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2.2.9: Investigate how the shape of the moon changes from day to day in a repeating cycle that lasts about a month. This activity can be adapted for gifted students by having them identify specific words that describe the phases of the moon they're observing. For example, under "Day 1," the student could write words such as "waxing," "waning," "full moon," or "new moon." This activity could also be used for younger age groups by having the students observe the moon for one week, rather than one month.

My only concern is that the students may think the moon actually does get "a bite" taken out of it and changes shape instead of realizing that it always remains circular, but it just appears to be different shapes based on the position of the moon in relation to the sun and the Earth. If you use this activity, be sure to make it perfectly clear that the moon is always round.

5.4.1 "Investigate technologies that mimic human or animal musculoskeletal systems in order to meet a need." This activity can be adapted for ELL students by allowing those students to draw pictures of their design, rather than write a paragraph or make a chart. If the students are able, they can label the parts of their picture, using the English words they know. This activity can also be adjusted for younger grades by allowing them more than one science class time to work on the project. This may be an activity that can span a few days. The activity can then be broken down into sections. The students could use one class time to ask their questions within their group, and plan what they want their product to look like. The actual design and implementation of their product can be put into place on a separate class day.

SC.1.1.2 2000Investigate and make observations to seek answers to questions about the world, such as "In what ways do animals move?"

Extensions: Connect Life Science with LA - Write predictions and observations in an Ant Observation Journal. Adaptations: ESL & Special Ed Students can draw pictures in their journal to show their knowledge.  A movie on the topic could be provided to extend knowledge after journals are complete to assess accuracy of predictions.  Gifted students can predict what the ants will need for their habitat/survival.

2.2.1 "Observe, describe and measure ways in which the properties of a sample of water (including volume) change or stay the same as the water is heated and cooled and then transformed into different states." This activity can be modified for ELL students by having them record drawings during each observation, rather than writing the words for their observations. This would be a great activity for drawing, because each state looks so much different than the others (solid, liquid, and gas). This activity can be adjusted for older grades by having the students do the same activity with predictions at the beginning of the experiment about what they believe will happen. These students could also make other predictions about other types of matter that would react in the same way the juice ice did. For further exploration, these students could then test their hypothesis regarding other objects and their state of matter.

3.1.2 "Investigate how the loudness and pitch of sound changes when the rate of vibrations changes." This activity can be used with ELL students by having them do the activity while saying a variety of words that they need to practice learning. These words could be said in Spanish and English, both. This is a great way to use this activity in a way that is meaningful for those students. This activity can also be used with older ages by having the students record their predictions about what will happen if they use a louder voice, or a deeper pitch with the sound. The students could then compare their results with other students in the class.

Make sure to emphasize the need to keep careful records as that is what makes this activity appropriate for teaching the Nature of Science.  This activity is excellent for showing children the value of records as it utilizes information from 50 years ago.  Discovering patterns and trends is also very appropriate in this area of study.  Creating a presentation of the information would offer a chance to incorporate different multiple intelligences.

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.