Unit Plan 18 (Grade K Science): Sunlight & Needs — Quarter Synthesis

Focus: Synthesize learning about how sunlight warms Earth’s surface, how shade reduces warming, and how living things’ needs connect to habitats using simple models, observations, and a culminating class showcase.

Grade Level: K

Subject Area: Science (Physical Science • Life Science • Earth & Space Science • Engineering Design)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session

I. Introduction

This quarter-synthesis unit brings together three big kindergarten science ideas: sunlight warms surfaces, shade can reduce warming, and living things need food, water, air, shelter, and space. Students revisit simple investigations (sun vs. shade) and use picture evidence to explain why some places are better habitats for certain organisms. The week ends with a “Sunlight & Needs Showcase,” where students share a model habitat and explain how sunlight and needs connect.

Essential Questions

• How does sunlight change the temperature of Earth’s surfaces?
• How can shade reduce the warming effect of sunlight?
• What do plants, animals, and humans need to survive?
• How do an organism’s needs connect to the place it lives?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Make and record observations showing that sunlight warms different surfaces (sand/soil/water/materials) (K-PS3-1).
2. Describe how shade can keep an area cooler than direct sunlight (K-PS3-1).
3. Use tools and materials to build a simple shade structure that reduces warming on an area (K-PS3-2).
4. Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive (K-LS1-1).
5. Use a simple model to show how different organisms’ needs match the places they live (K-ESS3-1).
6. Create a final product (model + explanation) that connects sunlight, shade, needs, and habitat evidence from the unit (All Standards).

Standards Alignment — Kindergarten (NGSS-Aligned)

• K-PS3-1 — Make observations to determine the effect of sunlight on Earth’s surface.
  • Example: Compare temperatures/feelings of surfaces in sun vs. shade.
• K-PS3-2 — Use tools and materials to design and build a structure that will reduce the warming effect of sunlight on an area.
  • Example: Build a shade structure to keep a “playground spot” cooler.
• K-LS1-1 — Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive.
  • Example: Sort pictures by needs: food, water, air, shelter, space.
• K-ESS3-1 — Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants and animals (including humans) and the places they live.
  • Example: Match a fish to water habitat; a bird to trees/nesting spots.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can tell what happens to places when sunlight shines on them (they warm up).
• I can explain how shade can help keep something cooler.
• I can name what living things need: food, water, air, shelter, and space.
• I can make a habitat model that shows an animal/plant and the needs it can get there.
• I can share my model and use evidence from our observations (sun vs. shade, needs charts) to explain my thinking.