We make structures, institutions, rules, ideas, and works of art. People construct one of the defining characteristics of humanity is that we make. Unit 2 Intro | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 Looking ahead, the concepts that children develop about animals and their habitats during this unit will come into play again in Our Earth, when the scope widens to consider people as stewards of the earth. In Animals and Habitats, this natural curiosity opens a door to deep learning about animals both familiar and unfamiliar to kindergarteners. Building off the previous unit, Our Community, children continue to explore concepts of living in a community, working with Beautiful Stuff, and Storytelling/Story Acting. They might have pets at home or see animals in their communities – a dog out for a walk, a squirrel in a tree, or ants on the sidewalk. They tell and enjoy stories filled with animal characters and are curious to learn information about animals as well. Kindergarteners are naturally drawn to learning about animals. Home Links (previous version, still under revision) Unit 1 intro | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 When children are part of a strong community, they are better poised to confront challenges that they will encounter in school and beyond. In this first unit of study, Our Community, the goal is for children and teachers to build relationships and form the foundation for a strong, interdependent community of learners, developing shared dispositions, language, and habits that will grow throughout the year. A supportive learning community creates things together, gives each other feedback on their work, and raises and solves problems as a group. If that group becomes a community that cares about each other and supports each other emotionally as well as intellectually, the school experience is a more positive one for children. For many children, the kindergarten year is their first experience of being in a group beyond their family.