Life Cycles: Unit Overview
All living things have a life cycle, and this unit touches on the human life cycle with special attention paid to babies, mothers, and fathers. Also, I’ve written a lesson about growth and changes as the life cycle unfolds. Finally, there is one simple and easy lesson using a story book to review what plants need to grow. I have developed a lesson on the end of life but have not yet decided whether to include that sensitive subject on the web page. If you need a lesson on death, or what happens when life ends, please contact me and I will send that lesson to you separately.
Life Cycles #1: Our Family, From Baby to Grandma, by Monica Hughes
Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students think about the human life cycle. How do humans begin? Were grown-ups ever babies? What do different stages of a human life cycle look like? Used to “tune in,” this lesson enables you to get a feel for how much the children know at… Read more
Life Cycles #2: Infancy, Babies
Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students think about the first part of the human life cycle, infancy and the toddler stages. Using some of the library’s books about babies and toddlers, children will play “Guess the Baby” and be able to explain some of the things that babies and young… Read more
Life Cycles #3: Growing Up: Little Bear’s Little Boat
Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students think about growing up. What are some of the things that will change as they grow? How will they cope with these changes? They already know the basic parts of a lifecycle, but growth happens in between. The concepts in the life cycle unit… Read more
Life Cycles #4: Fran’s Flower
Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students learn what plants need to grow. This is a very simplified “plant life cycle” lesson, but with a darling literature link. Do plants eat pizza, cheeseburgers, or ice cream? Have your students discover what plants need to thrive, then complete a simple drawing to… Read more
Life Cycles #5: The Mommy Book and The Daddy Book, by Todd Parr
Lesson Overview: In this lesson, students use what they know about grown-ups to make connections to their Unit of Inquiry. Using the library stock of print materials on Moms and Dads (or Grandmas and Grandpas – your choice!), get the kids thinking, writing, and playing with each other and with… Read more