Reptile lesson for kindergarten/1st grade

[gardenfiend138]

I just thought I'd share a lesson that I did with my class and will be doing with 3 other classes. We only have an hour block for our weekly "clubs", where students rotate teachers for a variety of activities (cooking, body systems, holidays, and science).
We start out with a whole group discussion about reptiles in general, noting what is similar and different to other types of animals (this hits several 1st and second grade CA science standards). Students share out their background knowledge, experiences, etc., and I fill in the gaps as needed.
We then have science learning centers, where 3 groups of student rotate between 3 different activities. Each center lasts about 10 minutes; one is reading informational texts about snakes and other reptiles, one is measuring a variety of shed skins (had to be laminated to preserve them) with linker-cubes (practicing non-standard measurement, 1-1, counting), and the final one is a meet-and-greet with my female lesser. We look at the tongue and heat pits, touch the back and underside of the snake, and explore an un-laminated shed-skin. Students are developing question generating skills, making and conferring observations, using descriptive words, etc.

We finish up with getting in a circle and watching Diedra move around.
Students then do a color-and-cut spiral snake, which gives them practice recording observations with drawings, and fine-motor skill development (as well as a neat snake to hang in their class!).

Students know that if they aren't doing their jobs, she goes back in the cage, so I'm not worried about any accidents happening.

It's great to see nearly every student excited about the lesson, and to see the myths they bring with their background knowledge, and to provide an experience to dispel those myths.

I wish I had time to read Verde, but we only have an hour and 5 year olds take forever to color and cut. Hope you enjoyed the read!