Unit Topic: Proof Dinosaurs Existed

Grade level: 2nd

Stage 1 Desired Results

Content Standard/Established Goals(s):
Next Generation Science Standards:
LS4.A: Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity
ESS1.C: The history of planet earth
ESS2.A: Earths Systems
PA Common Core Standards in Mathematics
CC.2.3.2.A.1 Analyze and draw two- and three-dimensional shapes having
specified attributes
CC.2.4.2.A.1 Measure and estimate lengths in standard units using appropriate
tools.
CC.2.4.2.A.4 Represent and interpret data using line plots, picture graphs, and bar
graphs.
PA Common Core Standards in English Language Arts:
CC.1.1.2.EReadwithaccuracyandfluencytosupportcomprehension
CC.1.2.2.BAskandanswerquestionssuchaswho,what,where,when,why,and
howtodemonstrateunderstandingofkeydetailsinatext.
CC.1.2.2.EUsevarioustextfeaturesandsearchtoolstolocatekeyfactsor
informationinatextefficiently.
CC.1.2.2.GExplainhowgraphicrepresentationscontributetoandclarifyatext.
CC.1.2.2.LReadandcomprehendliterarynonfictionandinformationaltexton
gradelevel,readingindependentlyandproficiently
CC.1.4.2.AWriteinformative/explanatorytextstoexamineatopicandconvey
ideasandinformationclearly.
CC.1.4.2.VParticipateinindividualorsharedresearchandwritingprojects.
CC.1.4.2.WRecallinformationfromexperiencesorgatherinformationfrom
providedsourcestoansweraquestion.
CC.1.5.2.AParticipateincollaborativeconversationswithpeersandadultsin
smallandlargergroups.
Understanding(s)
Students will understand that:
There are 4 layers of the earth: inner
core, outer core, mantle and crust.
There are 3 types of rocks found in the
earths crust: sedimentary, igneous,
metamorphic

Essential Question(s):
How do we know dinosaurs existed?
What does it mean to be an expert?
How does the earth change over time?

Paleontologistsareexpertsathelpingus
understanddinosaurs.
Thelayersofearthcontainevidenceof
dinosaursexistence.
Fossils help paleontologists determine
essential information about dinosaurs.
The earth has changed over time.
Students will know
How to use evidence to support their
scientific and literacy findings.
how to act as an expert in order to pass
on key details to peers
how to use collected information to
classify a fossil

Students will be able to

Find key details in non-fiction texts
Generate who, what, when, where, why
and how questions based on the texts
Classify rocks
Determine evidence for the existence of
dinosaurs
Share their expertise on a specific layer
of earth, rock or dinosaur with their peers
Determine the age and characteristics
of a dinosaur based on its fossil
Collect data using their knowledge of
the layers of earth and rocks and
minerals in order to classify and identify
a mystery dinosaur.

Stage 2 Assessment Evidence

Performance Task(s):
Other Evidence:
Acting as experts in order to teach
Graphic organizers, hand signals, What
other students about their findings
lingering questions do students have at
Excavation of their own dinosaur
the end of this unit?
evidence to create their own paleontology
field notes.
Performances will be judged by students
integration of evidence for their findings.
Student will be evaluated on how they
support their expertise with data, nonfiction texts or visual aides.
Stage 3 Learning Plan
Learning Activity
Objectives/Goals
Formative Assessment
Mystery piece/ scoot
activity

Students will be able to

uncover the topic of their
learning expedition using
their schema and

Discussion, expedition
proposal in idea web
format (students will fill
out the exterior parts of

B
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inference skills.
Know, Wonder, Learn
Chart

Students will create a

scientific drawing of the
layers of earth.
Using common text to
find out which layer of
the earths crust they are
responsible for.
System Model of
fossilization over time

Graphic organizer and

engaging with system
model.
Final expert text

Revising KWL chart.

SWBAT ask who, what,

why, where and how
questions based on
discoveries.
SWBAT identify the
layers of earth

the web and try to

determine the interior)
Students questions
Expert group data
collection

SWBAT identify what

composes the earths
crust.

Expert group
presentation
(Students will be able to
choose specific jobs in
their expert group to
allow for differentiation)
SWBAT identify where
Student participation in
and how fossils are made. creating model.
Understanding of why
SWBAT measure the
the system model works
proportionate parts of
the way it does.
their system model in cm.
SWBAT mimic
Students responses to
paleontologists data
academic prompts in the
collection
graphic organizer,
closure discussions.
Students will be able to
use their findings to
compose their own
expert text about their
dinosaur.
Students will be able to
revise their thinking and
edit their KWL chart.

Written and visual

representations of their
findings.
Lingering questions, how
students edit their KWL
chart