- pictures and photographs of a variety of cats
- category
- different
- same
MA Standards:
Speaking and Listening/SL.PK.MA.1: Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners during daily routines and play.
Language/L.PK.MA.5.a: Demonstrate understanding of concepts by sorting common objects into categories (e.g., sort objects by color, shape, or texture).
MA Draft STE Standards
Physical Sciences/Matter and Its Interactions: Structure and Properties of Matter/PS1.A: Describe, compare, sort and classify objects based on observable physical characteristics, uses, and whether it is manufactured as part of their classroom play and investigations of the natural and human-made world.
Life Sciences/From Molecules to Organisms/LS1/3.A: Describe/draw and compare the body parts of animals (including themselves) and plants they are investigating [System] and explain functions of some of the observable body parts. [Structure and Function]
Head Start Outcomes:
Logic & Reasoning/Problem Solving: Classifies, compares, and contrasts objects, events, and experiences.
Language Development/Receptive Language: Attends to language during conversation, songs, stories, or other learning experiences.
Language Development/Receptive Language: Comprehends increasingly complex and varied vocabulary.
PreK Learning Guidelines:
English Language Arts 2: Participate actively in discussions, listen to the ideas of others, and ask and answer relevant questions.
English Language Arts 5: Listen to and use formal and informal language.
Science and Technology 10: Observe and identify the characteristics and needs of living things: humans, animals, and plants.
Explore Together (indoors): Cats
© Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Early Education and Care (Jennifer Waddell photographer). All rights reserved.
Display various pictures and photographs of cats. Tell children you are going to help them make a list of how the cats are the same and different. Then explain that they will create a cat in Small Group time that has some of the features on the list.
Begin by asking children to name physical characteristics that are the same and different about members of their familiy, for example, skin color, number of legs, eye color, etc.
Then allow time for children to explore the pictures and encourage them to turn to a buddy and point out things they notice. Circulate and engage children as they discuss the pictures, ask questions such as:
- Can you name something all the cats have that is the same? (fur, legs, ears)
- I see you are making a color category. Can you find all the cats that are the same color? Can you find the color that most of these cats have?
Have children describe the cats using different categories, such as claws, paws, teeth, fur, black, white, etc. as they prepare to create their own cat picture from the various materials. Record their ideas.
Adaptation: For children who are struggling with the concepts of “same” and “different” you may want to talk first about how the cats are the same. Then on another day discuss the ways they are different.