I'm Mrs. Davis, the 2nd grade teacher of a wonderful group of students at Baden Academy Charter School. Second grade is a time for students to learn about the earth's natural resources and how people use these resources to get energy. The topic is very important to my students, as our entire region is being impacted by the energy produced from Marcellus Shale.
Our students begin to discuss housing with a Native American social studies unit we study in November. Students learn about the five main regions of Native Americans. They study the environment, which provides each tribe with their basic needs: clothing, food, and shelter. Each child has the opportunity to builds a Native American home using natural resources from our environment. Students present these homes and we all have a disucssion comparing and contrasting why these different homes are made from different resources. For example, the adobe homes are made from mud and clay that the Native Americans from the Southern region had available. In the spring, we introduce the science unit on earth's resources. Students discuss the various resources that are avaiable in different areas of our country. Students create a chart comparing the Mountains, Plains, Desert, Woodlands, & Coastal areas and what natural resources they have available to create their homes. Students also discuss the different changes to our earth and some dangers that each area faces and observe how the homes are built safely. For example, many homes in coastal regions are built on stilts to protect them from flooding. In small groups students will collaboratively work on creating a 3-D diagram of a home and then they will create their home using materials that represent resources available in each area. For example, one group that focuses on the mountain region will use stone to build their homes. Students then disucuss what they learned with their families at home and they will conduct an interview with their family about different resources used around their own homes. Students present their findings to their peers and as a whole class we discuss why certain materials are used in homes around this area of Beaver County. In both units, we stress that each house we study is about real homes for families that live within a culture and society. We discuss homelessness and introduce some of the amazing work of charities around the globe working to provide affordable and sustainable housing to every family. You can join us by making a donation to Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity of Beaver County 47 Bridge Street Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania 15010-3259 E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 724-846-1630 Fax: 724-847-2963 http://www.beavercountyhabitat.org |