planets. 
 
Day 17                         Day 18 
 
Unit 4 
  Orion, the Mighty Hunter       Using the Stars as a Map 
* Read/discuss pp. 26-27.      * Read/discuss pp. 28-29. 
* Discuss other constella-     * Find a professional to 
  tion myths.                    give a star show or 
                                 plan a field trip to 
                                 an observatory. 
 
 
Day 1                          Day 3 
Unit 1 
 
Blue Jeans Celebrate             How Cloth Gets Its Color 
a Birthday!                    * Read/discuss pp. 6-7. 
* Read/discuss pp. 2-3.        * Dye filters to make 
* Experiment with ...