Group items tagged

5.3.1 Observe and classify common Indiana organisms as producers, consumers, decomposers, predator and prey based on their relationships and interactions with other organisms in their ecosystem. I would use parts A and C as descriptions of the project and disregard part B. Sticky Note: Grades 2-5 all have portions of Life Sciences devoted to ecosystems and this project could be easily manipulated to focus on different aspects of an ecosystem. I would give specific guidelines in some cases, especially for younger grades, but it would be great to allow older students to have time to brainstorm the kind of ecosystem they wanted to complete and allow them to go through the research process to create a good replica of that ecosystem.

K.OA.3 Decompose numbers less than or equal to 10 into pairs in more than one way (e.g., by using objects or drawings), and record each decomposition by a drawing or equation (e.g., 5 = 2 + 3 and 5 = 4 + 1). Sticky Note: This could easily be used for higher grade levels by changing the problems to harder equations in addition or subtraction, it would still probably only be useful for lower grades.

Children classify and sort objects found outdoors into a chart/graph on the sidewalk. This chart or graph can be written with sidewalk chalk. The categories can be predetermined by the teacher, or the students can come up with the categories.

K.1.1. Use all senses as appropriate to observe, sort and describe objects according to their composition and physical properties, such as size, color and shape. Explain these choices to others and generate questions about the objects. Sticky Note: I choose a kindergarten standard for this because it could be easily manipulated to fit this standard. They could be grouping these based on how high they bounce. It could also be used with higher grade levels with math and doing measuring, graphs and data (range, mean, median, mode, etc).

This is an excellent lesson that can be modified a number of ways.  I find that it fits well with Science and Technology Standards 2.4.1 and 2.4.2.   2.4.1:  Identify parts of the human body that can be used as tools. 2.4.2:  Identify technologies developed by humans to meet human needs.  Investigate the limitations of technologies and how they have improved quality of life. Students could identify how teeth can be considered a tool.  They could discuss the toothbrush (and its evolution to items like Sonicare.)  The experiments will help them understand the limitations of the toothbrush, and how their choices affect their teeth.

2.OA.2 Fluently add and subtract within 20 using mental strategies.2 By end of Grade 2, know from memory sums all of two one-digit numbers.

Adaption: SEE "MOON PHASES ACTIVITY-PHRASES FOR PHASES: A MOON TUNE. Extensions: You can extend this activity for 6th grade my having them creat a model of the moon and it's phases and demonstrating their understanding through a presentations. ( I would group them and have each person write about their part of the demonstration and that it what they present) You can extend it you younger grades by having them draw the phases of the moon and with parents (as homework) go outside at night and dermine which phase the moon is in and drawing a picture of that phase on the claendar. 5.2.4 Use a calendar to record observations of the shape of the moon and the rising and setting times over the course of a month. Based on the observations, describe patterns in the moon cycle. 5.2.1 Recognize that our earth is part of the solar system in which the sun, an average star, is the central and largest body. Observe that our solar system includes the sun, moon, seven other planets and their moons, and many other smaller objects like asteroids and comets.

5.DP.2-4: Brainstorm potential solutions. Document the design throughout the entire design process. Select a solution to the need or problem. Omit the scoring, extend the time frame so that each group gets 15 minutes to brainstorm their solution and 20 minutes to build/test their structure Sticky Note: This could be used for graphing if students had to test their structures multiple times, create a graph and find the average. Then could create a class graph of each group's averages. Could also be manipulated for younger students by changing the amount of materials.

2.DP.4-6: Select a solution to the need or problem. Select the materials to develop a solution. Create the solution. Do not use the scoring, just the activity. I would extend time frame to twenty minutes: 10 to brainstorm solutions and 10 to complete their structure Sticky Note: This would be easy to manipulate for younger students by changing it from a cantilever structure to creating the highest structure with a certain number of materials. It could also be manipulated for older students by changing the materials to less obvious choices.

Fun game to work on addition, but can also be changed to work on multiplication for other grade levels. 

3.2.6 Describe how the properties of earth materials make them useful to humans in different ways. Describe ways that humans have altered these resources to meet their needs for survival. Sticky Note: This would also be a great activity to attach to fractions because you have to be able to understand fractions to put the ingredients in the correct places. It could also be used in younger grades where groups are making one together or the class creates one together and discusses our responsibilities to keep the earth clean.

Students fill the empty boxes of a hopscotch game by continuing the number patterns given. The teacher can start by filling in the first four boxes, and asking the students to decide which numbers would come after the ones provided.

1.3.4 Describe how animals' habitats, including plants, meet their needs for food, water, shelter and an environment in which they can live. 1.3.5 Observe and describe ways in which animals and plants depend on one another for survival. 1.3.2 Observe organisms closely over a period of time in different habitats such as terrariums, aquariums, lawns and trees. Draw and write about observations. 1.4.3 Construct a simple shelter for an animal with natural and human-made materials.

Students gather dirt samples from different outdoor areas and fill a jar with their dirt samples. The teacher will add water until the jar is two-thirds full and the students will take turns shaking their jar for two minutes. Each group will allow the contents in their jar to settle for fifteen to thirty minutes. Have the students make observations about how the dirt settled. The heaviest pieces of soil will settle first. Have the students identify the different-sized particles.

Students place "juice ice" into baggies and observe the state of the ice at various points in the day. The students then compare the beginning state of the ice with the ending state of the ice. This is a great lesson on solids, liquids, and gasses!

This site doesn't provide specific activities; however, I would design earth science activities to assist kids in researching this park, and the surround area.  We would discuss how and why the area has these deposits, the history of the area, and how to go about finding diamonds and other cool rocks.   Extension activity:  Order bags of dirt from Crater of Diamonds park and have the kids sift through to find and identify various rocks and minerals.   Standards: 3.2.1:  Examine the physical properties of rock samples and sort them into categories based on size using simple tools such as sieves. 3.2.2:  Observe the detailed characteristics of rocks and minerals.  Identify rocks as being composed of different combinations of minerals. 3.2.3:  Classify and identify minerals by their physical properties of hardness, color, luster, and streak.  

This game will help students with strategy.

This is a spin off of the classic "Go Fish" game! Children take turns drawing cards and trying to come up with as many pairs of cards as they can that total 10. The winner is the player with the most pairs of cards.

Expressing money in different ways - 2nd Grade (dollar, quarters, dimes, nickels, pennies) Materials: bags of play money that have an equal amount for each student, paper, and pencils for each student book: Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday Objective: after reviewing the names of coins and bills and how much they are worth, grade 2 students will listen to a book read to them by their teacher and express the amount of money stated with their manipulative of play money and show different ways to express that amount of money.  (i.e. 10=10=5=25)

2.2.1 Construct and use tools to observe and measure weather phenomena like precipitation, changes in temperature, wind speed and direction. Sticky Note: This would also be a great activity to have after calendar in the morning of a younger class who has just discussed the weather to give kids a hands-on activity about weather.

I really like this variation of the demonstration I shared in class because it also includes the precipitation stage of the water cycle.