Introduction This is a unit for first grade created by ... - Franklin College

Introduction
This is a unit for first grade created by Nicole Austin. It is a language arts unit integrated
with science. The disciplines covered in this unit are speaking skills, writing process and
conventions, and observing the nature of science and technology. The adult title for this unit is,
“Exploring the Solar System: An introductory unit about space outside of Earth.” This title was
chosen because the main theme of the unit was the Solar System. Students will take information
they have learned or researched to write, act out, or give a speech about their planet. The student
title for my unit is “Our Super Solar System”. I chose this title because the DIBBLS book we are
reading is titled “Our Solar System”. The culminating activity is called “Our Super Solar System
Day”. All of the information in my unit was based off what the students will be reading in their
book.
An overview of this unit will show that the students will be involved in various types of
activities. At the beginning of the unit, the students will read “Our Solar System” a DIBBLES
book that first graders are supposed to read to be at grade level second semester. As my unit
progresses, students will research a planet of their choice and write a report about their planet.
The students will practice oral speaking skills by orally presenting their report to the class. The
students will complete various science labs and demonstrations pertaining to our Solar Systems.
Students will also work on their creativity and writing skills by creating their own Chinese
Legend as modeled by the one in class.
The goal of this unit is for the students to have a basic understanding of our Solar System.
I want the students to be able to research a topic they are not familiar with and write a well
developed paragraph using the grammar and mechanics taught up to this time for first graders.

This includes writing at least six sentences and having a capital letter and punctuation at the end
of a sentence. The Solar System is a very abstract concept for first grade students, since the
students have to read “Our Solar System” in the class, I wanted to create a unit that would go
more in depth about the material they will be reading. I have created labs for the information
given in the book so the students can have a better understanding of what they are reading. I tried
to find a variety of activities to present the information keeping in mind all of the different
intelligences and learning levels that are in my classroom.
For this unit, I have made special adaptations for two particular students in my classroom.
Student A is an English Language Learner. He moved to America two years ago, and is still
learning the vocabulary and structure of our language. He is a very shy individual, but has started
become more social with the other students as the semester progresses. Pictures and short clear
directions help him stay on task and complete assignments. The second student, student B, that I
have made adaptations for has ADHD. She has a hard time staying focused and completing the
same work load that other students in the class are able to do. This student has a hard time sitting
for long periods of time and learns best when she is up out of her seat and moving around. I have
adapted my activities for her so she is not in her seat for long periods of time. I chose to make
adaptations for these two students because they apply to other students in the class. There are
five other ESL students, so they can benefit from the adaptations made for student A. Since I am
working in a low level first grade classroom, the majority of the students in the class like moving
and being out of their seat.
Like all material taught in class, this unit is driven by the Indiana State Standards for first
grade. I used standards in both Language Arts and Science to create my activities for this unit.
The Language Arts standards include1.2.1, 1.2.3, 1.2.5, 1.2.7 , 1.3.1, 1.4.1, 1.4.2, 1.4.3, 1.4.5,

1.5.2, 1.5.5, 1.6.6, 1.6.7, 1.7.1, 1.7.6, 1.1.12, 1.1.15, and 1.7.4. The Science standards include
1.2.4, 1.3.4, 1.6.1, and 1.6.2.
I would like to thank my professors Marcia Grossnickle and Linda Airey for their
dedication and work put in to help this unit be successful. Professor Grossnickle was a valuable
resource for the adaptations for students with learning disabilities are special needs. Dr. Airey
was a fantastic resource for me to get ideas and activities from concerning the science portion of
my unit. I would also like to thank my cooperating teacher Mrs. Snead for sharing with me what
has and has not worked in the past when she taught this unit on the Solar System. I was able to
learn how to take a very abstract concept and teach it in a way that lower elementary students
could understand. I could not have done that without her help and support. Without the help from
my cooperating teacher and professors I would not have been able to make such an in-depth unit
for my classroom. Thank you to all for your guidance and support!