Models of Excellence

During a winter/spring expedition, first grade students learned about local animals’ characteristics, including body features, diet, predators, and adaptations. As a whole group students went through the entire research process focused on a local black bear. Students researched using various text, videos, and a visit from local bear experts. Students then selected their own local animal to research using various texts, online resources, and a fieldwork visit to an animal rescue and rehabilitation center (which was cancelled to to COVID). Students then took all of their information and went through the writing process, including revision and peer critique, to create an Important Book page. Once students had their final writing product complete, a local artist came in multiple days to guide them through multi medium piece for their creative non-fiction pieces (this was done online due to COVID). For our final class product, students animal pieces were assembled into a class book. The school director read the book as a read aloud to our whole school during distance learning.