Group items tagged

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 activity addresses the third grade Physical Science standards 3.1.1, 3.1.2, and 3.1.3.  It meets the core standard of Observe and describe how sound is produced by vibrations. I like this activity because it allows students to choose where their journey will take them.  Internet access is a requirement.  I do not think this activity would be as dynamic if it were adapted to be just a listening activity.   ELL's could use the internet to "travel" and investigate sound in their native language.  High ability learners could create an atlas to go with their journals.

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.

Using household items such as a shoebox, plastic wrap, potting soil, and an old sock, students can grow their own plants! Students will tae care of their plants and chart the plant's progress and changes. They will also analyze their plant's structures and compare their common structures with other plants while discussing their purpose.

K.3.3 Describe and compare living plants in terms of growth, parts, shape, size, color and texture. K.3.1 Observe and draw physical features of common plants and animals.

In this activity, students will create a telephone using paper cups and string.  Students will use their telephones to observe how sound and vibrations travel through air.

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.

Students can grow narcissus bulbs in the classroom, or at home! The students can then make observations or draw pictures about how the flower looks each day. Draw conclusions once the flowers are fully bloomed about how they grew!

In this activity, students will make a mini biome in the bottom of a one liter bottle.  Students will be able to plant a seed and give it certain nutrients to watch it grow, adapt, and change to its environment. 

state standard: 1.3.2 Great way to keep kids interested over a long period of time. The kids are excited to see what their biome is doing/ how things are frowing. You can explain that everything the plant needs to grow is in the biome. A enrichment idea off this activity would be to try and simulate the different conditions in each biome to an enviornment that is in our world (desert vs rainforest) and see how that affects each biome.

Identify the digits students will use by handing demo digit cards to selected students (e.g. 3, 5, 8). Students at desks should take these same digits from their card decks. Give directions for students to form a number to meet specific criteria. Students in front rearrange themselves to build a number. Students at desks arrange digit cards to build a number to satisfy the conditions. Build the largest number you can. Build the smallest number you can. Build a number less than 800. Build a number greater than 800. Build a number that is between 300 and 500. Build a different number that is between 300 and 500. Repeat with different digits and different directions. 2.NBT.3 Read and write numbers to 1000 using base-ten numerals, number names, and expanded form. Sticky Note: This could be enriched by having students call out directions and do as group table activities as a review game before a test

CCS: 4.OA.3 This is a fun way for the kids to practice multiplication facts. This game can be changed for some of the struggling students by having one dice remain constant (one die is always a 3, work on multiplication facts with the number 3).

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.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 would be great to have as a station with other similar games to use as a review day before a math test.

3.DP.4: Select a solution to the need or problem. I would use only part of this activity (The Problem) and give students a list of pollutions they could choose to do their project on. Sticky Note: This would be a great end of unit project as an assessment to see whether students have understood different parts of pollution. Could be useful to make groups inclusive including ELL) and give job titles to ensure that all students would learn and feel comfortable in their groups.

This activity has the ability to show students why and how the phases of the moon really work. Not a lot of prep time and materials needed.Great for students to see a model of what is happening during the phases of the moon.

Plant a Texture Garden! Create texture rubbings of outdoor objects where you live.  Make as many rubbings on as many squares as you can and watch your garden grow. Supplies: Crayons (all colors), glue stick, scissors, black vellum paper, and pre-cut 3" x 3" squares of white drawing paper.

From the DNR / State of Indiana, this website provides many links to educational programs offered by DNR and our State Forestries.  In particular, I like the free tree seedlings for Indiana third graders.  I could see this one "gift" developing into a unit on conservation of resources.  Specifically, standard 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.  We could discuss the lumber industry, and how it benefits human-kind.  Moving on from there, we can discuss how to replenish the supply.  

A fun way to work with 3-D shapes.

ok I started playing the sugar sugar game and couldn't stop! This would be a GREAT center game for teaching logical thinking and geometry!

Spell "geometry" correctly in your tag for this game so it will be easier to locate in the future. Thanks!