Bridge12

For use with the Science Process standard, Prediction.  This hands on activity would be useful with ESL, and the cooperative learning style would also help with ESL,and also be easy to differentiate g/t kids by allowing them to make a video or podcast of the daily weather and thew news.  If grants can be written, this would be a good one to take a field trip to a local television station 

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.

1.3.4 "Describe how animals' habitats, including plants, meet their needs for food, water, shelter and an environment in which they can live."

Extension: This is a great way to open up conversation between the students and increase communication skills as they work together to determine what they need in their habitat in order for their living organisms to survive. This could also be a fun language arts cross-curricular activity- students could answer the question "What would your shoebox habitat look like?"

3.4.2 "Define the uses and types of simple machines and utilize simple machines in the solution to a ―real world problem."

Extension: Our water needs to be clean for so many reasons- not just taking a bath! Students could brainstorm in groups reasons why we need clean, filtered water (i.e. cooking, cleaning, etc.)  Extension: Social Studies- What an eye opening experience it could be for students to learn about third world countries and how lucky we are to not have to worry about having clean water to clean, cook, and bathe with.

6.4.1 "Understand how to apply potential or kinetic energy to power a simple device"

This activity could be differentiated for gifted students by challenging them to use materials they can find around the classroom other than those provided once they have determined how to successfully build the wheel and axle devices out of the provided materials.

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!

K.2.3 "Describe in words and pictures the changes in weather from month to month and season to season."  This activity can be adjusted for ELL students by allowing them to use only pictures for recording their observations. If the students are feeling somewhat comfortable with the new language, they can be paired with English speaking students to work together to spell and sound out words for their notebooks. This activity can be modified for older age groups by having the students make predictions about what is going to happen with the weather conditions. These students can also make predictions about why they think the seasons change.