K - Act. 23: Four Seasons Class Mural

Summary

Students will create a mural depicting themselves participating in an activity appropriate for the season they are studying.

Materials

One per class:

• 3x5 foot butcher paper mural with a green ground, blue sky, a pond, and a bare, brown tree (see illustration).

One per student:

• 4x4 sheet of white art paper
• pencil
• crayons
• tape or glue stick
• scissors

Additional Resources

My Favorite Time of Year by Susan Person
Summer by Nicola Baxter (also Spring, Autumn, Winter)
Caps, Hats, Socks and Mittens by Louise Borden
Summertime by Ann Schweninger (series)

Background for Teachers

There are four seasons: winter, summer, spring, and fall. Animals and people change their behaviors as the season changes. These unique behaviors help us identify the various seasons.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Intended Learning Outcomes
5. Understand and use basic concepts and skills.
6. Communicate clearly in oral, artistic, written and nonverbal form.

Process Skills
Symbolization, observation, description/communication, data collection, classification

Instructional Procedures

Invitation to Learn
Ask the students, "What outdoor activities do you like to do during the summer (fall, winter, spring)?" Have the class discuss to discuss their choices.

Instructional Procedures

1. As a class, read various books about the seasons. Discuss the behaviors of people and animals during a given season.
2. The teacher will prepare the background for the mural using butcher paper. Include the sky, ground, a pond and bare tree.
3. Each student will be given a 4x4 piece of white art paper. On this paper, students will illustrate themselves participating in an activity appropriate to the season being studied. The illustration should also show how the student should be dressed for the particular season. The students may also select an animal to draw and show the behavior of that animal during that season.
4. Each student will dictate/write a statement describing his or her illustration. Have the students glue or tape their illustration and writing in the appropriate place on the mural.
5. After the mural is assembled, the class will tally up the various activities that were illustrated on the mural.
6. As a class, produce a shared writing (caption, poem, narrative). Attach the writing to the mural.

Extensions

Family Connections
Each child could ask family members what activities that they enjoy doing during the summer. Choose a summer activity and participate in the activity. Report back to the class what your family enjoys doing.

Assessment Plan

This activity in itself is an assessment tool. Do the children correctly depict themselves doing activities that are appropriate to the season being discussed?