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Count Down to Fall

Elementary

Description

The simple rhymes of this delightful book use fall leaves to teach children how to count backwards from ten to one.  Each colourful illustration includes pictures of the tree being described and features a wildlife species that depends on forest habitat.  Additional sections on plant science and leaf identification help enrich the learning of young readers as they gain new insight into the vital role of trees in our environment.

A teacher's guide to accompany this book can be downloaded for free.

General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

This book offers a crosscurricular theme and is supported by a free online teacher's guide that has some great Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies activities that are suitable for K-3 students.

The book also provides an interesting introduction to science units that explore plant structures and growth.  A year-long project could have students observe a nearby tree through the seasons by measuring leaf growth, colour and seed production.

This story might also be the basis of a class stewardship project in which students create a natural shaded area in the schoolyard with trees and shrubs.  The project could include letter writing to local nurseries to secure trees, working with older peer mentors to plant trees and promoting the value of forested areas in their community.

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    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Math
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Addition and subtraction with numbers to 10 can be modelled concretely, pictorially, and symbolically to develop computational fluency
        • Numbers to 20 represent quantities that can be decomposed into 10s and 1s.
        • Objects and shapes have attributes that can be described, measured, and compared.
      • Science
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        • Science 1: Living things have features and behaviours that help them survive in their environment
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Math
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Development of computational fluency in addition and subtraction with numbers to 100 requires an understanding of place value
        • Numbers to 100 represent quantities that can be decomposed into 10s and 1s
        • Objects and shapes have attributes that can be described, measured, and compare
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 2: Living things have life cycles adapted to their environment
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Math
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Development of computational fluency in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers requires flexible decomposing and composing
        • Standard unitsare used to describe, measure, and compare attributes of objects’ shapes
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 3: Living things are diverse, can be grouped, and interact in their ecosystems

Themes Addressed

Ecosystems (2)

  • Appreciating the Natural World
  • Biodiversity

Land Use & Natural Resources (1)

  • Forests