Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ScienceUnitPlan
JennaBetts,JennaDensmoreandShainaPeterPaul
St.ThomasUniversity
March2,2017
PartA:DetermineEnduringUnderstandings
NextGenerationScienceStandards(NGSS):
Grade2.InterdependentRelationshipsinEcosystems
PerformanceExpectations:studentswhodemonstrateunderstandingcan:
Planandconductaninvestigationtodetermineifplantsneedsunlightandwater
togrow.
ScienceandEngineeringPractices:
DevelopingandUsingModels
ModelinginK2buildsonpriorexperiencesandprogresses
toincludeusinganddevelopingmodels(i.e.,diagram,
drawing,physicalreplica,diorama,dramatization,or
storyboard)thatrepresentconcreteeventsordesign
solutions.
Developasimplemodelbasedonevidencetorepresenta
proposedobjectortool.(2LS22)
PlanningandCarryingOutInvestigations
Planningandcarryingoutinvestigationstoanswer
questionsortestsolutionstoproblemsinK2buildson
priorexperiencesandprogressestosimpleinvestigations,
basedonfairtests,whichprovidedatetosupport
explanationsordesignsolutions.
Planandconductaninvestigationcollaborativelyto
producedatatoserveasthebasisforevidencetoanswera
question.(2LS21)
Makeobservations(firsthandorfrommedia)tocollectdata
whichcanbeusedtomakecomparisons.(2LS41)
ScienceKnowledgeIsBasedonEmpiricalEvidence
Scientistslookforpatternsandorderwhenmaking
observationsabouttheworld.(2LS41)
DisciplinaryCoreIdeas
LS2.A:InterdependentRelationshipsinEcosystems
Plantsdependonwaterandlighttogrow.(2LS21)
CrosscuttingConcepts
CauseandEffect
Causeandeffectrelationshipsareroutinely
identifies,tested,andusedtoexplainchange.
(2LS21)
3
Grade3.InterdependentRelationshipsinEcosystems
3LS44:B iologicalEvolution:UnityandDiversity
Makeaclaimaboutthemeritofsolutiontoaproblemcausedwhenthe
environmentchangesandthetypesofplantsandanimalsthatlivetheremay
change
ScienceandEngineeringPractices:E ngaginginArgumentfromEvidence
Engaginginargumentfromevidencein35buildsonK2
experiencesandprogressestocritiquingthescientificexplanations
orsolutionsproposedbypeersbycitingrelevantevidenceabout
thenaturalanddesignedworld(s).
DisciplinaryCoreIdeas:L S2.C:EcosystemDynamics,Functioning,and
Resilience
Whentheenvironmentchangesinwaysthataffectaplaces
physicalcharacteristics,temperature,oravailabilityofresources,
someorganismssurviveandreproduce,othersmovetonew
locations,yetothersmoveintothetransformedenvironment,and
somedie.
CrosscuttingConcepts:S ystemsandSystemModels
Asystemcanbedescribedintermsofitscomponentsandtheir
interactions.
Grade3.InheritanceandVariationofTraits
3LS32:Heredity:InheritanceandVariationofTraits
Useevidencetosupporttheexplanationthattraitscanbeinfluencedbythe
environment
ScienceandEngineeringPractices:C onstructingExplanationsand
DesigningSolutions
Constructingexplanationsanddesigningsolutionsin35buildson
K2experiencesandprogressestotheuseofevidencein
constructingexplanationsthatspecifyvariablesthatdescribeand
predictphenomenaandindesigningmultiplesolutionstodesign
problems
DisciplinaryCoreIdeas:L S3.A:InheritanceofTraits
Othercharacteristicsresultfromindividualsinteractionswiththe
environment,whichcanrangefromdiettolearning.Many
characteristicsinvolvebothinheritanceandenvironment.
CrosscuttingConcepts:C auseandEffect
4
Causeandeffectrelationshipsareroutinelyidentifiedandusedto
explainchange.
Grade4.EarthsSystems:ProcessThatShapetheEarth
4ESS21:EarthsSystems
Makeobservationsand/ormeasurementstoprovideevidenceoftheeffectsof
weatheringortherateoferosionbywater,ice,wind,orvegetation.
ScienceandEngineeringPractices:P lanningandCarryingOut
Investigations
Planningandcarryingoutinvestigationstoanswerquestionsor
testsolutionstoproblemsin35buildsonK2experiencesand
progressestoincludeinvestigationsthatcontrolvariablesand
provideevidencetosupportexplanationsordesignsolutions.
DisciplinaryCoreIdeas:E SS2.A:EarthMaterialsandSystems
Rainfallhelpstoshapethelandandaffectsthetypesofliving
thingsfoundinaregion.Water,ice,wind,livingorganisms,and
gravitybreakrocks,soils,andsedimentsintosmallerparticlesand
movethemaround.
CrosscuttingConcepts:C auseandEffect
Causeandeffectrelationshipsareroutinelyidentified,tested,and
usedtoexplainchange.
NBElementarySc.Curricula:
Grade2(Review/Introduction)
GCO:LifeScience:PlantGrowthandChanges
SCO:InvestigatingGerminationandGrowingConditionsforPlants
Outcomes:studentswillbeexpectedto:
Identifyanddescribepartsofplantsandtheirgeneralfunction(10028)
Identifyandinvestigatelifeneedsofplantsanddescribehowplantsare
affectedbytheconditionsinwhichtheygrow(10029)
Placeseedsingroupsaccordingtooneormoreattributes.(2022)
Askquestionstoinvestigaterelatedtogrowingconditionsforplants.
(2001)
Makepredictionsaboutwhichconditionwillbebestforplantgrowth.
(2003)
5
Drawinferencesthatidentifyandinvestigatelifeneedsofplantsand
describehowplantsareaffectedbytheconditionsinwhichtheygrow.
(10029)
Identifyandsuggestexplanationsforpatternsanddiscrepanciesinthe
growthrateofsimilarplantsgrowninvaryingconditions.(2025)
Grade3(MainLessonFocus)
GCO:LifeScience:PlantGrowthandChanges
SCO:InvestigatingGerminationandGrowingConditionsforPlants
Outcomes:studentswillbeexpectedto:
Placeseedsingroupsaccordingtooneormoreattributes(2022)
Askquestionstoinvestigaterelatedtogrowingconditionsforplants
(2001)
Makepredictionsaboutwhichconditionswillbethebestforplantgrowth
(2003)
Makeandrecordrelevantobservationsandmeasurementsofplantgrowth
duringtheirinvestigations(2015)
Constructandlabelbargraphsthatshowplantgrowthunderdifferent
conditions(2024)
Drawinferencesthatidentifyandinvestigatelifeneedsofplantsand
describehowplantsareaffectedbytheconditionsinwhichtheygrow
(10029)
Identifyandsuggestexplanationsforpatternsanddiscrepanciesinthe
growthrateofsimilarplantsgrowninvaryingconditions(2025)
Identifyanddescribepartsofplantsandtheirgeneralfunction(10028,
2032)
Observeanddescribechanges,usingwrittenlanguage,pictures,and
charts,thatoccurthroughthelifecycleofafloweringplant(10030,
2015)
Estimatemeasurementsoftheplantasitgrows(2016)
Describewaysinwhichplantsareimportanttolivingthingsandthe
environment(10212)
Identifypartsofdifferentplantsthatprovidehumanswithusefulproducts,
anddescribethepreparationthatisrequiredtoobtaintheseproductsand
howoursupplyofusefulplantsisreplenished(10213)
Identifypartsofdifferentplantsthatprovidehumanswithusefulproducts,
anddescribethepreparationthatisrequiredtoobtaintheseproductsand
howoursupplyofusefulplantsisreplenished(10213)
Respondtotheideasandactionsofothersandacknowledgetheirideas
abouttheusesandreplenishingofplants(2035)
6
Grade4(EnrichmentLesson)
GCO:LifeScience:Habitats
SCO:HabitatsandPopulations
Outcomes:studentswillbeexpectedto:
Usethetermshabitat,population,andcommunityinappropriatecontexts
(1046)
Identifyquestionstoinvestigateaboutthetypesofplantsand/oranimalsat
alocalhabitat,andtheconditionsunderwhichtheylive(2041)
Identifyvariousmethodsforfindinganswerstoquestionsrelatedtothe
localhabitat,andselectoneapproachthatisappropriate(2046)
Makeobservationsandcollectinformationrelatedtolocalhabitatsand
theirassociatedpopulationsofplantsandanimals(2055,3021)
Identifytheirownandtheirfamiliesimpactonhabitats,anddescribehow
personalactionshelpconservehabitats(1086,1063)
Compileanddisplaythedatacollectedduringthehabitatstudyusing
tallies,tables,and/orbargraphs(2062)
Presenttheproceduresusedduringthehabitatstudyandtheresults
obtained,comparetheseresultswiththoseofotherclassmembers,
recognizingthatresultsmayvary,andsuggestexplanationsforthese
discrepancies(1044,2063)
Constructand/ormaintainamodelofanaturalhabitat,anduseittomake
observationsandcollectinformationaboutorganismsinthehabitat
(20510,2055)
Suggestimprovementstothemodelofthenaturalhabitattomakeitmore
realisticandhabitablefororganisms(2066)
Usingappropriateterminologytocomparethestructuralfeaturesofplants
thatenablethemtothriveindifferentkindsofplaces(3002,1046)
Describehowscientistsknowledgeofplantgrowthhasledtoagricultural
innovationsandtechniques(1064)
Describecurrentinvestigationsoflocalorregionalhabitatissues(1051)
Classifyorganismsaccordingtotheirroleinafoodchainanddrawa
diagramtoillustratethefoodchain(3023,1046,2061)
Predicthowtheremovalofaplantoranimalpopulationaffectstherestof
thecommunity(3011)
Relatehabitatlosstotheendangermentorextinctionofplantsandanimals
(3012)
Identifyexamplesofpositiveandnegativeeffectsoftechnological
developmentsonnaturalhabitats(1081)
7
IntegratedNBCurriculaOutcomes:
GCO:Studentswillspeakandlistentoexplore,extend,clarify,andreflectontheir
thoughts,ideas,feelings,andexperiences
SCO:studentswillbeexpectedto
Describe,share,anddiscussthought,feelingsandexperienceandconsiderothers
ideas
Askandrespondtoquestionstoclarifyinformationandtoexplorepossibilitiesor
solutionstoproblems
Expressandexplainopinionsandrespondtothequestionsandreactionsofothers
Listencriticallytoothersideasandopinions
GCO:Studentswillbeabletocommunicateinformationandideaseffectivelyand
clearly,andtorespondpersonallyandcritically
SCO:studentswillbeexpectedto
Participateinconversation,smallgroupandwholegroupdiscussion,
understandingwhentospeakandwhentolisten
Giveandfollowinstructionsandrespondtoquestionsanddirections
GCO:Studentswillbeexpectedtousewritingandotherformsofrepresentationto
explore,clarify,andreflectontheirthoughts,feelings,experiences,andlearningsandto
usetheirimaginations.
SCO:Studentswillbeexpectedto
usestrategiesinwritingandotherwaysofrepresentingtoformulatequestions
andorganizeideas
discoverandexpresspersonalattitudes,feelings,andopinions
comparetheirownthoughtsandbeliefstothoseofothers
recordexperiences
StudentsLearning:
Studentsshouldalreadyhaveageneralunderstandingaboutplantsandanimals.
StudentshavealreadylearntabouttheFundyBiosphereandHopewellRocks.Thisunitis
toexpandtheirlearninginregardstoplantlife.
StudentswilllearnaboutFundyBiosphereReserve,HopewellRockasauniquehabitat
andecosystem.Specificallylookingatthespecies(plantsandanimals)withinthe
habitat/ecosystemtoexpandtheirlearning.
Studentswilllearnaboutthespecificpartsofplantsandtheirgeneralfunctions.
Studentswilllearntomakeobservationsandinvestigatebasedonevidencefromthe
habitats/ecosystem.
PartB:AssessmentandEvaluation
8
OutcomesorExpectations AssessmentStrategy AssessmentTool
ADDINTHECROSS
CURRICULARFROM
ABOVEINTHIS
SECTION
listentoexplore,extend,
clarify,andreflectontheir
thoughts,ideas,feelings,and
experiences.
GCO:Studentswillbeableto
communicateinformationand
ideaseffectivelyandclearly,
andtorespondpersonallyand
critically.
CrossCurricular:English
LanguageArts:
GCO:Studentswillspeakand
listentoexplore,extend,
clarify,andreflectontheir
thoughts,ideas,feelings,and
experiences.
GCO:Studentswillbeableto
communicateinformationand
ideaseffectivelyandclearly,
andtorespondpersonallyand
critically.
listentoexplore,extend,
clarify,andreflectontheir
thoughts,ideas,feelings,and
experiences.
GCO:Studentswillbeableto
communicateinformationand
ideaseffectivelyandclearly,
andtorespondpersonallyand
critically.
appropriatecontexts(1046)
Identifyquestionsto
investigateaboutthetypesof
plantsand/oranimalsata
localhabitat,andthe
conditionsunderwhichthey
live(2041)
Constructand/ormaintaina
modelofanaturalhabitat,
anduseittomake
observationsandcollect
informationaboutorganisms
inthehabitat(20510,2055)
Relatehabitatlosstothe
endangermentorextinctionof
plantsandanimals(3012)
CrossCurricular:English
LanguageArts:
11
GCO:Studentswillbe
expectedtousewritingand
otherformsofrepresentation
toexplore,clarify,andreflect
ontheirthoughts,feelings,
experiences,andlearnings
andtousetheirimaginations.
GCO:Studentswillspeakand
listentoexplore,extend,
clarify,andreflectontheir
thoughts,ideas,feelings,and
experiences.
GCO:Studentswillbeableto
communicateinformationand
ideaseffectivelyandclearly,
andtorespondpersonallyand
critically.
listentoexplore,extend,
clarify,andreflectontheir
thoughts,ideas,feelings,and
experiences.
GCO:Studentswillbeableto
12
communicateinformationand
ideaseffectivelyandclearly,
andtorespondpersonallyand
critically.
expectedtousewritingand
otherformsofrepresentation
toexplore,clarify,andreflect
ontheirthoughts,feelings,
experiences,andlearnings
andtousetheirimaginations.
GCO:Studentswillspeakand
listentoexplore,extend,
clarify,andreflectontheir
thoughts,ideas,feelings,and
experiences.
GCO:Studentswillbeableto
communicateinformationand
ideaseffectivelyandclearly,
andtorespondpersonallyand
critically.
PartC:PlanningtheSequencesofLessons
SequenceofLessons
Lesson Outcomesor Assessmentor Whatwillthe Whatwillthe
13
thatwas
discussed,in
theirnatural
habitat.
whatthey toaskand
alreadyknow questionsthey
andwhatthe mayhave
studentspredict concerningthis
willhappen topic.
withinthenext
fewyears(with
animalsthatare
atriskof
becoming
extinct)
PartD:UDL,DifferentiatedInstruction,BloomsTaxonomy,Tier13,orPLP
UDL:ThepurposeoftheUniversalDesignissoeachstudentsneedsaremetinthelessons
throughdifferentformsofactivityandassessment.Studentsneedaremeetinavarietyof
formsthroughoutthisunitplan.InthelessontitleIntroductiontoPlantsstudentsareableto
participateinsmallorclassgroupdiscussionandareabletoshowtheirknowledgeina
handoutform.Studentsarealsopresentedwithachoiceinhowtheywanttocompletethe
assignedactivity.Allowingstudentstohavechoiceinthewaytheyrepresenttheirwork
ensuresallstudentsneedsaremet.InthelessontitledG
erminations tudentsareableto
demonstratewhattheyknowagainthoughsmallorclassdiscussion,whichevertheyfeelmore
comfortableindoing.Theprojectinthislessonalsoallowsstudentstoexperimentwithplants
andunderstandthoughaprojectbasedinquiry.Bothoftheselessonsalsoprovidestudentswith
visualaidsthroughvideoandchartsinwhichtheycanrefertowhendoingtherequired
activities.Inthesetwolessonstheclosingsongrelatedtoplantsallowstudentstorelaxand
havesomefuninclass!InthelastlessonregardingplantsPlantGrowthandChangesalso
reachadiversesetofneedsthoughchoice.Studentsareableexpressthewayplantsgrowand
changethroughadrawingactivity.Anactivitylikethisallowsstudentstoexpresstheir
thoughtsinadifferentway.
DifferentiatedInstruction:Withinthisunitdifferentiatedinstructionisusedfrequently.Inthe
lessonsregardingplants,studentsareprovidedwithchoiceofactivityandmultipleformsof
assessmentisusedtoensurestudentslearningstylesareevaluated.Anecdotalnotesareused
throughoutthelessons,aswellasteacherstudentinteractionthroughconversation.These
lessonalsoleadtoaprojectthatstudentsaretoparticipatein,theteacherwillusetheresultsof
thisprojecttodetermineunderstandingaswell.Ifastudentintheclassneedfurtherinstruction
18
orhandoutsthatfittheircertainneeds,alltheselessoncanbemodified.
BloomsTaxonomy:W ithinthisunitBloomstaxonomyistouchedonineachlesson.Inthe
lessonsregardingplants,previousknowledgeregardingplantsisretouchedonandstudents
receiveadditionalinformationthattheyhaveyettolearn.Studentshavealsohadminilessons
regardingtheFundyBiosphereandHopewellRocksprecedingthisunit,therefore,
understandinghowtheenvironmentaffectsplantlifeiseasiertocomprehendwhentalked
about.Studentsreceivednewknowledge,bybuildingonpastknowledgeandstudentswere
abletofullycomprehendthematerialbecausestudentswillapplythatknowledgethrough
analysis,synthesisandevaluationineachlesson.
Tiers13:Eachlessonthroughoutthislessonplancanbemodifiedtofiteachtier.
PLP:A
PersonalLearningPlan,isaneducationplanthatiscreatedwiththestudentandtheir
parents,aswellastheteacherandtheinschoolExceptionalInterventionTeam.Basedonthe
individualstudentsneeds,thelessonswillneedtobeadaptedforwhatisbestforthe
individualstudent.Thisunitplanisflexibleintermsthatitcanbechangedtofitindividual
needs.
Reflection:W ebelieveasagroupthattheintendedoutcomeswillbesupportedbythelessons
thatwewillhaveinourunitplan.Weplannedeachlessontomeeteachoutcomespecifically.
Throughouteachlessonstudentswillgainmanyskills,someincluding:communication,
discussionskills,aswellasobservationskills.Onechallengethatweareabitconcernedaboutis
thatouroutcomesmaychangingdependingoncompletionofeachlessonthatwecomeupwith.
WearealsoconcernedthatstudentsmayhaveahardtimetorelatetheselessonswiththeFundy
BiosphereandHopewellRocks.WewishwecouldhavebeenabletogotoHopewellRocksto
gatheradditionalmaterialsandgaininformation.