Habitat Study

We have started our last LDC (Literacy Design Collaboration) for the year.  This is the third one that my students have done and the third one that I've created.  I feel really confident about writing a LDC now after I have been receiving a lot of positive feedback from my trainer and others from my county.  For this LDC, we will be learning about the different habitats and creating a book about their favorite animal and the habitat that it lives in.  Right now, each class is visiting a habitat for two days.  Next week, our first graders will choose their favorite habitat that they would like to visit to learn more about.  My habitat is the savanna, yes I have the best habitat of them all.  The other habitats are the woodlands, the arctic, the ocean, the wetlands, and the rainforest.

During the two day habitat visit, I have been teaching them about some of the characteristics of the savanna and about the animals that live there.  At the end of each day, the students have to write in their habitat journals.  On day 1, they write three facts that they learned about the habitat.  On day 2, they write about three more things that they would like to learn about or questions that they have. Here is the link to our habitat journal that we are using during our habitat visits.  It is a freebie in my TeachersPayTeachers store.  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/A-Look-At-the-Habitats-1148748  

We will be starting our animal/habitat focus when we return from Spring Break.  I will have lots of information to share and will post the link to the journal that we will be using to write our notes down for our animal books!  I have spent a lot of time getting this LDC module ready, I actually started back in November, I created a DonorsChoose project requesting books that our students will be using to help them with their project.  I was able to get almost $1000 worth of nonfiction books that many of my students can read independently.  After my students have finished their animal books, they are going to be able to create and print a 3D model of their animal with our 3D printer.  We are really excited for this!  I really love DonorsChoose, I have gotten so many needed resources for my classroom.  It is also a good feeling to help other teachers get the materials that they need for their classroom.  DonorsChoose is amazing and if you have checked it out, you really need to and if you have any questions, I'll be happy to help!

Enjoy your weekend,

Amber