Cook / Wheeler 3rd Grade

Title Standards

Harrowing Habitats
STANDARD 3-2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the structures, characteristics, and adaptations of organisms that allow them to function and survive within their habitats. (Life Science). 3-2.1 Illustrate the life cycles of seed plants and various animals and summarize how they grow and are adapted to conditions within their habitats. 3-2.3 Recall the characteristics of an organism's habitat that allow the organism to survive there. 3-1.4 Predict the outcome of a simple investigation and compare the result with the prediction.

Project Idea

Students will explore various global ecosystems to see if animals are safe and protected in their natural habitats. They will apply their findings to South Carolina and determine any possible threats to our local wildlife. Students will then develop solutions to possible problems. Through multimedia experiences they will then relate their findings to pane of experts (students/teacher/parents).

Lessons:
Day 1 Monday 9-16-13 Objective: Students will recognize that through individual and cooperative ventures, they will need to work together to come up with solutions to problems presented through their Harrowing Habitats activities. Opening Activity: 1. Give students the following handouts and have them place them in their science section of their binder: Supplies Needed, Cooperative Group Checklist, Cooperative Group Contract, KWHLAQ Chart, Harrowing Habitats Daily Journal Log, Ecosystem Checklist, Self-Reflection on Learning, PowerPoint Rubric, Diorama Rubric, Research Note Cards 1 and 2. Materials Needed: 1. Teacher computer for United Streaming video 2. Pencil 3. KWH Charts 4. Notebook paper for video notes Entry Event 1. Open with a question: What do we know about Habitats of the World? 2. Students should fill out the KWH part of their KWHLAQ Charts 3. View United Streaming video, Elementary Adventures: Habitats of the World (http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm).

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4. Students will take simple notes on what they observe as they watch the video. Evaluation: Student participation / teacher observation Objective: Students will keep a journal documenting ideas and adjustments to project. Day 2 Wednesday Students will work in cooperative groups to develop a solution to the question posed by 9-18-13 the teacher (What kind of plan can you and your group come up with that will save the habitats of these endangered or threatened animals?). GOLD WED. Materials Needed: 1. Teacher computer for United Streaming video 2. Pencil 3. Notebook paper for video notes 4. Cooperative Group Contract 5. Harrowing Habitats Daily Journal Log

Entry Event 2. Watch the rest of Elementary Adventures: Habitats of the World 3. Students will finish taking simple notes on what they observe as they watch the video. 4. Discuss with the class the various ecosystems that are shown in the video including: animals, habitats, vegetation, and location of each ecosystem shown. Discuss with the class the environmental problems that are facing these animals and pose a challenge to students to develop a plan to save the habitats of these endangered or threatened animals. 5. Break students into groups 6. Have students fill out the following handouts that are in their science binders: Cooperative Group Checklist and Cooperative Group Contract 7. Students will use their journals to document ideas on their plans for saving habitats of endangered or threatened animals

Evaluation: Student participation / teacher observation Day 3 Friday 9-20-13 Objective: Students will use scientific instruments, technology, and everyday materials to investigate the natural world.

Materials Needed: 1. Student computers for group diorama (3d) project 2. Pencil 3. Ecosystem Checklist

Cook / Wheeler 3rd Grade

4. Harrowing Habitats Daily Journal Log Entry Event: 1. Students will use Google Earth to locate and examine features of various ecosystems on the Earth. 2. Students will fill out their Ecosystem Checklist as they work through Google Earth. Evaluation: Student participation / group participation / teacher observation Day 4 Monday 9-23-13 Objective: Students will use scientific instruments, technology, and everyday materials to investigate the natural world. Materials Needed: 1. Ecosystem Checklist 2. PBL Group Diorama Project 3. Pencil 4. Scratch Paper 5. Diorama Rubric Entry Event: 1. Explain to students that they will be creating a group diorama 2. Explain to students what a diorama is and show pictures (examples: https://www.google.com/search?q=diorama+&ie=utf-8&oe=utf8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a ) 3. Go over diorama rubric with students extensively. Have students highlight what you will be looking for upon their completed project 4. Teacher will give each group a designated Ecosystem (Sahara Desert, Great Barrier Reef, Temperate Forests, and Amazon Tropical Rainforest). 5. Students will create a list of supplies that they will need in order to create their diorama 6. Students will decide as group members who are bringing what material back to class for Wednesdays science lesson. Remind students that they are responsible for any materials needed (tape, glue, shoe box, etc.) Evaluation: Student participation / group participation / teacher observation Objective: Students will use models as representations of real things. Day 5 Wednesday Students will create dioramas as representations of ecosystems. 9-25-13 Materials Needed: 1. Ecosystem Checklist 2. PBL Group Diorama Project

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3. Materials brought in by students 4. Diorama Rubric Entry Event: 1. Students will use this science class to work on their diorama 2. Remind students to keep looking at their diorama rubric as they work on their project Evaluation: Student participation / group participation / teacher observation Day 6 Friday 9-27-13 Objective: Students will use models as representations of real things. Students will create dioramas as representations of ecosystems. Materials Needed: 1. Ecosystem Checklist 2. PBL Group Diorama Project 3. Materials brought in by students 4. Diorama Rubric Entry Event: 1. Students will use this science class to complete their diorama. 2. Remind students to keep looking at their diorama rubric as they work on their project. 3. Remind students that they will be sharing their dioramas in Mondays science lesson (Monday, September 30th). Each student should be prepared to talk about their diorama. 4. If a group is finished before class is over, they can begin working on their presentation. Evaluation: Student participation / group participation / teacher observation Day 7 Monday 9-30-13 Objective: Students will use models as representations of real things. Materials Needed: 1. Students need their completed dioramas Entry Event: 1. Students will share their diorama in groups 2. Observers will ask questions and will be engaged in presentations 3. Student will fill out Cooperative Group Checklist. If there is no time they can complete this during our next science lesson. 4. If time students will complete Self-Reflection on Learning handout. If there is no time they can complete this during our next science lesson. Day 8 Evaluation: Group dioramas and teacher observation Objective: Students will use multiple sources (dictionaries, encyclopedias, newspapers,

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Wednesday electronic resources) to research their assigned ecosystem/habitat and to find out what animals in their habitat are endangered or at risk. 10- 2-13 Materials Needed: 1. Power Point Rubric 2. Student computers 3. Research Note Cards 1 4. Research Note Cards 2 5. Notebook paper to take notes from research 6. Pencil to take notes from research Entry Event: 1. Go over the power point rubric with students extensively. A great site for them to find endangered species in SC http://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife.html 2. Assist students as they develop questions to guide their research on their Ecosystem 3. Instruct students to use all available resources to gather information 4. Upon completion of this lesson, students should have all 2 note cards filled out with questions/research information on their Ecosystem animal(s) that are endangered or at risk. *The main thing to remember is that students are researching different ecosystems to see if animals are safe and protected in their natural habitats. They will apply their findings to South Carolina and determine any possible threats to our local wildlife. Students will then develop solutions to possible problems. Evaluation: Student participation / group participation / teacher observation Day 9 Friday 10- 4-13 Objective: Students will use multiple sources (dictionaries, encyclopedias, newspapers, electronic resources) to research their assigned ecosystem/habitat and to find out what animals in their habitat are endangered or at risk. Materials Needed: 1. Power Point Rubric 2. Student computers 3. Research Note Cards 1 4. Research Note Cards 2 5. Notebook paper to take notes from research 6. Pencil to take notes from research Entry Event: 1. Go over the power point rubric with students extensively. A great site for them to find endangered species in SC http://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife.html 2. Assist students as they develop questions to guide their research on their Ecosystem 3. Instruct students to use all available resources to gather information 4. Upon completion of this lesson, students should have all 4 note cards filled out with questions/research information on their Ecosystem animal(s) that are endangered or at risk. *The main thing to remember is that students are researching different ecosystems

Cook / Wheeler 3rd Grade

to see if animals are safe and protected in their natural habitats. They will apply their findings to South Carolina and determine any possible threats to our local wildlife. Students will then develop solutions to possible problems.

Evaluation: Student participation / group participation / teacher observation Objective: Students will use multiple sources (dictionaries, encyclopedias, newspapers, Day 10 Wednesday electronic resources) to research their assigned ecosystem/habitat and to find out what animals in their habitat are endangered or at risk. 10-9-13 Materials Needed: 1. Power Point Rubric 2. Student computers 3. Research Note Cards 1 4. Research Note Cards 2 5. Notebook paper with researched notes Entry Event: 1. Students will begin to create their PowerPoints. A great site for them to find endangered species in SC http://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife.html 2. Assist students as they begin to put their power points together 3. Remind students to look at their PowerPoint rubrics *The main thing to remember is that students are researching different ecosystems to see if animals are safe and protected in their natural habitats. They will apply their findings to South Carolina and determine any possible threats to our local wildlife. Students will then develop solutions to possible problems.

Evaluation: Student participation / group participation / teacher observation Day 11 Friday 10-11-13

Objective: Students will use multiple sources (dictionaries, encyclopedias, newspapers, electronic resources) to research their assigned ecosystem/habitat and to find out what animals in their habitat are endangered or at risk. Materials Needed: 1. Power Point Rubric 2. Student computers 3. Research Note Cards 1 4. Research Note Cards 2 5. Notebook paper with researched notes Entry Event: 1. Students will continue to work on and complete their PowerPoints. A great site for them to find endangered species in SC http://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife.html 2. Assist students as they begin to put their power points together

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3. Remind students to look at their PowerPoint rubrics 4. Remind students that parents will be invited to come in and watch presentations *The main thing to remember is that students are researching different ecosystems to see if animals are safe and protected in their natural habitats. They will apply their findings to South Carolina and determine any possible threats to our local wildlife. Students will then develop solutions to possible problems.

Evaluation: Student participation / group participation / teacher observation Homework: Whatever does not get finished will be emailed to parents and students can complete at home for presentations next week. Objective: Students will use scientific instruments, technology, and everyday materials to investigate the natural world. Materials Needed: 1. Student PowerPoint Presentation Entry Event: 1. Students will share their PowerPoint 2. Observers will ask questions and will be engaged in presentations 3. If time students will complete Self-Reflection on Learning handout. If there is no time they can complete this during our next science lesson. Evaluation: PowerPoint Presentation and teacher observation Day 13 Tuesday 10-16-13

Day 12 Monday 10-14-13

Objective: Students will use scientific instruments, technology, and everyday materials to investigate the natural world. Materials Needed: 2. Student PowerPoint Presentation Entry Event: 4. Students will share their PowerPoint 5. Observers will ask questions and will be engaged in presentations 6. If time students will complete Self-Reflection on Learning handout. If there is no time they can complete this during our next science lesson. Evaluation: PowerPoint Presentation and teacher observation

Day 14 Monday 10-21-13

Objective: Students will use scientific instruments, technology, and everyday materials to investigate the natural world. Materials Needed: 3. Student PowerPoint Presentation Entry Event:

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7. Students will share their PowerPoint 8. Observers will ask questions and will be engaged in presentations 9. If time students will complete Self-Reflection on Learning handout. If there is no time they can complete this during our next science lesson. Evaluation: PowerPoint Presentation and teacher observation