Exploring the Topic

Week 1

Focus Question 1: What do we know about reducing, reusing, and recycling? 

Focus Question 2:  What do we want to find out?

All NYSED Early Learning Guidelines are met weekly in all Creative Curriculum studies.

Day 1: Did you see any trash outside?

Day 2: Does this feel smooth or rough?

Day 3: What could we do with this junk?

Day 4:  What could we do with this junk?

Day 5:  Which game would you rather play: Simon Says or Jack in the Box?

Discussion and Shared Writing

Day 1: Found Trash

Day 2: What is This Junk?

Day 3: What do we Know About Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling?

Day 4: What do we Know About Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling?

Day 5: What do we Want to Find Out About Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling?

Day 1: The Paper Bag Princess

Day 2: Hush! A Thai Lullaby

Day 3: The Paper Bag Princess

Day 4: Hush! A Thai Lullaby

Day 5: The Paper Bag Princess

Day 1: 

Option 1: Letters, letters, letters

Option 2: Buried Treasures

Day 2:

Option 1: Environmental Print

Option 2: Baggie Books

Day 3:

Option 1: Junk Collage

Option 2: Junk Sculpture

Day 4:

Option 1: Bounce and Count

Option 2: Junk Numbers

Day 5:

Option 1: Tallying the junk

Option 2: How many kinds?

Day 1: 21

Day 2: 21

Day 3: 7

Day 4: 72

Day 5: 24

Art

Toys and Games

Library

Music and Movement

Discovery

Computer

Cooking

Sand and Water

Blocks

Dramatic Play

Investigation 1

Week 2

Focus Question 1: What do people throw away?

Day 1: What did you throw away today?

Day 2: Does all trash stink?

Day 3: Where will we find a trash can on our walk today?

Discussion and Shared Writing

Day 1: Classroom Trash

Day 2: Trash and Garbage at Home

Day 3: What do People Throw Away Around the School?

Day 1: Something From Nothing

Day 2: I Stink!

Day 3: Radio Man

Day 1: 

Option 1: Story Problems

Option 2: Bowling Math

Day 2:

Option 1: Junk Patterns

Option 2: Action Patterns

Day 3:

Option 1: Alphabet Cards

Option 2: Textured Letters

Day 1: 68

Day 2: 36

Day 3: 65

Art

Toys and Games

Library

Music and Movement

Discovery

Computer

Cooking

Sand and Water

Blocks

Dramatic Play

Investigation 2

Week 3

Focus Question 1: Where does trash go?

Focus Question 2: What do workers do there?

Day 1: Where does our trash go after we throw it away?

Day 2: Do you have a question for our visitor?

Day 3: Do you have a question for our visitor?

Day 4: Which has more cans?

Discussion and Shared Writing

Day 1: Where Does the Trash Go?

Day 2: Follow That Trash

Day 3: Expert Interview

Day 4: Dump or Recycle?

Day 1: Sam Helps Recycle

Day 2: Radio Man

Day 3: Sam Helps Recycle

Day 4: Radio Man

Day 1: 

Option 1: Rhyming Riddles

Option 2: Rhyming Chart

Day 2:

Option 1: How Big Around?

Option 2: Which Container Holds More?

Day 3:

Option 1: Bookmaking

Option 2: Desktop Publishing

Day 4:

Option 1: Bookmaking

Option 2: Desktop Publishing

Day 1: 72

Day 2: 47

Day 3: 38

Day 4: 1

Art

Toys and Games

Library

Music and Movement

Discovery

Computer

Cooking

Sand and Water

Blocks

Dramatic Play

Investigation 3

Week 4

Focus Question 1: How do trash and garbage affect our community?

Day 1: Should you throw paper out the window of a car or building?

Day 2: Are monsters real or pretend?

Day 3: Which will we find more of on our liter walk: paper or bottles?

Discussion and Shared Writing

Day 1: Litter

Day 2: Litter and Animals

Day 3: Litter Walk

Day 1: The Adventures of Gary and Harry

Day 2: I Stink!

Day 3: The Adventures of Gary and Harry

Day 1: 

Option 1: Seek and Find

Option 2: Sorting and Classifying

Day 2:

Option 1: Story Problems

Option 2: Dinnertime

Day 3:

Option 1: What's Missing?

Option 2: Memory Games

Day 1: 47

Day 2: 46

Day 3: 85

Art

Toys and Games

Library

Music and Movement

Discovery

Computer

Cooking

Sand and Water

Blocks

Dramatic Play

Investigation 4

Week 5

Focus Question 1: How can we reuse junk?

Day 1: What can we do this?

Day 2: Can we use this to make music?

Day 3: Can we use this to make music?

Day 4: Can we make something from this paper bag?

Day 5: What can we make from this?

Discussion and Shared Writing

Day 1: Amazing Junk

Day 2: Instrument Making

Day 3: Preparing to Retell The Paper Bag Princess

Day 4: Paper Bags

Day 5: Gift Making

Day 1: Don't Lose It-Reuse It!

Day 2: The Adventures of Gary and Harry

Day 3: Peter's Chair

Day 4: Hush! A Thai Lullaby

Day 5: Peter's Chair

Day 1: 

Option 1: Straw Shapes

Option 2: 3-D Shapes

Day 2:

Option 1: More or Fewer Towers

Option 2: Cover Up

Day 3:

Option 1: Dramatic Retelling of The Paper Bag Princess

Option 2: Clothesline Retelling of The Paper Bag Princess

Day 4:

Option 1: Stick Letters

Option 2: Walk a Letter

Day 5:

Option 1: Dramatic Retelling of The Paper Bag Princess

Option 2: Clothesline Retelling of The Paper Bag Princess

Day 1: 57 

Day 2: 7

Day 3: 15

Day 4: 16

Day 5: 7

Art

Toys and Games

Library

Music and Movement

Discovery

Computer

Cooking

Sand and Water

Blocks

Dramatic Play

Investigation 5

Week 6

Focus Question 1:  How can we create less trash?

Day 1: What do you do with clothes that don't fit you anymore?

Day 2: Will this present fit inside this box?

Day 3: Do you like to eat this?

Discussion and Shared Writing

Day 1: Reusing

Day 2: Using Less in the Classroom

Day 3: So Much Trash

Day 1: Something from Nothing

Day 2: I Stink!

Day 3: Peter's Chair

Day 1: 

Option 1: Guessing Jar

Option 2: Which Has More?

Day 2:

Option 1: I'm Thinking of a Shape

Option 2: Shape Book

Day 3:

Option 1: I Went Shopping

Option 2: Shopping Word Wall

Day 1: 

Day 2: 

Day 3: 

Day 4: 

Day 5: 

Art

Toys and Games

Library

Music and Movement

Discovery

Computer

Cooking

Sand and Water

Blocks

Dramatic Play