Anavi Amegashie

amegasam@dukes.jmu.edu
9/1/14
Lesson Theme: Connections between all creatures of earth: Empathy/ Environment Sustainability
Grade Level: Kindergarten
Time: One 40-minute period
Lesson Overview:
Students will be read four sections of the story, Earth & Me Our Family Tree by J. Patrick
Lewis. Students will come up with their own examples of one animal and their environment,
draw/color them, and with a partner discuss how each others animals are connected.
Visual Culture Component/RELEVANCE:
The beginning and end of the picture book will relate to the lesson theme more closely than the
rest of the story. The book will help teach the students that every animal with which we share the
earth has its own purpose, and how the animals show respect for each other regardless of their
relationship in the food chain. Students will also learn how to look at life through anothers eyes.
Virginia Standards of Learning:
Visual Arts - K.1: The student will express ideas and feelings through the creation of works of art.
- K.5: The student will create a work of art that depicts a specific animal or plant.
- K.9: The student will describe the sequence of steps in the making of a work of art.

Science -

- K.1 The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific reasoning, logic, and the nature
of science by planning and conducting investigations in which objects are described both pictorially and verbally.
Lesson Objectives:
- Students will confirm which animals live in certain environments.
- Students will produce an animal not discussed in the book on paper and create its environment

using bright color and texture from oil-based pastels.

- Students will discuss with a partner any connections they see between their two animals.

(Physcial appearance, environment, etc.)

- Students will discuss ways humans can sustain their animals environments.
- Students will justify to the teacher how they and their partner found common ground.

Vocabulary Words for Visual Analysis:

- Empathy: Putting yourself in anothers shoes/seeing the world through someone elses eyes.
- Environment: A description of the home of any living creature using weather, water, etc.
- Purpose: A reason for a creatures existence on earth.
- Implied Texture: Using pastels to make art look like it feels a different way. (Furry, wet, silky,

etc.)
Historical/Cultural/Artist Information:
The teacher will discuss a brief background of the illustrator of the book, Earth & Me along
with other basic animal illustrators in order for the students to understand the different ways one
can create an animal within its environment.
Questioning Strategies:
Leading Response Questions -

1. What is this animal?

2. What does this animal do or sound like?
Information Process Questions 3. What colors and textures can you see in this animal and its environment?
4. What do these colors help you imagine what the environment would feel like?
Productive Questions 5. What do you think (two animals) would say to each other?
6. How do these animals work together or connect?
7. What purpose do these animals serve on our earth?
Procedure:
*Preparation: Educator will pass out one sheet of paper per desk and keep the rest of the materials in two tubs at the front desk.
1. Educator will gather students around on the floor as the students enter the classroom and sit
in a chair with Earth & Me. [1 min]
2. Educator will read pages 1,2,6,7,11,12, 16,17, & 20 aloud to the students. Educator will engage the students to say its name in unison, and make the noise of the animal while remaining
still. [8 mins]
3. Upon reading the last page, educator will explain that all creators on earth are connected in
some way. [1 min]
4. Educator will explain to each student to pick an animal not mentioned in the book and illustrate it using oil-based pastels then dismiss students back to their seats. [3 mins]
5. Educator will briefly demonstrate how to use pastels properly to create different textures. [5
mins]

6. Students will illustrate their animal and its environment. [15 mins]
7. Educator will assign partners based on which animals can easily connect. [1 min]
8. Students and partners will discuss how their animals are connected while they use wet wipes
to clean any mess from oil pastels. [5 mins]
How is your animal like your partners animal?
How is your animal different from your parters animal?
How are their environments the same/different from your partners?

9. Educator will make a trip to each pair and evaluate students on how well they textured their
illustration, and how in-depth their connection was. [During 15 min work time]
Evaluation:
OBJECTIVES

YES/NO

The students animal lives in the correct environment

The student filled the paper with content
The student included texture in their work

Materials:
- Oil-based Pastels
- Paper

Resources:
Earth & Me Our Family Tree by J. Patrick Lewis; Illustrated by Christopher Canyon
Special Populations:
ESL students will be able to participate up to speed with their peers whose first language is English during the reading of the story. The teacher will involve the students in the reading by point-

ing to the animal and asking anyone to call out what they think the animal is, and what
sound/action they think it makes. Depending on the ESL students first language, the teacher will
also be required to at least know all of the animals names in both English and their primary language. The teacher should point out each word and animal while reading aloud and making sure
the students are accurately following along.
Extra Materials:
- Real-life photographs of at least 20 wild animals not shown in the book (8.5x11)
- Examples of texture using faux fur, skins.