Welcome to the ActivitiesMcGraw-Hill Science Newsroom Primary Editioncomplements the McGraw-Hill Science 2000 textbookseries by offering one interactive activity for each textbook unit.

Each of the activities includes an exploration section thatallows children to discover science-based processes at their own pace and an application section that presents an activity based on the exploration section. Children willneed about 15 minutes to complete each activity.

The Grade 1 activities are:

Life of a Tree Parts Puzzle

Constellations Don’t Be Dinner

Balancing Act Skeleton Key

The following information is also provided for each activity:

Objectives defines the topic children will investigate andexplains how children can apply their knowledge toanother task.

Background Builder consists of words, concepts, anddefinitions that you can share with the class before theybegin an activity.

Hints and Suggestions offers activity-specific notes thatmay help children successfully complete an activity.

After supplies a supplemental activity that reinforces whatchildren learned. The After activity may be a discussion-starter or a project-starter.

McGraw-Hill Science Newsroom Primary Edition • Grade 1 Activities

Fingernails and

toenails are

really

hardened

skin. They

protect

fingertips

and toes.

McGraw-Hill Science NewsroomTM

Grade 1 Activities

McGraw-Hill Science Newsroom Primary Edition • Grade 1 Activities

ObjectivesChildren will:

■ investigate the lifecycle of a tree

■ apply what theylearned toarrange the stagesof tree growth inthe correct order

■ complete anassessmentworksheet

Background BuilderReview the following information with children:

The life cycle of a tree begins with a seed. The seed growsinto a sprout, which becomes a small, new plant called aseedling. Then, the seedling grows into a young tree calleda sapling. As the tree grows older, it will produce seeds.From a seed, the life cycle of a tree begins again.

Hints and SuggestionsThe narration identifies the nine steps of a tree’s life cycle.

AfterExplain to children that different trees have different leaves.If possible, gather leaves and show them. Ask childrenduring which season leaves usually fall and during whichseason they usually reappear. Also, ask children to drawpictures of different leaves or give them a variety of precutleaf shapes to color. You may want to provide a key thatidentifies them. If possible, ask children to look for theseleaves and the type of tree each leaf is from.

Unit:A Tree,Topic 4

TLife of a TreeExploring How Trees Grow

Background BuilderReview the following information with children:

A constellation is a group of stars that traditionallyrepresents a character or an object in ancient mythology.There are about 90 widely recognized constellations.

Hints and SuggestionsIn the application section, children choose stars that belongto the constellation they clicked. Each time children choosecorrectly, a line connects the stars until children haveoutlined a constellation.

AfterExplain to children that stars are different colors. Eventhough most may appear to be white or silver, many have a bluish, reddish, yellowish, or greenish tint. Ask children todraw the night sky and to include stars of different colors.You may want children to choose a constellation to includein their drawings.

ObjectivesChildren will:

■ investigate how to recognizeconstellations by the arrangement of their stars

■ apply what theylearned to fill inthe stars of aconstellation

■ complete anassessmentworksheet

McGraw-Hill Science Newsroom Primary Edition • Grade 1 Activities

Unit:The Sky,Topic 6

ConstellationsExploring the Night Sky

ObjectivesChildren will:

■ investigate mass■ investigate the

relative mass ofobjects

■ apply what theylearned tobalance variousobjects

■ complete anassessmentworksheet

Background BuilderReview the following information with children:

Mass is a measure of how much matter something contains.

Matter is anything that has weight and takes up space.

Weight is a measure of how heavy something is.

Hints and SuggestionsThe relative weights supplied are approximations based on actual weights and have been adjusted for the activity.

AfterAsk children which piece of playground equipment remindsthem of a balance. Then, discuss what might happen if oneof them sat on one side of a seesaw and someone withgreater mass sat on the other side. What might happen ifsomeone with less mass sat on the other side? What mighthappen if someone with exactly the same mass sat on theother side? Suggest that children draw a picture to illustrateeach scenario.

McGraw-Hill Science Newsroom Primary Edition • Grade 1 Activities

Unit: Matter, MatterEverywhere, Topic 2

Balancing ActExploring Relative Weight

Background BuilderReview the following information with children:

A part is something less than a whole. A part is also apiece that helps make up something else.

A whole is something that has all its parts and is complete.

Hints and SuggestionsParts snap into place when they are close to another partwith which they fit.

AfterAsk children to name the parts that make them a whole.Children’s answers might include hands, feet, ears, and nose.Then, ask children what things they are a part of. Children’sanswers might include a family, the class, the school, and ateam or group.

ObjectivesChildren will:

■ investigate howall things aremade up of parts

■ investigate howparts can be puttogether andseparated

■ apply what theylearned to make awhole from parts

■ complete anassessmentworksheet

McGraw-Hill Science Newsroom Primary Edition • Grade 1 Activities

Unit: On the Move,Topic 4

Parts PuzzleExploring the Differences Between Parts and a Whole

McGraw-Hill Science Newsroom Primary Edition • Grade 1 Activities

ObjectivesChildren will:

■ investigate howcolor affects ananimal’s ability to hide

■ apply what theylearned to keep a frog from being eaten

■ complete anassessmentworksheet

Background BuilderReview the following information with children:

Camouflage is a disguise that hides something by making itlook like its surroundings. Camouflage helps animals hidefrom predators.

Hints and SuggestionsIn the application section, after a fish sees a frog, the froggradually disappears, and a new one takes its place.

AfterExplain to children that the penguin is a good example ofanimal camouflage. When a penguin is swimming, its blackback allows it to blend into the ocean when it is seen fromabove. The penguin’s white front allows it to blend into thesky when it is seen from beneath the surface of the water.What might the white on a penguin be mistaken for? Can youthink of any other animals that use camouflage?

Unit:A Pond,Topic 6

Don’t Be DinnerExploring Camouflage

McGraw-Hill Science Newsroom Primary Edition • Grade 1 Activities

Background BuilderReview the following information with children:

A skeleton is the framework that supports and protectsthe body of an animal. Birds, fish, and humans haveskeletons made of bones and cartilage.

Hints and SuggestionsIn the application section, six of the nine available pairs oftiles appear in each round.

AfterExplain to children that calcium helps bones and teethgrow and keeps nerves, muscles, and the heart healthy. Inwhat kinds of foods is calcium found? In what drink is calciumfound? After discussing the dairy group, ask children tomake posters that explain why it is important for people to eat and drink dairy products.

ObjectivesChildren will:

■ investigate bonesand how theylook in thehuman body

■ apply what theylearned tocomplete amatching game

■ complete anassessmentworksheet

Unit: Human Body:Being You, Topic 1

Skeleton KeyExploring Bones

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Homing pigeons can find

their way home after

they have been

released

hundreds

of miles

away.