Entry # 2: Classroom Environment

At Saint Albans School the classrooms are very small. This impacts how teachers are able to teach their students and the structure of the day. The Pre-K 4 classroom measures approximately 25' x 25'. There is a large green carpet on one side of the room, and three tables on the other side. Because the the small amount of space, the tables and carpet must be multifunctional. The carpet serves as the play area and circle time space, the tables are used for all sit down activities. All material is found on the wall shelving on the east side of the classroom, out of reach of the children. The children's cubbies line the northern wall where there are also large windows. By the entrance is a white board used for morning meeting with the job chart set up on the other side of the doorway. There is also a bathroom in the classroom.

The set up of the classroom means that the children's activities are structured and decided by the teachers. Because there are no centers, there is not much choice available during play time. Toys and material are taken out for, and put away by the teachers. While more space and more choice would be better for the children, the teachers and children make the most of the space they have. The teacher has adapted the day to work in the space provided, and the children enjoy school. The children also have several specials such a library, art, religion, and gym which give the children the opportunity to learning in various environments.

Pumpkin Lesson

My lesson this Wednesday the 28th will be a pumpkin exploration with the children. The class has been learning about fall this past month and will be focusing on pumpkins next week. Here's a look at the full lesson plan I will be doing with them:

Teacher Candidate	YeaEun Schwartz
Date of Scheduled Visit	October 28th, 2015
Name/Address of School	Saint Alban’s School, 317 E. 50th St, New York, NY 10022
Age/Grade level	Pre-K 4
Cooperating Teacher	Ms. Christina Maydick	Classroom Number		PK-4
Name of Lesson	Pumpkin Exploration
Content area(s)/developmental domain(s) addressed	Science: Children learn use their senses to observe and describe the attributes of a pumpkin. Language and Literacy: Children will learn the parts of a pumpkin  (pulp, vine, stem, cavity, fibrous strands, seeds, skin)
Brief description of the lesson	After reading an informational text about pumpkins, children will use their five senses to observe and describe a pumpkin. After, the children will paste together a paper pumpkin.
This lesson is:	*      A new concept/activity
Rationale	Having first hand knowledge of the physical attributes of a pumpkin will help solidify the children’s knowledge and understanding of vegetables and the living world.
Timeframe	~25-30 min
Objective(s) of the activity	After reading an informational text and observing a pumpkin, children will demonstrate knowledge of a pumpkin’s physical attributes and parts.
Connections to standards (Core Knowledge- Level II)	II-SC 1.11 Plant, care for, and record observations of a plant, noting the parts of the plant, needs, development, lifecycle
Language Objectives	The language focus in this lesson will be vocabulary acquisition (pulp, vine, stem, cavity, fibrous strands, seeds, skin), and using adjectives to describe a pumpkin.
Resources/materials needed:	§  Pumpkin (cut in half) §  Cooked pumpkin in cups §  Pumpkin pulp in bag §  Experience chart with 5 senses listed §  All About Pumpkins book §  17 Paper pumpkin pieces (Orange skin, brown stem, yellow cavity, seeds, yarn for strands) §  17 Glue sticks
Technology inclusion (if applicable)	N/A
Procedures (step by step)	Anticipatory Set (Connection/Motivation) Introduce the lesson as a lesson about one of your favorite fall vegetables. Ask them to take a guess. Tell them that today we have a very fun lesson about Pumpkins! (“We’re going to look, smell, touch, and even taste pumpkin today!”)
	Instruction/Mini Lesson Read All About Pumpkins book. Review the stages of a pumpkins development. Introduce the pumpkin cut in half. What do they see? Go over the parts of a pumpkin (pulp, vine, stem, cavity, fibrous strands, seeds, skin).
	Guided Participation Let the children look, smell, feel, listen, and then taste the pumpkin. Record their observations on the experience chart. After writing down all observations, demonstrate the pumpkin project (paste the skin, cavity, yarn, then seeds and stem).
	Closure (sharing/reflection, next steps) Have the children bring you their work when finished and ask the children to tell you about the parts of their pumpkin. Write their names on the pumpkins.
Method of assessing children’s understanding of lesson/activity/objective(s)	Pre-assessment The children have been learning about fall foods such as apples and pumpkins. This prior exposure to pumpkins will help facilitate the vocabulary targeted in this lesson.	Assessment of Student Have the children bring you their work when finished and ask the children to tell you about the parts of their pumpkin.	Assessment of Children’s Language Learning  Have the children bring you their work when finished and ask the children to tell you about the parts of their pumpkin.
Plans for differentiated instruction/instructional modifications	Supporting children with identified delays or disabilities Allow for more time and use plenty of positive reinforcement throughout the activity.	Supporting English Language Learners Ask the children what the word for pumpkin is in their native language. Repeat the new vocabulary several times with the class and review with a pumpkin story the following day.
Follow up/Extension activities	Compare and contrast different pumpkins/squash (white pumpkins, butternut, acorn, sugar pie etc) * In the spring, plant a pumpkin seed and observe the beginning stages of a pumpkin plant.
Any additional information that would be helpful for the observer to know
Observer feedback on the lesson plan, including commendations and recommendations for improving aspects of the learning activity