Fermilab LInC Online

Community and Ecosystems

Summary

Scenario

Student Pages

Index of Projects


Subject: Science: Life Science - Ecology, life cycles: Language Arts - writing and reference skills: History - map building skills, Math - graphs and tables.

Grade Level: 4th and 5th Grade

Abstract: Community and Ecosystems is an integrated unit in math, science, and language arts focusing on ecosystems, food chains and webs, predicator/prey relationships, and man's role in the destruction and protection of the environment. Using the scientific method, activities will include data collection, observation, and problem solving. Math skills include graphing, data analysis, statistics, and problem solving. Language Arts skills include vocabulary, journal writing, Microsoft Works reports, and multimedia reports using HyperStudio. This unit relates math, science and language arts to real-world applications through hands-on experiences and engaged and discovery learning.

Project Goal: Take the same material that is traditional taught in the curriculum but add technology as a tool, and add the engaged learning components for the students to become reponsible for their own learning, excited and energized by their discoveries, work strategically and collaborative within groups and across school districts.

Learner Outcomes: After completing this unit, the student will be able to:


Time Frame: A collaborative, 8 week investigation of ecology and the community.

Rationale: The fourth and fifth grade students in the class at Vandenberg Elementary School will be able to describe ecosystems and the members of those systems, analyze interrelationships within ecosystems and the factors which affect the balance of nature, and generate solutions to environmental problems. Students will be environmentally aware and understand their impact on the environment.

Alignment with National Standards: This project demonstrates elements of the National
Science Education Standards:

Science Teaching Standards A, B, C, D, E, F
Science Assessment Standards A, B, C, D, E
Science Content Standards A, C, E, G
Science Program Standards A, B, C, D, E, F

Alignment with State Standards: This project demonstrates elements of the Michigan Educational Standards in Science, Technology, Math, and English Language Arts:

State of Michigan Core Curriculum - Science
State of Michigan Core Curriculum - Arts
State of Michgan Core Curriculum - Technology
State of Michigan Core Curriculum - English Language Arts
State of Michigan Core Curriculum - Math
Michigan Dept. of Education - Michigan Curriculum Framework - Content Strands, Standards and Benchmarks - Science
Michigan Dept. of Education - Michigan Curriculum Framework - Content Strands, Standards and Benchmarks - Math
Michigan Dept. of Education - Michigan Curriculum Framework - Content Strands, Standards and Benchmarks - English Language Arts

Assessment of Students: Students will be assessed through online internet activities, classroom activities ; including the performance presentation and a diorama, and a hyperstudio multimedia product, a student project rubric, and self-assessment through journal writing.

Project/Unit Evaluation: The project will be assessed by how successfully the teachers integrate engaged learning activities (see "Engaged Learning Indicators" section in the project rubric from LInC) into the traditional curriculum, meet district, state and federal curriculum objectives, and journal writing by the teachers.


Created for the Fermilab LInC program sponsored by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Education Office, Friends of Fermilab, United States Department of Energy, Illinois State Board of Education, and North Central Regional Technology in Education Consortium (NCRTEC) which is operated by North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL).

 

Author(s): Cheryl Earnley Dove, South Redford School District, dovec@mail.resa.net
School: South Redford School District, Redford, MI 48239
Created: May 1, 1998 - Updated: June 8, 1998
URL: /lincon/w98/projects/cdove/present.html