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Extensions: This activity can connect Science to LA using a writing prompt. Adaptations:  Gifted students can write a short essay on how an animal can use a tool to solve a problem.  Teacher would allow time for research (tool-using animals at PBS.org).  ESL & Special Ed students can draw a picture of an animal using a tool to solve a problem.  Teacher would pair up students for the research phase.

Extensions: This activity connects Natural Science with English (LA).   Students read books about recycling, reusing and reducing waste.   They also read about birdhouses. Finally, they write an essay on how the house is earth friendly. Adaptations: Gifted students can make their own birdhouse and document type of bird and habitat it is designed for.  ESL and Special Ed students can work in small groups or pairs to design birdhouse and do research/reading together. 

5.4.1 Investigate technologies that mimic human or animal musculoskeletal systems in order to meet a need.5.4.2 Investigate the purpose of prototypes and models when designing a solution to a problem and how limitations in cost and design features might affect their construction.5.4.3 Design solutions to problems in the context of musculoskeletal body systems. Using suitable tools, techniques and materials, draw or build a prototype or model of a proposed design. Differentiation: For ELL and special education students; Create the model hand with the class as they create it.  Go step by step and do the process with them so they can watch you and hear the directions you are giving.

5.4.2 Investigate the purpose of prototypes and models when designing a solution to a problem and how limitations in cost and design features might affect their construction. Differentiation: For special needs students to practice their life skills, give them a Wal-Mart or grocery store add and help them look up the price of one roll of aluminum foil.  Then, help them look up the price of a newspaper.  Assist students in deciding which material was more cost effective, and which material worked the best.  Take a vote on which you would use.

4.OA.4 "Find all factor pairs for a whole number in the range 1-100. Recognize that a whole number is a multiple of each of its factors. Determine whether a given whole number in the range 1-100 is a multiple of a given one-digit number. Determine whether a given whole number in the range 1-100 is prime or composite." This activity could be used for gifted students by providing a bigger number chart. It could also be used for ELL students by providing a smaller number chart (ex: a 50 chart). This activity could be used for younger ages by having the students identify different types of numbers. For example, the students could be searching for even numbers or odd numbers, rather than prime or composite numbers.

Extensions: Science connects with a historical figure: Isaac Newton.  Teacher can give background on him prior to experiment or allow students time to research via book or internet this important historical figure. Adaptations Gifted students can choose one of Newton's laws and give a presentation on it after researching the topic.  ESL & Special Ed students can illustrate one of Newton's Laws on poster board or foam core.

I really, really liked this idea, and actually thought it would be fun to save for a goat to send to Haiti (Beatrice's Goat) as part of our Kindness and Justice challenge.

This would be a wonderful connection to literature and a service learning project. Are you familiar with the counting rice website where the students calculate math problems while earning rice for people living in third world countries?

This game can be differentiated by grouping students (7 cards, six cards, five cards) and they can earn a certificate when they demonstrate they are ready to move up to a new group.  This is a great way to reinforce skills and also assess students' progress.

Game can be modified to include rounding to the nearest ten, hundred, etc.

For differentiated learning, have sections of students competing.  Some could compete at the seven card level, others at six, and others at five.  As they "pass" each level, they earn a certificate entitling them to compete at the next level.  Great way to improve skills and assess progress!

Sticky Note: This would be a great addition to a math lesson on measurement as a good follow-up to a lesson involving the gallon guy because it requires many types of measurement.

This project would also be excellent for creating a sense of community in the classroom as everyone would be working together toward a common goal (acceptance of their project by NASA_.   ELL differentiation:  I would probably find a different project to accommodate ELL's as this project is very intense, and requires a strong command of language (in order to follow instructions.)  It is possible to create a book of picture instructions for the project or give them a smaller, yet still important role in the class for this particular assignment.

4.NF.1  Explain why a fraction a/b is equivalent to a fraction (nxa) (nxb) by using visual fraction models, with attention to how the number and size of the parts differ even though the two fractions themselves are the same size. Differentiation: For gifted students, the problems on the board can be changed to best suit the child's abilities.

4.3.3 Design investigations to explore how organisms meet some of their needs by responding to stimuli from their environments.4.3.4 Describe a way that a given plant or animal might adapt to a change arising from a human or non-human impact on its environment. Differentiation: Have ELL students record their biome's progress and changes using a picture graph.

6.4.2. "Construct a simple device that uses potential or kinetic energy to perform work"

This is a great activity that takes this standard to a whole new level- using the body to make a model of a machine.  Once the students have completed the activity, I would challenge them to think of what we use in our every day life that is made out of machines like the "marshmallow-smashing machine." Sixth grade students will love coming up with silly noises and motions- awesome learning tool/visual for kinesthetic students!

1.NBT.4 "Add within 100, including adding a two-digit number and a one-digit number, and adding a two-digit number and a multiple of 10, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method and explain the reasoning used. Understand that in adding two-digit numbers, one adds tens and tens, ones and ones; and sometimes it is necessary to compose a ten." This activity can be modified for gifted students by adding the number of die used. Try using two or more die as a challenge! The final score can be adjusted as well. This may be beneficial for ELL students. Instead of using 30 as the score to try to reach, try using 20. In the same way, the final score can be raised for gifted students. This activity can be used for older ages by multiplying the numbers, rather than adding them.

5.1.3 "Demonstrate that regardless of how parts of an object are assembled the weight of the whole object is identical to the sum of the weight of the parts; however, the volume can differ from the sum of the volumes."

Extension: Incorporate social studies and language arts- The Cartesian diver is named after Rene Descartes, a French philosopher and physicist. Students can do a research report on scientists that have made significant contributions to the world of science throughout history.

Sticky Note: This would be great to add for ELL students as a preview for a unit on weather so they have a good foundation of the vocabulary needed to understand the upcoming unit.

Nature of Science Standard: Make predictions and formulate testable questions; plan and carry out investigations-often over a period of several lessons-as a class, in small groups or independently; perform investigations using appropriate tools and technologies that will extend the senses; use measurement skills and apply appropriate units when collecting data; test predictions with multiple trials; keep accurate records in a notebook during investigations and communicate findings to others using graphs, charts, maps and models through oral and written reports; compare the results of an investigation with the prediction. This activity can be modified for ELL students by allowing those students to be the recorder for the group. This will allow those students to participate, without having the pressure of attempting to measure and use words they may not be comfortable with yet. Allowing these students to be the recorder keeps them involved with the group, while also allowing them to practice the English words for the numbers being recorded. This activity can also be used for younger ages by shortening the activity to throwing the ball five times, rather than ten. The act of throwing the ball make take longer for these students, as well as measuring an angle.

While this activity does not cover a specific standard it does meet the requirement of teaching the design process.  Make sure that students must design, test, and revise their design to make the activity authentic.  A race would be a great final activity.  Assessment could come from an oral presentation on what they did and why or a visual presentation, such as a poster.

SC.2.3.7 2000Investigate and observe that the way to change how something is moving is to give it a push or a pull.

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