Gwynedd Mercy University-School of Education

Lesson Planning Framework

Title: The Four Seasons
Subject Area: Science
Grade Level: First Grade - 25 Students
GMercyU Student Name: Alexa Kirkman

Two Classroom Technologies:

A computer and a SmartBoard are required for this lesson.
Four Online Resources:
1. jr.brainpop.com - Video about the characteristics of the four seasons
2. Education.com - Printable worksheets about the four seasons to expand on
lesson
3. Pinterest.com - Provided me with activity ideas for this lesson in relation to
the four seasons
4. Teacherspayteachers.com - Can find some free resources to use for lessons
- Could also create a PowerPoint game for this lesson where students have to
look at different pictures and identify what season you see them in.

Stage 1 Desired Results

PA Core Standard(s):
Standard - 4.1: Ecology
4.1.1.E - Describe the seasons and describe how the change of the season
affects living things.
_________________________________________________________________________
Big Idea: (Overarching Theme) Objective
Identify the characteristics of the four seasons.
Essential Question(s):
Students will consider and reflect on
throughout the lesson:

Enduring Understandings:
At the conclusion of the lesson students
will understand:

Why is it important to know the

characteristics of the four seasons?

How to identify the characteristics of

the four seasons.

Student Objectives (Outcomes):

At the conclusion of the lesson students will know and be able to:
The students will be able to identify characteristics of the four seasons by
creating a four-square diagram.
Stage 2 Assessment Evidence
Performance Task(s):
Other Evidence:
Students will show what they know
Other evidence which demonstrate
by evidence of/list names of
student competence with the
formative or summative checks,
concept(s). List the names of the
quizzes, tests which indicate
performance tasks:
evidence of learning:
As a class, students will come up
with a list of characteristics for each
season to add to the classroom four
square diagram.

Students will write about their favorite

season and describe why it is their
favorite. This will then be shared with
the class.

Students will independently create a

four square diagram of their own to
visually show the change in seasons
on a tree.
Stage 3 Learning Plan
Learning Activities:
Preparing students for the lesson: How will you activate prior knowledge, build
background, or review previous lessons?
To activate prior knowledge during this lesson, I will use the following
questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.

What are the four seasons? Can you name them?

Which of the four seasons is the hottest of the year?
Which of the four seasons is the coldest of the year?
What season is it right now?

There are also many questions throughout the book "My World Seasons" that I
plan to use in my lesson. These include:
1. How can you tell when it's spring?
2. How can you tell when it's summer?

3. How can you tell when it's fall?

4. How can you tell when it's winter?
The answers to these questions will help us put information on our 4-square
chart.
At the end of the book, there are also review questions that I can use.

Learning Activities Continued: Describe in sequence, the lesson:

1. I will call the students over to the carpet.
2. I will remind students about the rules and expected behavior for the
classroom. (Behavior charts and traffic light system.)
3. I will ask questions to activate prior knowledge about the four seasons.
4. As a class we will read the book, "My World Seasons " by Tammy J. Schlepp.
5. After reading the book, the class will watch a BrainPOP Jr. video about the
four seasons.
6. When the video is over, we will begin creating our classroom 4-square
diagram by writing down characteristics about each of the four seasons. We
will pull this information from the students prior knowledge as well as the
information that was presented in the book and the video.
7. I will use popsicle sticks to call on students and ask for information about
each season.
8. As information is gathered, I will add bullet points to the 4-square diagram.
9. After creating the diagram, I will tell the students to go back to their seats
and get out their pencils and crayons.
10. I will then hand out the favorite season writing activity worksheet.
11. Directions will be given to the class explaining that their task is to draw
and write about their favorite season and state why it is their favorite. I will
give an example and refer to the 4-square diagram that we created as a class
to help them come up with ideas.
12. As the students work on their writing activity, I will walk around the room
and help anyone who needs one-on-one help.
13. After completing the writing activity, students will be called back over to
the carpet to share their writing activity with the class. For the sake of time,
only a few students will randomly be picked to share their work.
14. When students finish sharing their writing with the class, they will be sent
back to their seats one more time to individually create their own 4-square
tree diagram.
15. I will provide the class with a model of this activity so that they know what
is expected of them to do and I will also explain the directions.
16. I will hand out the materials one season at a time. Once the class
completes the square for that season I will then pass out the materials for the
next one. This will prevent any confusion and will make it easier to clean up.
17. After completing this activity, I will ring the bell to catch the attention of
the class. I will then tell them to clean up their areas.
18. Once the class is all cleaned up, I will close my lesson by asking the class
to summarize the lesson.

19. If time allows, I will ask the class to take a vote on their favorite season.
20. I will keep track of how many votes there are for each season by making
tallies on the board.
21. I will then read a short chapter out of "Frog and Toad All Year" by Arnold
Lobel. The chapter that I read will depend on which season has the most votes.

Materials Needed:
-

"My World Seasons" Book by Tammy J. Schlepp

"Frog and Toad All Year" Book by Arnold Lobel
BrainPOP Jr. Seasons Video - SmartBoard
Whole-Class 4-Square Season Diagram
Individual 4-Square Tree Diagram
Favorite Season Writing Activity Worksheet
Tissue Paper
Cotton Balls
Glue
Leaves
Pencils
Crayons

Vocabulary/ New or Review:

- Hibernation
- Camouflage
Guided Practice: What will students do to use and apply new concepts or
skills? How will you monitor and guide their performance?
My guided practice will be creating the 4-square chart on the characteristics of
each season with the entire class. This activity is the foundation for the entire
lesson and is crucial to helping the students apply new knowledge
independently.

Check for Understanding of Student Learning: How will you know if

students grasped the material? What techniques will you use to assess
understanding?
I will informally assess the students by walking around and observing them as
they work. The 4-square chart that we complete together, the 4-square chart
that they complete independently, and the writing activity will all serve as
informal assessments for this lesson.

Independent Practice: What will students do independently to use and

apply the new skills and concepts in a meaningful way? How will you assess
mastery of learning?
Students will create a 4-square diagram illustrating the change in seasons on a
tree and write about their favorite season. This will show me that they have an
understanding of the characteristics and physical traits of each season.

Differentiated Instruction: How will you provide access to this lesson for all
learners such as students with IEPs, ELLs, gifted, and other learning
differences, re: content, process, and product?
In this particular class, there are no students with special needs. Therefore, I
do not have to differentiate instruction.

Closure: How will students demonstrate proficiency with todays lesson

objective(s) i.e., Partner Sharing, Exit Ticket, Student Summarizer?
Students will summarize what they did and learned throughout the lesson to
demonstrate their proficiency with the lesson objective.