• Describe the life cycles of living organisms 
• Identify animal structures that serve different functions (such as sensory, defense, and locomotion) 
• Recognize and distinguish similarities and differences among diverse species
• Recognize that a single object has different attributes (such as length, color, size, and texture) that can be measured in different ways 
• Develop an understanding of number meanings and relationships
• Organize data using graphs (such as pictographs and tally charts), tables, and journals

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Curriculum Focal Points and Connections
As of 2006, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) released math curriculum focal points to describe an approach to curriculum development. The approach focuses on areas of emphasis in each grade from prekindergarten through grade 8.  (Curriculum Focal Points for PreKindergarten through Grade 8 Mathematics*)

This Unit Plan meets the following curriculum focal points and connections:
Focal Points

• Kindergarten: Measurement: Ordering objects by measurable attributes
• Grade 1: Number and Operations: Developing an understanding of whole number relationships, including grouping in tens and ones
• Grade 2: Measurement: Developing an understanding of linear measurement and facility in measuring lengths

Connections

• Kindergarten: Data Analysis: Collect data and use counting; sort objects by attributes to solve problems
• Grade 1: Measurement and Data Analysis: Strengthen sense of number by solving problems involving measurements and data
• Grade 2: Geometry and Measurement: Estimate, measure, and compute lengths in solving problems involving data, space, and movement through space

• Use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity  
• Use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, prepare publications, and produce other creative works  
• Use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources  
• Use technology tools to process data and report results

• Describe a bear’s physical characteristics  
• Compare the sizes of different types of bears and humans  
• Compare the basic needs of one bear species (habitat, diet, and so forth) to humans  
• Use a spreadsheet or graphing software to display measurements of bears and humans by collecting, sorting, and displaying data
• Synthesize information into a brochure

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