Amelia the Pigeon

Grade Level: K-2

Time Estimation
Allow one 45-55 minute class session to complete this lesson.

Objectives

Students will:

• arrange pictures in sequential order and give evidence to support their choice of sequence through observation and ordering.
• use perspective to help identify objects using problem solving and classification.
• Interpret shapes and patterns to deduce the sequencing of the images.

Standards

Benchmarks for Science Literacy: 6D, 9B, 9C, 11B

National Science Education Standards: B Physical Science

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics: Standard 3 & 9

National Council of Social Studies: Standard IIId

Materials:

• blank paper (one per student)
• 8 picture card sets (one set for every 4 students)

Grouping

Students should be placed in cooperative learning groups of 4 to 5.

About the Lesson

Students will explore how objects stay the same size and only "look" like they change when closer are farther from the object. They will sequence aerial photos and satellite images from closest to farthest. Then they will draw 4 pictures of an object from closest to farthest.

Engage

1. Ask: What are some objects that are small? Make a list on the blackboard of the students’ responses. Ask: What are some objects that are big?
2. Set a familiar object (such as a soda can) in the front of the classroom. Ask the students how big is this soda can. (they may say a measurement in inches or cm, they may compare to another object they know like the size of a lunch box, or they may hold up their hands illustrating the size of the can) Accept any responses.
3. Take another soda can and walk around the classroom showing the object up close to the students. Ask them again how big they think the object is? Is it a different size than the one in front of the classroom, the one farther away? Why?

Explore

Give each group of students a set of aerial photo sequence cards.

As Amelia traveled around the city, she would see places up close and far away. When she is high above the city, the buildings are far away. When she flies down and lands, the buildings are closer. Put the cards in order to show what Amelia sees as she flies closer to the buildings.

Give them time to explore the images then ask a few questions. Ask each group to hold up the photo of what Amelia would see when she was farthest from the building. Why? Ask them to hold up the photo of what Amelia would see when she was closest to the building. Why?

Explain

1. Discuss with the students why they chose a particular order for the sequence cards.
2. Guide them to identify the different shape patterns they can see in the pictures. Do the shapes that you can identify change as you move further away from the object?
3. What did the students use to help them decide on a sequence?
4. Draw the connection to the concept that objects stay the same size and that they only "look" different (bigger or smaller) when you are close to or far from an object.

Extend

Give each group a set of satellite image sequence cards

Extend the concept of being close or far from a place to a satellite view. Satellites give us a view of our Earth from very far above. Objects that are very big, like mountains or buildings, can "look" small in the images as you get farther away. When Amelia visited Central Park, she learned about what the park looked like from a satellite. Put the cards in order from closest to the park to farthest from the park.

Discuss with the students why they chose a particular order for the sequence cards.

Guide them to identify the different shape patterns they can see in the pictures. Do the shapes that you can identify change as you move further away from the object?

What did the students use to help them decide on a sequence?

Draw the connection to the concept that objects stay the same size and that they only "look" different (bigger or smaller) when you are close to or far from an object.

Evaluate

Ask the students to draw four pictures of an object. This first one closest to the object. Then draw pictures getting farther away from the object. Use student page for drawings.

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