Wanda Bauer and Mark Cournoyer, Auburndale ES & HS: Kindergarten
and High School
Have you ever really looked at a tree? In the book Have
You Seen Trees, by Joanne Oppenheim and illustrated
by Jean and Mou-Sien Tseng, you will discover trees. You
will become more curious and will want to learn more about
trees. Your
High School Buddies will help you learn the parts of a tree,
the life stages of a tree, and what the tree needs to be healthy.
Download Wanda and Mark's unit plan: 
Elise Patton & Helmy Tennis,
GLW Elementary School, Baraboo: 4th Grade Classroom
"It is the year 2004 and on the planet earth there are
major weather phenomena occurring. You are part of a safety
team preparing your jurisdiction for one of the following weather
occurrences: hurricane (Florida), tornado (Kansas or Oklahoma),
or severe thunderstorm (southwestern Wisconsin). Your task
will be to list the characteristics of your storm in the form
of a graphic organizer. Your team must present a 3-5 minute
TV weather advisory presenting your storm plan to the citizens
of your region. Include in your preparation plan the similarities
and differences for an urban and rural area."
Download Elise and Helmy's unit plan:
It is the year 2010 and a new planet has appeared in outer
space. This planet needs additional rocks and minerals from
the planet Earth. NASA has requested that scientists research
rocks and minerals in their area. Their findings will be analyzed
to determine whether they are needed on “The Perfect
Planet”. You have been selected to work with a team of
scientists to research Wisconsin’s rocks and minerals.
Your team will select one rock or mineral from Wisconsin to
focus your attention on. Your findings will be presented before
NASA in the form of videotaped documentary.
Download Elise and Helmy's unit plan:
Bill Hamilton, Grayside Elementary School, Mauston: 5th Grade
“What 20th Century individual made the greatest scientific,
humanitarian, or political contribution that has changed your
life from what it would have been otherwise? Why did
you choose this individual?”
Download Bill's unit plan:
Dana Biermeier, Marianne Cherny, Sharon
McKegney, Westside Elementary
School, Mauston: Primary Multi-age Classroom & Library Media
"How do weather changes in Wisconsin
affect us throughout the seasons?" (a unit plan with 22 lessons
on weather)
Download their unit plan:
Jean Sorenson, WI Rapids, Children's Choice Elementary School:
3rd Grade Classroom
"What can happen to make a small town grow quickly to a “Boom
town”, and then shrink to a “Ghost town”?"
Download Jean's unit plan:
Cheryl Jones and Keith Crispell, Necedah Elementary School:
2nd grade
"Did the overwhelming mosquito population ruin your summer
fun? What can we do? Recently the village council discussed
the possibility of placing bat houses within the community
to help combat these pesky critters. Your job is to share
facts and opinions about bats with the council to help them
to make an informed decision."
Download their unit plan:
Sondra Galbreath, WI Rapids, Children's Choice Elementary School:
Kindergarten Classroom
"You are new in the school community and want to learn
more about the people around you. How can you learn
about the people and the jobs they perform in your school
community?"
Download Sondra's unit plan:
Martha Kronholm, WI Rapids, Grove Elementary School: Multiage
5/6
"Invasive species and other environmental problems are raising
havoc in central Wisconsin. In this unit, you will conduct
an issue investigation about an invasive species or an environmental
problem of your choice."
Download Martha's unit plan:
"You may find it hard to believe that anyone would question
the importance of recycling but some people do! In this unit,
you will be analyzing varying perspectives of this issue. At
the end of this unit, you will have an opportunity to choose
from one of the following: participating in a debate; creating
an informational PowerPoint to show both sides of the issue;
writing a persuasive letter to local, state, or national politicians
about your thoughts and opinions about this topic; creating
an informational iMovie about this issue."
Download Martha's unit plan:
Brenda Autz, Lodi Elementary
School: Multiage Science
"You are an astronaut on a mission to another
planet in our solar system. You will join a crew to
gather information about your destination. When you
become experts, you will voyage to this planet. While
exploring it, you will contact Mission Control on Earth by
postcards to communicate your impressions and data."
Download Brenda's unit plan:
You and your class will be educating Lodi Elementary School
staff and students as well as the community of Lodi about Australia
for the “Festival of Nations.” Each student,
or small group, will become experts on a topic relating to
Australia. You will design a detailed brochure using
the computer, and make a large-scale 3-D replica for the classroom
display.
Download Brenda's unit plan:
Lisa Husnick, Lodi Primary School: 2nd Grade
"You are a famous entomologist. You are giving
a slideshow presentation at the Lodi Community Center about
mealworms. Show and tell about its different growing stages."
Download Lisa's unit plan:
You are a travel agent. You want to create an interactive
United States map on-line. Tourists could find out information
about each state to determine which one/s they would like to
visit.
Download Lisa's unit plan:
Donna Peterson, Lodi Primary School: Kindergarten
"Our families will be visiting our school for open house. It
will be held in the evening and everyone in our class won’t
be at the school at the same time. All the teachers will
be in the school that night, but some school workers will not
be here. What can we do to introduce our families to
all of our friends in our class, the school community workers
that we have met during the past two weeks, and all the different
parts of the school building, where those workers do their
jobs."
Download Donna's unit plan:
“We are
Paleontologists. We already know a lot about the dinosaurs. Imagine
that we could travel back into the time when the dinosaurs
lived. Let’s make a list of what we would see if
we traveled back in time, to the time of the dinosaurs.”
Download Donna's unit plan:
Dee Berglund, Forest Elementary, Montello:
Kindergarten
"Curious George likes to explore and look at new and
exciting things. You are new at school and are curious,
too. Can you help Curious George find the names of the
different teachers or adults that you will be in contact with
by matching pictures with those that have already been taken. Then,
will you be able to describe their job or place in our school?"
Download Dee's unit plan:
"The Packwaukee Library is having a Quilt show. We
have just received word that they would like us to create
a special quilt for display for their show. We will create
our very own quilt by taking pictures of each other, then
using the computer we will make a quilt to display for the
show. Each child will print one special word that describes
himself/herself on the square. Our teacher will hang
our special quilt it in her classroom after the show."
Download Dee's unit plan:
Lane Cox, Forest Elementary, Montello:
1st Grade
"The Presidential election offered us a great chance
to talk about the president, his job, and where he lives. Our
question will be: What makes 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue the most
famous address in the United States?"
Download Lane's unit plan:
"You are going to be working at Sea World. You
will be in charge of a _______(student selected animal). What
do you need to know to take care of your animal?"
Download Lane's unit plan:
Theresa Crawford, Forest Elementary, Montello:
4th Grade
"You are a world explorer who has discovered
an unidentified animal. Your job is to construct a
display showing/demonstrating your animals adaptations."
Download Theresa's unit plan:
"My fourth graders have been asked to host an Open House in
the spring with a theme of genealogy. What will you display?
How will you present your genealogy?"
Download Theresa's unit plan:
Shirley Hanson, Forest Elementary, Montello:
1st Grade
"What makes 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue the most famous
address in the United States?"
Download Shirley's unit plan:
Melinda Johnson-Roidt, Forest Elementary,
Montello: 3rd Grade
While learning about the plant and animal populations and
how they affect one another in an ocean habitat, students will
complete a research project answering the question, “Why
is it important to preserve coral reefs?”
Download Melinda's unit plan:
“What will I be when I grow up?”
Download Melinda's unit plan:
Sarah Lieske, Forest Elementary, Montello:
1st Grade
"With the election coming up, we have a great chance
to talk about the President of the United States and where
he lives. Our question will be: What makes 1600 Pennsylvania
Avenue the most famous address in the United States?"
Download Sarah's unit plan:
Kurt Meyer and Cyndi Neeb, Forest Elementary,
Montello: 2nd Grade
"You are a museum curator in the paleontology department
of the Natural History Museum. On a trip one day in the
desert, you trip over a hard white stone. SO YOU THINK! As
you look closely at it, you see that it is a bone of some kind. As
knowledgeable as you are about fossils, you decide to dig it
up and take it back to the museum for further analysis. WOW!!! You
have just discovered that the bones happen to be those of your
favorite dinosaur. This department has all the pictures
and information about all of your favorite dinosaurs. It
is your job to provide the museum with the pictures and information
and then to teach the people who come and visit the museum
all about the displays. How can you best share your findings
about your favorite dinosaur with the museum visitors?"
Download Kurt and Cyndi's unit plan:
“Imagine that you are going to race the Iditarod. You
have been asked to keep a journal of your days during the race
(based off the actual musher you chose). You must include:
weather conditions, your current place, any troubles that have
occurred, or that you have passed, the condition of your dogs
and any other interesting details you would like to add.”
Download Kurt and Cyndi's unit plan:
Aggie Salter, Forest Lane Elementary, Montello:
5th Grade General Music
"Order of King Durham: Be thou a musician of the
king’s court is ordered
to serve your lord by composing a masterpiece for the Christmas
festival celebration. Thy king requests that it is
at its highest quality so that he can entertain his noble
guests, lords and ladies who will be visiting the Durham
kingdom from France, England and Italy.
It’s year 1550, you have just been hired by King Durham,
the owner of the Durham castle to compose a musical composition
for the big Christmas celebration. Create
a poster with at least 4mm composition, pictures and/or Renaissance
drawings and an Inspiration web/map, which shows the relation
between Renaissance art, music, literature and history."
Download Aggie's unit plan:
"HELP WANTED!!! Prokofiev needs creative students
to organize instruments in his Symphony Orchestra, so that
he can present Peter
and the Wolf at the Opera House."
Download Aggie's unit plan:
Barbara Church, John Muir Elementary, Portage:
3rd Grade
"You’ve been asked to be a tour guide at Jurassic
Park. Visitors will be asking you many questions about
dinosaurs. What will you need to know to answer them? How
will you set up an exhibit to make it the best tour possible?"
Download Barbara's unit plan:
"You are marketing executives for Eglise Publishing. Your
assignment is to set up a promotional display for youth biographies,
featuring women and Black Americans who have made important
contributions to our American culture and way of life. Which
biographies will you choose to promote, and why? How
will you do so?"
Download Barbara's unit plan:
Tina Brooks, John Muir Elementary, Portage:
3rd Grade
"You have been hired as a farm hand at Shadow Valley
Farm. You are given a chance to find out what area of the farm
you will want to manage. As manager, you will need to feed
and care for you livestock. What will you need to know to take
care of the designated animal?"
Download Tina's unit plan:
Colleen Kaufman, John Muir Elementary, Portage:
3rd Grade
"You have just been hired as a zookeeper in charge
of the bear exhibit at the Vilas Zoo in Madison. You
will be responsible for the feeding and care of the bears in
the exhibit. What will you need to know to care for these
bears? In the Living Things Unit we will be studying
the characteristics of animals, what the animals need to live,
their responses to their environment and the inherited/learned
traits."
Download Colleen's unit plan:
"You are a journalist working for the Portage Daily Register. Your
assignment is to research a topic on government for the children’s
page in the newspaper. What information will you need
to know about government on the local, state, and national
level in order to publish an activity page for elementary school
children?"
Download Colleen's unit plan:
Sheila Scholz, John Muir Elementary, Portage:
3rd Grade
"You have been hired to be a game keeper and tour guide
for an endangered animal at a game preserve. What would
you have to know to care for your animal and what could you
do to raise interest in your animal."
Download Sheila's unit plan:
"Your advertising firm has been hired
to create a one page newspaper advertisement to promote their
business."
Download Sheila's unit plan:
Leiah Schroeder, John Muir Elementary, Portage:
3rd Grade
"Third-grade Science curriculum standards include
learning about living things and how they interrelate with
their environment. The entire project will expand on
that by having the students report on a an animals living
in our national parks."
Download Leiah's unit plan:
"
Your real estate agency has been contacted by the Walt Disney Corporation with
an important offer. They have just found out about an uninhabited island
in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida. They are interested in
buying this island but first they need you to find out some facts about what
is on the island and if it would be something they should buy. "
Download Leiah's unit plan:
Carrie Dutschek, Queen of the Holy Rosary School, Necedah: 3rd/4th
Grade
"You are a journalist in 1490 for Queen Isabella and King
Ferdinand’s court. You
are visiting the king and queen, a man comes in demanding three Spanish ships
in Spain be given to him. He wants these ships to find another way to the Indies. The
ships, to your surprise, are given to him. You have many questions to ask
him before and after his return. The questions you want answered the most though
are: 1.) How is his finding another way to the Indies going to change the world?
(2.) Will the change in the world be good or bad?"
Download Carrie's unit plan:
Kris Doering, Pittsville Elementary School: 3rd Grade Language
Arts
Based on a real problem:
"Each group is to create a plan on where to send their one hundred paper cranes
for peace, after viewing online the paper cranes sent to Hiroshima, Japan and
Seattle, Washington and other places to send the cranes."
Download Kris's unit
plan:
Mark Ingles, Grayside Elementary School, Mauston: 2nd grade
Language Arts & Science
"Stellaluna became lost from her mother when she was just
a baby. She did not get a chance to learn that she was a
very special animal with special gifts. What can you teach
Stellaluna about bats’ unique gifts?"
Download Mark's unit plan:
Michelle Boquist, Westfield Elementary School: 5th Grade Science
"Hook: I will invite a personal trainer to come to class. I
will role-play with the trainer, pretending that I need help
getting in shape for my upcoming wedding. The personal
trainer will get my pertinent information and what activities
I like doing and what results I want.
Problem: You are trainers currently working at Westfield’s
TNT fitness center. Your team of three will be given
a client, who you will be responsible for outlining a fitness
and nutrition plan for. Your plan will need to meet their
health needs and desired exercise outcomes.
You will present and justify your plan to your fitness manager
in a week."
Download Michelle's unit plan:
Rhonda Zindorf, St. Patrick's School, Mauston: 1st Grade Alphabet
Awareness
Messy Question #1: Help! Mrs.
Van Pee has forgotten her alphabet. She had such a busy
summer – it flew straight out of her head! How
will the kindergarten ever learn their letters? Mrs.
Julian knows you have your letters securely in your brain,
so you have been asked to help Mrs. Van Pee regain her ALPHABET. Supplies
are limited. No paper or pencils or crayons can
be used! You can do it! You can save Mrs. Van Pee! Where
will you start?
Messy Question #2: I received a call
from Vilas Zoo. The zookeeper said several animals are
interested in learning to read. Where should they start? How
would you teach a kangaroo how to read? How about a baboon
or a hippopotamus or a lion? What can you do to help?
Messy Question #3: I saw your parents
at the library. They were having hard time reading the
titles of the books. I know they are good readers because
they share books with you. But frankly, I am worried about
vision problems. What can you do that will help them assess
their ability to see? Where will you begin?
Download Rhonda's unit plan:
Wanda Bauer, Auburndale Elementary School: Kindergarten
"Barney, the White House dog, enjoys roaming about, discovering,
and learning about all the fabulous rooms, the other pets,
the exciting people, and the extravagant events at the White
House. Using the internet, you will follow Barney and explore
the magnificent building with him! You will discover and learn
many interesting facts about life at the White House!"
Download Wanda's unit plan:
Karen Plantenberg , Columbus Elementary School:
Third Grade
"Our class has visited many types of habitats near us. We
were fortunate to have tour guides on these visits. However,
it is now your turn to be the tour guide for a habitat. What
do you think is important for other students to know about
your particular habitat? What will you tell them about
the plants and animals of this habitat?"
Download Karen's unit plan:
The wetlands of Louisiana and Wisconsin are rapidly disappearing. As
a researcher and activist of this issue, what actions can you
take to help in the preservation of the wetlands?
Download Karen's unit plan:
Criss Shaben , Fort Winnebago Elementary School,
Portage: Fifth/Sixth Grade
"Students will determine who they would like to see upon
Mount Rushmore if another man were to be represented on the monument. They
will have an understanding of the monuments history and will
research why Lincoln, Roosevelt, Jefferson and Washington are
depicted."
Download Criss' unit plan:
Lonna Calkins, Fort Winnebago Elementary
School, Portage: Third/Fourth Grade
"The students will learn about the history and importance
of Mount Rushmore. They will then be assigned to research
a president from the past 65 years. After researching the
assigned president, they will fill out an activity book all about
the president they've learned about. Then they will present
a speech to the class, giving the class the most important details
and aspects about the president's life. From
there, the students will vote to see which president should be
added to the Mount Rushmore monument, based on achievements as
president."
Download Lonna's unit plan:
"What Wisconsin dairy product would you choose to manufacture
if you were to become part of the dairy manufacturing business?
"
Download Lonna's unit plan:
Liz Bellmore, Fort Winnebago Elementary
School, Portage: Kindergarten
"How could we make sure that each one of you could have
an alphabet book if you wish at quiet time?"
Download Liz's unit plan:
"How
does a farmer know what seeds to plant and what will actually
grow in his field?"
Download Liz's unit plan:
Sharon Kibby, Fort Winnebago Elementary School,
Portage: First/Second Grade
"The 6th graders may be going back to D.C. for their
trip in the spring, but they can only visit one of the monuments.
Find some facts about a monument and tell why they should visit
this one."
Download Sharon's unit plan:
"Next year’s teacher needs to know as much as she
can about each student in order to be able to teach each child. You
need to create a biography to be shared with next year’s
teacher."
Download Sharon's unit plan:
Dana Westedt & Susie King,
South Elementary & Ironton-La Valle Elementary Schools,
Reedsburg: Fourth Grade
"You are a world explorer who has discovered an unidentified
animal in Wisconsin. It is not evident if it is a mammal,
amphibian, fish, reptile, bird, or a combination of those animal
types. Your job is to research and classify your animal,
and construct a display exhibiting your animal's characteristics."
Download Dana's & Susie's unit plan:
“You are a family historian and your task is to research
primary sources for a family recipe and at least one other
family artifact/treasure.”
Download Dana's & Susie's unit plan:
Amy Vredeveld, Randolph Elementary School:
Second Grade
"You are traveling back to 1621 with Jack and Annie
in their Magic Tree House to witness the harvest feast between
the Pilgrims and Native Americans. While you are there you
explore the land and bump into a seven year old Wampanoag native/Pilgrim
boy/girl. What do the two of you do that day?"
Download Amy's unit plan:
Karen Kercher, Randolph Elementary School:
First Grade
"You are traveling back to 1621 with Jack and Annie
in their Magic Tree House to witness the harvest feast between
the Pilgrims and Native Americans. While you are there you
explore the land and bump into a seven year old Wampanoag
native/Pilgrim boy/girl. What do the two of you do
that day?"
Download Karen's unit plan:
"We will soon be having a breakfast program served before
school. Mr. Vanderploeg, our principal, has asked for
our help. He would like each of you to design a breakfast
based on the recommendation of the food guide pyramid."
Download Karen's unit plan:
Sue Babcock, Barb Reierson, & Holly Swanson,
Randolph Elementary School: Third Grade
"The principal has asked our class to raise and care
for a pet for our school. The pet shop in Beaver Dam
has given us a list of pets available. (The list includes
nine choices). Which animals from the list will make good classroom
pets?"
Download their unit plan:
"We have been asked to help another Third Grade class identify
the moon’s phases. These students have been taught the
phases. Our task is to make representations of the phases to
be photographed and sent to the other school."
Download Sue and Barb's unit plan:
Barb Schilcher,
Wild Rose Elementary School: Third Grade
"The students will be told to imagine that they are members
of the student government at their school. The school board
has asked the student government to set up and run a mock presidential
election. These questions will be posed to them: How will you
encourage other students to vote? What will you need to know
so that the election will run smoothly and be successful?"
Download Barb's unit plan:
"
It’s the last week of school. Your teacher asks you to write a poem
to introduce yourself to next year’s fourth grade teacher and any new students
in the class. What makes you special? What traits do you want to describe
and share with others? "
Download Barb's unit plan:
Darlene Hempel & Brenda Krueger, Pleasant
View Elementary & Wild Rose Elementary School: First Grade
"We began by telling the students about our “messy
question,” which was to pretend that our class was chosen
to make a school garden. We will need to decide as a
class what kind of plants we want to grow, and what our plants
need in order to grow. Before we plant our seeds outside,
we need to find out what they need in order to grow. We
will do a group experiment to find this out."
Download Darlene's & Brenda's unit plan:
"We will begin by asking the students what they would have
for breakfast if they lived during Colonial times. We then
will ask the students how they would find information. The
students will suggest listening to several stories of early
Americans/George Washington to learn about their daily lives
including what foods they ate. Students will also work with
their reading buddies on the computer to surf the web to find
more information."
Download Darlene's & Brenda's unit plan:
Diane Rait, Pleasant
View Elementary School, Wild Rose: Third Grade
"The students will be told to imagine that they are members
of the student government at their school. The school
board has asked the student government to set up and run a
mock presidential election. These questions will be posed
to them:
- How will you encourage other students to vote?
- What will you need to know so that the election will run
smoothly and be successful?"
Download Diane's unit plan:
Karen Pica, Wild Rose Elementary School: Second
Grade
Terri Muntner, Wild Rose Elementary School:
Second Grade
"An alien has registered for second grade in our school. After
being in our room for a day, it is obvious that our new student
does not understand the concept of respect for other students. We
need to help Harry the Alien learn how to get along with everyone. What
will you do to help Harry learn how to show respect for others?"
Download Karen's unit plan:
Download Terri's unit plan:
"Friendship lesson—You have the opportunity to
create your ideal companion. Your friend will be one
you create. Your job
will be to choose 5 character traits that you would like to
have in a friend, and give an example of how A friend
would show that character trait. You will then create
a paper “person” listing each trait on a body part(2
arms, 2 legs, and a torso).
Download Karen, Shari, and Terri's unit plan:
Beth Sokol and Peggy Schaub , Lodi Elementary
School: Third Grade
You are a team of travel agents for the XYZ Travel Agency. Your
job is to convince a tour group of families from the United
States to visit England for a vacation. What kinds of
information can you find that would make England the first
choice for this group? Where are England’s neat
places to visit and why?
Download Beth and Peggy's unit plan:
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