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Grade 1:
Organisms Unit
Overview
This unit is a Science
and Technology for Children (STC) kit developed by the National Science
Resources Center at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. In this
unit, first grade students explore the similarities and differences
between plants and animals. They plant and then, observe the development of
familiar seeds into various plants. Next, they create, maintain and compare
two distinct environments -- a Woodland Terrarium and a Freshwater Aquarium.
Lastly, they contrast themselves with the plants and animals they have
studied; they explore their own relationship to these organisms.
Building Successful Foundations in Science - Elementary science
integrates and organizes student scientific knowledge through a foundation
made up of 'Bricks" of Big Ideas connected with the "Mortar" of Unifying
Concepts. |
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Enduring Understandings
- important ideas that students should carry with them years beyond the
instruction received this year.
Enduring understandings are the unifying concepts that tie the learning to
past and future learning experiences.
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Interdependence: Living things interact with one another
and their environment for existence and balance.
(Life Science)
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Interdependence:
Plants
and animals form closely-knit systems that are independent.
(Life Science)
Essential Questions
- most important “big picture” questions students should be able to answer
after completing learning activities.
- How are plants
and animals alike? How are they different?
- What do living
organisms need to survive?
Standards
Highest
Frequency Standards
 High
Frequency Standards
 Other
Standards & E-skills
Standard 1: Students
understand the process of scientific investigation and design, conduct,
communicate about, and evaluate such investigations. (1.a.,
1.b.,1.c.,1.d.)
Standard 3: Students
know and understand the characteristics and structure of living things,
the processes of life, and how living things interact with each other
and their environment. (3.1.a, 3.1.b, 3.1.c., 3.1.d, 3.2.a., 3.3.c,.
,3.4.a, 3.4.b., 3.4.c.,
Standard 5: Students
know and understand relationships among science, technology, and human
activity and how they can affect the world. (5.a, 5.d.)
Other
E-Skills: Students are expected to:
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Observe and describe the characteristics of seeds
and plants.
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Plant seeds and observe and record their growth.
- Observe and describe the characteristics of a
variety of plants and animals in woodland and freshwater
environments.
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Record observations in words and drawings.
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Make comparisons among a variety of plants and
animals.
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Communicate ideas through writing and drawing,
and discussion.
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Read to enhance the understanding of the basic
needs of organisms and the diversity of life.
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Apply what they know about plants and animals to
what they know about themselves.
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Maintain plants and animals outside their natural
environments.
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