The Wonderful World of Arthur

How It Works:
The primary goals of this exciting thematic unit are to teach young children how to acquire scientific ways of thinking, how to better observe the world, and how to communicate. All of the activities listed in this unit are centered around the learning style of Bloom's Taxonomy. 

The students will:

Examine the eyes of different animals and compare them by size, color and shape and will chart display of the animals that have similar formations.

Take a virtual field trip online and learn more about turkey farms.

Make a Venn diagram comparing Arthur's nose to that of other animals in the story.

Explore and interact with the "Arthur" site (on PBS) and various CD ROMS featuring Arthur and his friends.

Standards:
National Educational Technology Standards for Primary Grades PreK-2

Use a variety of media and technology resources for directed and independent learning activities

Use developmentally appropriate multimedia resources to support learning

Use input devices and output devices to successfully operate computers, VCRs, audiotapes, telephones, and other technologies

Estimated Class Periods To Complete:  10 or more.

Software Materials Used:
Computers with Internet connection, Science-based interactive CD ROMs, Overhead projectors, E-mail, Web Design software

Keywords: 
Arthur, literature thematic units, stories by Marc Brown, Arthur's Nose, Arthur's Eyes, Arthur's Thanksgiving, Arthur's Halloween, Arthur Meets the President, Arthur's Birthday, Aardvarks

Students:
The students who were involved in this project are in the first grade. The ability levels of this group ranged from high to low. Nevertheless, paired off into cooperative groups, the students were successful and completed their tasks.

Overall:
The goal of this project advocates the need to introduce higher level thinking skills to primary children. All lesson activities are based on  Bloom's Taxonomy system.

In this unit students learn how to construct and organize concepts about the working world around them. They also get to observe and compare their findings.

Tips:
There are many activities listed in each lesson. Pick and choose only the ones that you want to use.

About the Teacher:  

Over the years, Carol Delancy has been unwavering in the personal quest of becoming an innovator with childhood students and their increased knowledge of science and technology through the use of the World Wide Web. The training that she received from Science Learning Network and the Museum of Science, combined with her own pursuit, has lead Carol to create and use a variety of creative multimedia strategies in her classroom. These strategies have been very beneficial in providing for the different learning styles and experiences that her students have. As a result of this, she has written and developed numerous primary science technology integrated thematic units.

Subjects:  Science and Language Arts

Grade Levels: 1 and 2

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