SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students learn about how people are protecting living things and create their own plan to protect living things.

SCIENTIST NOTES: The lesson features human actions to improve biodiversity. It would inspire students to lead initiatives on biodiversity conservation in their community. All materials have been fact-checked, and this lesson has passed our credibility process.

POSITIVES:
-This lesson creates a collaborative learning environment for students to consider positive action in their community.
-Students will consider how responsible decision-making directly impacts them and their environment.
-This lesson introduces options for helping wildlife using multiple learning styles.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-This is lesson 3 of 3 in our Number Sense and Biodiversity unit.
-You can choose to use the animals featured on the IUCN’s Red List slides in the Teacher Slideshow or identify 1-2 species on the IUCN’s Red List from your local area and adapt the slides. To find other animals, you may search for a specific species you know is in danger or use the directions below:
-Click on Advanced Search.
-Click on Land Regions.
-Click on the Arrow next to the Land Region you live in. This further narrows down the region.
-Click on Habitats. Choose a habitat that describes your area.
-Click on Red List Category, and select all categories except for Least Concern, Data Deficient and Extinct.
-The species will appear in a list. To view them on the map, choose the map setting on the gray header across the top.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-As a possible extension, students can share their design with the class and/or community leaders using cause and effect language.
-In the Inspire section, the class can choose to brainstorm ideas together and vote to create one conservation plan.
-The Student Worksheet has an adapted version for younger students.

SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students learn about habitats and how plants, prey, and predators interact based on their needs. Students see how factors like warming temperatures and human interactions can alter habitats and affect wildlife.

SCIENTIST NOTES: This lesson clearly demonstrates the interrelationships existing in an ecosystem. It allows students to identify species and analyze what they need to survive in a given habitat accounting for the impact of human-caused climate change on biodiversity. The games, activities, and all materials featured in the lesson have been reviewed and are suitable to improve students' understanding on the topic. On that account, this lesson has passed our science credibility process and is recommended for teaching.

POSITIVES:
-This lesson illustrates the interactions of living things in a habitat through student interactions.
-This lesson features kinesthetic learning to activate interest in the topic.
-In this lesson, students get the chance to receive feedback from peers, reflect on their work, and make changes to their work based on feedback and personal reflection.
-This lesson features speaking and writing practice using academic language.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-This lesson is 1 in 3 in our Number Sense & Biodiversity unit.
-A large area is needed for the game. If the classroom is used, you may want to move desks to one side of the room.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-During the Inquire section, students could be given a list of animal names or pictures to check off as they appear in the video.
-Species cards include pictures of animals for students who have more difficulty reading.
-Cause and effect language frames are differentiated.
-Teacher may wish to play a "fishbowl" version of the game and have students watch a few students play to see the interactions.

SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students learn about science experiments, design and execute an experiment to learn about what plants need to survive, and communicate their findings to others.

SCIENTIST NOTES: The lesson allows students to use scientific method to inquire about how different plants can survive across fresh water, salt water, and brackish water. It allows students to investigate the changes and predict the water conditions required for plants to survive. All images, videos, and accompanying materials featured in the lesson have been reviewed. This lesson has passed our science review process.

POSITIVES:
-Students engage in many of the Next Generation Science Standards Science and Engineering Practices.
-Students have the opportunity to develop and execute an experiment.
-Students use both sketching and writing as observational tools.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-This is lesson 3 of 4 in our K-2nd grade Water and Plant Survival unit.
-You will need the following materials for activity in the Inquire section:
-1-liter pitcher of plain water
-1-liter pitcher of water with about 2 teaspoons of salt dissolved
-1-liter pitcher of water with about 6 teaspoons of salt dissolved
-A small cup for each student
-You will need the following materials for the pre-filled experiment in the Investigate section:
-3-6 plants (choose one type of plant, 1-2 plants will receive freshwater, 1-2 plants will receive brackish water, and 1-2 plants will receive saltwater)
-A measuring cup
-A sunny location
-The Inspire section of this lesson builds on Lesson 2 of the Water and Plant Survival unit. The mural will be completed in Lesson 4. If you are choosing to only complete this lesson, you may wish to show students this video from Lesson 2 and discuss how they can create a class mural without creating it on a large scale.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-You can choose the scientist video in the Investigate section that is the best fit for your students. Options include Sesame Street: Bouncing Balls or A Study in Stream Ecology. The Teacher Slideshow includes slides with questions specific to each video.
-The Investigate section offers several options for experimentation. Each option will provide students with the understanding needed to complete subsequent lessons in the unit. The three options include:
-Students may create their own experiment, with teacher support.
-Students may participate in an experiment where the procedure is provided.
-Students can look at data collected from an experiment and discuss the findings.

SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students reflect on how salt affects plants, learn how some communities are finding ways to grow plants in saltier conditions, and create a mural to share their learning with the community.

SCIENTIST NOTES: Soil is an important component for plants' survival. This lesson allows students to evaluate the impact of saline soil on plant growth. It explores two country case studies on ways farmers adapt to soil salinity to grow crops, especially testing out crops that can tolerate saline conditions. This lesson has passed the science credibility process and is recommended for teaching.

POSITIVES:
-This lesson creates a collaborative learning environment for students to share information about their learning with their community.
-Students do an art experiment to learn how salt affects plants.
-Students think about plant adaptations and changes to landscapes over time.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-This is lesson 4 of 4 in our K-2nd grade Water and Plant Survival unit.
-It is necessary to prepare materials for the Inquire section before class:
-Distribute 3 containers of water to each group.
-Add 2-3 drops of food coloring to each container to make red, yellow, and green paint. Alternatively, students can use watercolor paints.
-Distribute paintbrushes or manipulatives to paint with (ex. plant material, grasses, leaves, sponges, or Q-tips).
-Distribute cardstock for each student.
-Prepare a small container of salt for each table, but do not distribute it until it is time for students to sprinkle the salt on their paintings.
-In the Investigate section, students will read about farming in Bangladesh and Pakistan. The texts explain that both countries are in Asia, but you may want to show students where the countries are located on a globe or a world map to give them a more precise understanding of the countries' locations.
-Students need a large section of butcher paper for the final version of their group’s mural. Additional materials may include markers, paint, or crayons.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-Students can read on their own using the leveled texts about Bangladesh or Pakistan, or the teacher can read aloud to the whole group using the Farming in Bangladesh slides.
-Students can dictate their ideas to an adult to write about the mural.
-Students can answer specific questions about the mural one by one or work to put their ideas in paragraph form using either option in the Individual Writing Sheet.
-Possible extension: Share the mural with a group or organization in the community by displaying it in the neighborhood, in a city building, in a store, or in another school.

SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students investigate why sea level rise is occurring and consider how people’s actions can alter its course.

SCIENTIST NOTES: This lesson allows students to observe and measure the mean sea level, analyze the changes in the sea level, and convey the analysis using arts and painting. It improves their interdisciplinary skills and enables them to develop local strategies to respond to sea level rise impacts on their environment. All materials and videos have been reviewed and have passed the science credibility review.

POSITIVES:
-Students work collaboratively to collect and report their observations.
-This lesson features hands-on interaction with students’ predictions in order to dissipate misconceptions.
-Students learn how art can be a powerful motivator for change.
-Students collect data and build science practice skills.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-This is lesson 2 of 4 in our K-2nd grade Water and Plant Survival unit.
-You will need to assemble a number of materials to set up the stations. A list of supplies and directions is provided in the Station Directions document.
-You will need ice for a number of stations. Remember to plan ahead in order to freeze it!
-Station 4 (optional) must be run by an adult because it uses boiling water. Alternatively, you can do the experiment from Station 4 as a demonstration in front of the whole class.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-You can set up the stations in the classroom or outside.
-There are two versions of the Observation Journal, one with more room to write and the other with more room to sketch. Choose the one that is best for your students.
-All of the stations can be completed as whole group demonstrations.
-Possible extension: Ask students to consider how to test their ideas from the Inquire section. Try some of their ideas and discuss if the results proved or disproved their hypothesis.

SYNOPSIS: In this lesson, students use a base number (1,000, 100, or 20) to compare the numbers of extinct, endangered, and vulnerable species and consider how their actions can help protect animals and plants.

SCIENTIST NOTES: This lesson lets students build their capacity to quantify and have a sense of the state of biodiversity in their community. This activity enables them to have a grip of species richness and conditions that impact biodiversity, track changes to biodiversity loss, and learn ways to protect biodiversity loss. All materials embedded in the lesson are credible. As a result, this lesson has passed our credibility review process.

POSITIVES:
-Students will consider how responsible decision-making impacts them and their environment directly.
-Students will link the math skills of writing and comparing numbers to real-life applications.
-Students at all levels of proficiency with number sense can participate using differentiated materials.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-This is lesson 2 of 3 in our Number Sense and Biodiversity unit.
-This lesson reinforces concepts of place value by giving students partner and independent practice. Students should already have an understanding of place value to at least 1,000 to fully engage with the materials.
-The Teacher Script can be used as a guide during the Investigate section.
-Work in the 1,000 Number Packet could be done outside of the designated time for lessons if students are working independently and the given time isn’t sufficient.
-The Number Packets include teacher keys.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-Students can work independently or in groups to complete the Number Packet.
-The Number Packet has some numbers filled in for students to stay on track. More numbers could be added for support.
-For K-1st, there is a 100 Number Packet that converts the number of species on the list to 100, instead of 1,000.
-For early kindergarten, there is a 20 Number Packet that converts the number of species on the list to 20 and does not specify by category. The packet uses simple terms such as “in danger,” “not enough information,” and “not in danger.” If you choose to use this resource, do not use the IUCN category vocabulary cards.

In this lesson, students use a base number (1,000, 100, or 20) to compare the numbers of extinct, endangered, and vulnerable species and consider how their actions can help protect animals and plants.

Step 1 - Inquire: Students estimate the number of living things in a group to get a sense of the large number of species in the world.

Step 2 - Investigate: Students write numbers to represent the number of living things on the IUCN's Red List.

Step 3 - Inspire: Students compare and contrast numbers to compare groups of living things, reflecting on how to help living things in their community.

SYNOPSIS: This lesson activates students’ background knowledge about water and allows them to make connections while introducing the types and locations of water in the world.

SCIENTIST NOTES: The lesson discusses water, where it is located, spatial extent on Earth, the different forms of water, including estuaries, and how humans can connect with it for abstractive and non-abstractive purposes without altercation. It also provides clear insights for students to understand water resources and the interactions within the marine ecosystem. The images, videos, and accompanying materials in the lesson are well-sourced, and this lesson is recommended for classroom use.

POSITIVES:
-This lesson builds an understanding of the importance of water in our lives.
-This lesson features kinesthetic learning as students move their bodies into yoga poses.
-Students develop an understanding of different types of water.

ADDITIONAL PREREQUISITES:
-This is lesson 1 of 4 in our K-2nd grade Water and Plant Survival unit.
-You will need a copy of Wet by Carey Sookocheff or a similarly themed book for this lesson.
-You will need a large open area for students to complete the yoga exercises. This could be in the classroom or outside.
-Students need green and blue colored pencils or crayons for the Inspire section of the lesson.

DIFFERENTIATION:
-The Shared Reading Guide in the Teacher Document includes several discussion questions. Choose the ones that are best for your students’ interests and experiences with the topic.
-Students can think-pair-share during the read aloud to make predictions or answer questions.
-Sentence frames in the Inquire section are differentiated for student proficiency:
-Circle = basic
-Triangle = target
-Square = challenge
-You can pause the read aloud for students to make observations and predictions about the story.
-There are multiple graphic organizers to choose from in the Investigate section. Use the option menu in the Teacher Slideshow to choose the option that best suits your classroom and students.
-Students with restrictions in mobility can participate in mindful breathing and enjoy as many of the yoga poses as are comfortable for their bodies. Suggestions for modifications are listed in the speaker notes of the Teacher Slideshow.
-If specific directions for yoga poses prove difficult, read the prompts about the living things and play the videos. Instruct students to move their bodies naturally mimicking what they see.
-The Student Document includes several options for the Inspire section. Provide students with scaffolding as appropriate to their reading and writing level.
-Possible extension: Look at the map to find an estuary near your school.