Science Resources

Kaylie ChongITE 323 (Fulton)

Background Information

Grade level Grade 1

Topic Unity and Diversity

Standard (HCPSIII) Benchmark SC.1.5.2Describe the physical characteristics of living things

that enablethem to live in their environment

Focus Animals & Plants

OverviewLesson Resources 1. Animal Diversity2. Designer Animal3. Needs of Plants & Animals

Children’s Literature 4. Who Lives Here? Wetland

Animals5. Plant Adaptations6. What If You Had Animal

Hair!?7. The Giraffe Who Was

Afraid of Heights8. The Magic School Bus

Gets All Dried Up9. The Mixed-Up Chameleon

Internet Resources10. Interactive Web Lessons11. Adaptation Video12. Adaptation Encyclopedic

Entry

Lesson Resources

Reference Sciencenetlinks.com,. (2015). Animal Diversity

- Science NetLinks. Retrieved 24 September 2015, from http://sciencenetlinks.com/lessons/animal-diversity/

Summary & Narrative In this lesson students are given an artifact to

explore which can be a plant or animal and note their observations about the artifact. Then, students view a slideshow of a collection of images of plants and animals and discuss how these animals are alike or different. Finally, we explore how these animals survive in their environment.

I would modify this lesson to meet the needs of all students by first modeling how to objectively observe an image or artifact. This lesson supports inquiry because the students are asked to engage in using their observational skills, forming hypotheses, and interpreting data into evidence of how the animals and plants are alike, different, and how they survive in their environment. Through this lesson, students will understand the characteristics of plants and animals that enable them to live in their environments, which is what my standard warrants.

Animal Diversity

Designer Animal

Reference Kerr, R. (2015). This lesson plan looks at

Animals and their Adaptations to the environment. Lessonplanspage.com. Retrieved 24 September 2015, from http://lessonplanspage.com/ScienceAnimalAdaptations58.htm/

Summary & Narrative In this lesson students will explore the unique

features of animals that aid them in adapting to their environment. Then, students will choose from a variety of environments and design an animal that has the features required to survive in that habitat.

This lesson fosters inquiry as the students have to use creativity and critical thinking skills to develop their animal based on the chosen habitat. It addresses my standard because it specifically focuses on the physical characteristics that enable animals to live in their environment. Although the lesson is targeted for upper elementary grades, I would modify it by first modeling several examples for the students as we design an animal together as a whole group for a given habitat before the students work independently.

Needs of Plants and Animals

Reference Needs of Plants and Animals. (2015) (1st ed.).

Summary & Narrative This unit plan is a wealth of information on

animal life. It specifically includes a section on environments and habitats, as well as animals and their unique features. There is a plethora of images, interactive games, mentor texts, and vocabulary that support the overall theme.

In this lesson, I will have students engage in inquiry as they observe the images and develop questions and a hypothesis about the animal features. This lesson addresses my standard by involving the students in an experience in which they have to contemplate how the animals’ features allow them to survive in their environment. Students will have opportunities to use the vocabulary offered in this resource throughout the unit to enhance their understanding.

Children’s Literature

Author Deborah HodgeIllustrator Pat StephensReference Hodge, D., & Stephens, P. (2008).

Wetland animals. Toronto: Kids Can Press.

Summary & Narrative Who Lives Here? Wetland Animals is a nonfiction

book written for grades K-2. This book is part of the Who Lives Here? series which informs readers about animals in their natural habitats. The Wetland Animals book specifically looks at animals born to live in or near the water.

I chose this book because it addresses my standard by describing the physical characteristics that help various animals survive in the wetlands. This book is rich with detailed, lifelike illustrations and information arranged in a way that makes it easy to read and understand for the targeted age group. I envision reading this book to the students, having them use it as a reference during the activity, and/or having them use it to engage in pair reading. The book’s visuals allow students to link facts to their corresponding picture, so if they aren’t able to read all the words the visuals are there to guide and remind them.

Who Lives Here? Wetland Animals

Author Julie K. LundgrenScience Content Editor Kristi

LewReference Lundgren, J. (2012). Plant

adaptations. Vero Beach, FL: Rourke Pub.

Summary & Narrative Plant Adaptations is a nonfiction book

written for lower elementary students. This book discusses how plants adapt to where they live.

I chose this book because it addresses my standard by including pictures and facts that talk about the physical characteristics of certain plants and how that enables them to live in their environments. The words and organization of this book is simple enough for lower elementary students (around first grade) to read by themselves or with partners. There is an implementation plan in this book that offers suggestions on how to engage the students in interacting in the content. Using the book’s suggestions, I would read the book to students, have them read it on their own, stop to ask questions, reflect, and discuss the content.

Plant Adaptations

Author Sandra MarkleIllustrator Howard McWilliamReference Markle, S., & McWilliam, H. (2014).

What if you had animal hair!?. Scholastic, Inc.

Summary & Narrative What If You Had Animal Hair!? is a nonfiction

book written for grades K-3. This book is part of the What If You Had Animal… series which talks about different animal parts (e.g. teeth, hair, ears, etc.) and their function. The Hair book specifically looks at a variety of animals and how their hair/fur helps them survive in their environment.

I chose this book because it puts a fun and interesting spin on learning about animal hair. This book also addresses my standard because it directly talks about physical characteristics (in this case, hair) of animals and how it enables them to live in their habitat. First graders will enjoy this book for it’s playful and funny nature and teachers will enjoy this book for it’s informative and understandable nature. I would read this book aloud to students and probably put it in their classroom library so they can review their knowledge.

What If You Had Animal Hair!?

Author David A. UferIllustrator Kristen CarlsonReference Ufer, D., & Carlson, K. (2006). The

giraffe who was afraid of heights. Mt. Pleasant, S.C.: Sylvan Dell Pub.

Summary & Narrative The Giraffe Who Was Afraid of Heights is a fiction

book written for grades Pre-K and up. This book is about three animals who work to overcome fears that prevent them from doing what is natural or expected of their species. Included in the book are fun facts, animal adaptation information, and interactive activities.

I chose this book because it offers a unique perspective on the different behaviors of three animals and how they react to their environment. The standard I am addressing includes how animals adapt to their environment, which is something this book offers. I can see this book as being a introduction to the concept of animal adaptation because it’s fun and promotes analytical thinking about how different kinds of animals interact with their environment.

The Giraffe Who Was Afraid of Heights

Author Joanna ColeIllustrator Bruce DegenReference Weyn, S., Stevenson, N., & Cole, J.

(1996). Scholastic The magic school bus gets all dried up. New York, NY: Scholastic.

Summary & Narrative The Magic School Bus Gets All Dried Up is a fiction

book written for Pre-K to Grade 3. This book is part of The Magic School Bus series which is a collection of educational, interactive books and videos based on a wide variety of subject matter and content areas. The Gets All Dried Up book specifically looks at how plants and animals survive in the desert.

I chose this book because it is informative and part of a familiar series to the students. This book also addresses my standard because it discusses animal and plant adaptations to a particular environment, the desert. This book would be an extension of the unit on habitats (including deserts) students will be engaged in, which flows seamlessly into my lesson on plant and animal adaptations.

The Magic School BusGets All Dried Up

Author Eric CarleIllustrator Eric CarleReference Carle, E. (1984). The mixed-up

chameleon. New York: HarperCollins.

Summary & Narrative The Mixed-Up Chameleon is a fiction book

written for grades Pre-K to Grade 3. This book was created by a well-known children’s author and is about a chameleon who desires to take-on the physical characteristics of other animals but after doing so he realizes he was happier being himself.

I chose this book because it talks about how animals have physical features that they need to live. This book shows my students that each animal is designed uniquely to fit their particular needs and to survive within their environment. As an add-on to this lesson we could have grand discussions about self-worth, celebrating diversity, and valuing the uniqueness of others.

The Mixed-Up Chameleon

Internet Resources

Interactive Web Lessons

Reference Honoluluzoo.org,. (2015). Web Lessons -

Honolulu Zoo. Retrieved 24 September 2015, from http://www.honoluluzoo.org/education-programs/web-lessons.html

Summary & Narrative This collection of interactive web lessons is

offered by the Honolulu Zoo Society. It contains a variety of links to lesson ideas focused on animals, interdependence, biomes, and adaptations. It even includes some links based on animals here in Hawaii.

This resource lines up with my standard perfectly because it gives students access to information, online activities, and review opportunities about animals and their adaptations. I would specifically choose the links regarding the Hawaiian wildlife being that that is relevant to my students. This is inquiry-based because it offers students choices in pursuing animals and habitats that they are curious about.

Adaptation Video

Reference Adaptation. (2010). New Hampshire Public

Television.

Summary & Narrative This student-friendly video follows two

Naturalists on their journey to discover how plants and animals adapt to their environments, more specifically how the opossum and beaver adapt.

This gives a multimedia representation of my standard, which is based on plant and animal adaptations. I would show this video to my students as an introduction to the lesson to enhance connections to real life experiences. After watching the video, students could engage in inquiry as they generate how other animals (not mentioned in the video) can adapt to their environment.

Adaptation Encyclopedic Entry

Reference Society, N. (2010). adaptation. National

Geographic Education. Retrieved 24 September 2015, from http://education.nationalgeographic.com/encyclopedia/adaptation/

Summary & Narrative This resource provides in depth data

about all of the different kinds of adaptations of a variety of animals. It also includes visual images of the specific animals covered.

This resource provides me, as a teacher, with the background knowledge required to explain to my students how each animal has unique adaptations to aid them in living within their habitat. I can show the images to my students to provide multiple means of representation. It is aligned with my standard on animal adaptations. It supports inquiry because as I start by showing the students the images they can begin to brainstorm questions about what specific features of each animal help it to survive in it’s environment.

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