Michell

Fourth and Fifth Grades Standard: Objective: Students will develop observation skills. Materials: Fourth: Aquarium Soil Plants Fifth: Procedure: 1. Show video clip, "What Skills Do Scientists Use?" 2. Discuss how scientists in the video collect data and why. 3. Discuss how scientists carefully observe and record data in order to draw conclusions about topic they are studying. Fourth Activity: 4. Students will create a terrarium in order to observe changes over time. 5. Students should measure plant growth, temperature, and any changes they observe. 6. Students may create terrariums with different types of habitats that require various needs such as more or less water, light, or air. Then, compare observations. 7. You can ask the question, "What do you think will happen if I provide rainforest like conditions to a desert habitat?" They can change water, ... read more

Video for lessons with grades 4 -5.... read more

Grade: First Grade Standard: S1CS3. Students will use tools and instruments for observing, measuring, and manipulating objects in scientific activities. Objective: Students will use various nonstandard units of measurement to determine the best unit for measuring odd shaped objects. Materials: Odd shaped objects for measuring such as plastic animals, balls, rocks for each group Nonstandard measuring units such as string, sticks, hands, small counters or coins for each group 1 copy of record keeping page Procedure: 1. Show students video clips from Australia 2. Put students in groups of 2-4 depending on the amount of materials you have (grouping should be mixed ability levels) 3. Each student has a job: hold object for measuring, record keeper, and measurer 4. Ask students what the scientists in the video were doing to the turtles. They should answer: measuring, ... read more

Grade: Third Grade Standard: S3L2. Students will recognize the effects of pollution and humans on the environment. Objective: Students will identify the effects of pollution on marine life. Materials: Procedure: 1. Show general turtle video to spark excitement. 2. Ask students what animals need to survive? Food, air, water, shelter 3. Review different types of habitats. Where do animals live? 4. Ask students if they think humans make this difficult for animals sometimes. 5. Show students the litter video 6. Ask if they think this litter is dangerous for sea life. 7. Show photos of marine life tangled up in plastic. 8. Say to students, “I wonder if the animals in our neighborhood, even the tiniest animals that we don’t see, are affected by our trash?” 9. Choose a paper sized grassy area on school grounds ... read more

Grade: Kindergarten Standard: SKCS6. Students will understand the important features of the process of scientific inquiry. Objective: Students will identify scientific tools and ways scientists stay safe. Materials: Safety video Goggles, rubber gloves, lab coats, shoes, rulers (measuring tape), scales, magnifiers Digital cameras (one per team) Computer access Procedure: 1. Show students pictures of measuring, weighing, recording data and looking inside of turtles. Tell students that scientists are collecting information about turtles so that they can help them survive. Questions: Does your doctor measure and weigh you? What tools do they use? (scale and measuring tape on wall) Why do they measure you? (to see if you are growing and how fast) Do they write down what they find? (yes) Why? (to keep track) Does your doctor ever look inside of you? (yes, they look in ... read more

Video for use with 2nd and 3rd grade lesson. ... read more

Turtles of the Great Barrier Reef Grade: Second Grade Standard: S2CS5. Students will communicate scientific ideas and activities clearly. Objective: Students will describe animals in photos clearly. Materials: Procedure: 1. Show the general turtle video. Pause and blindfold half of the children. Play litter video (without sound) for a few minutes. Pause. 2. Non-blindfolded students now have to describe what the blindfolded students missed. 3. Blindfold other half and resume video for another few minutes. The non-blindfolded kids now have to describe the missed video to the blindfolded kids. 4. Ask students what they notice about having to communicate what they are observing and what it is like to try and picture what is being described. Help students determine that describing in terms of number, shape, texture, size, weight, color, and motion can be helpful. 5. ... read more

Video for use with 1st grade lesson. ... read more

Video and photos for use with lessons for all grade levels K - 5. ... read more