Winter Survival

Winter Survival
A Health & Safety Unit for Young Children

Susan Schmidt
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Subject / Curriculum

Science & Health

Grade Level

Grades 1 & 2

Time Frame

Month of January

Objectives:

The Student will

Obtain a base of knowledge about Lewis & Clark and the Corp of Discovery and their stay at Ft. Mandan during the winter of 1804-05.
Compare and contrast the means of survival in 1804-05 and today.
Work in cooperative groups to solve problems.
Create a Kid Pix slideshow depicting úLiving at Ft. Mandan During the Winter of 1804-05î.
Obtain a base of knowledge of how we stay safe and healthy today.
Create a úSneezeî Picture.
Make a winter survival kit for the family vehicle.

Standards and Benchmarks Addressed:

Standard 1: Unifying Concepts
Benchmark 4.1.3 Understand that changes might occur in properties of materials and position & motion of objects.

Standard 2: Science Inquiry
Benchmark 4.2.1 Use and integrate the science processes of observing, questioning, hypothesizing and reflecting to investigate their world.

Standard 4: Life Science
Benchmark 4.4.1 Understand the characteristics of organisms.

Standard 7: Science and Other Areas
Benchmark 4.7.1. Know the basic concepts of personal health.

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Detailed Description of Activity:

The students obtained knowledge of Lewis and Clark and the Corp of Discovery through power point presentations, videos and books. After becoming familiar with the expedition, they compared means of survival in the time of L&C and present time. They worked in cooperative groups to solve problems that L&C may have encountered while living at Ft. Mandan. The students then created a slide on Kid Pix that depicted how they lived at Ft. Mandan during the winter of 1804-05. This slide was included in a slideshow.

The students learned of ways we stay healthy today. We studied how germs are spread, and why we become sick. Activities that reinforced the concept that germs cause disease. The students participated in the experiments, Jumping Germs and Glitter Germs. We also created an art project called a úSneezeî picture.

As a class we discussed winter survival in present day. We learned how we stay safe during winter conditions. As a culmination, each student made a survival kit to be used in family vehicle. A letter was sent home, and parents were asked to donate items for the kit.

The entire class enjoyed this project. The students seemed to really enjoy learning about The Corp of Discovery and began to appreciate how difficult the trip was and the accomplishments made during the expedition. The students showed a sense of pride carrying the survival kit home, and knowing they were contributing to the welfare of their families.