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.

4.NS.5 Use measurement skills and apply appropriate units when collecting data. Sticky Note: This would be great to add to a fourth grade social studies unit to make a topo map of the state of Indiana which includes information pertinent to the Indiana social studies unit.

Core Standard: Provide evidence that heat and electricity are forms of energy. (4.1.1, 4.1.2) Core Standard: Design and assemble electric circuits that provide a means of transferring energy from one form or place to another. (4.1.3, 4.1.4, 4.1.5)

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.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.

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).

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.

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. 

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.

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.

In this activity, students play a game of war using multiplication facts. Each player flips over two cards, and says the math sentence for those two cards. For example, if one student flipped over a 4 and a 5, he or she would say, "4 x 5 = 20". Using a timer, the teacher can set a designated amount of time. When the time is up, each player counts their cards. The person with the most cards wins!

Review definition of prime numbers.  Pair students and have them experiment to "hunt" for prime numbers.

In this version of the classic card game, students gain a solid understanding of basic equivalents, while having so much fun they may not realize it's a math review.

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.

VERY cool Earth Science/Space crossover project.  Students can send in a rock from their area, and NASA will use a special tool (like the one on the Mars Exploration Rovers) to tell you what it's made of.  Students could compare rocks on Earth to the rocks found on Mars.   Class can view and print various rock pictures from this website and create their own rock book, differentiating by ability.  (could be categorized by color, composition, geographic location, etc.)  It can be expanded as needed.  Kindergarten example would be to create a journal entitled "My Rock Collection."  They would find pictures of rocks that are blue, red, yellow, green, purple, etc and categorize them.  

Students solve addition problems on flash cards and find the corresponding answer on their BINGO sheet. The first one to get a BINGO wins!

A pair of students work together for this symmetry activity. The students sit across from one another, with playing cards dealt for each student. A ruler or other dividing line separates one student's side from the other. One player starts as the leader, and places one of their cards down on the table. The player on the other side of the line follows the leader in an attempt to match the first player's moves perfectly on their side of the divider.

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!