Education Standards
Awesome Animal Actions (3-5) Standards Alignment
Resources
Awesome Animal Actions (3-5)
Overview
This sequence of instruction was developed in the Growing Elementary Science Prjoject to help elementary teachers who were working remotely. We developed a short storyline that ties together a few sessions to help explore a specific concept. We tried to include some activities that honored and included the student’s family and experience, and some that included the potential for ELA learning goals.
In this Unit of Instruction, students observe animal behaviors - both in video format and in their own neighborhoods - then create a model to explain how these behaviors help the animals meet their needs.
It is part of ClimeTime - a collaboration among all nine Educational Service Districts (ESDs) in Washington and many Community Partners to provide programs for science teacher training around Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and climate science, thanks to grant money made available to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) by Governor Inslee.
Storyline
( pdf version: https://bit.ly/3jg6cUs )
The unit of instruction is centered on answering the questions:
- Growing Elementary Science Distance Learning Storyline –How do different animals use their unique parts to survive and thrive? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ask and ExploreIntroduce Phenomena or Problem | Carrying Out an InvestigationInvestigation – discussion questions- support student use of three-dimensions | Read, Write, Make SenseDiscuss Results- Read to gather information- Make Sense of our Ideas | Putting the Pieces TogetherBring together evidence from activities-synthesize- extending the learning based on student interest |
Engaging Students in Practices | Teacher acts out an animal - no words or sounds allowed! Teacher/students act out other animals, with probing questions after each one. (See slide notes for probing questions.) Some prerecorded animal charades (no sound): https:
| Introduce the recording sheet, and explain options for using it:
Observation Recording Sheet: Use a video clip to demonstrate filling in the recording sheet. Example videos: Collection of animal actions – pause after each for discussion. NOT LABELLED: https: Examples grouped by action: Observation AnalysisConsider discussions among Students who observed similar animals, students who observed VERY different animals. | Students create a model of their thinking. Templates in various forms:
(Note: Google Doc and Jamboard versions will force you to save a copy to your own google workspace.) We’ve created a list of articles on NewsELA (Grade 2) and some suggested read-aloud books that can be used to further explore animal actions: | CHOICE BOARDSelect which choice or choices to offer students for demonstrating their understanding of structure and function. Draw an ActionAnimal Charades and ExplanationCompare and ContrastMaking New Book PagesUpdating Book PagesAnimal PuppetsEach of these are described in the document: |
Family and Community Connections | AWESOME ANIMAL ACTION CHARADES See instruction sheet and action slips her: https: | ANIMAL OBSERVATIONS Students have a choice to observe domestic animals or wild animals they have near their homes. Observation and recording can be done as a family. Observation Recording Sheet: Example Sheet for Hummingbird: https: Example Sheet for Bear: https: |
| This will depend on the options on the choice board chosen by teachers and by students. |
Technology Considerations |
| If students do not have the ability to observe animals in “real life,” access to video clips and/or webcams is required. List of highlight videos and live webcams for a variety of animals: https: |
| This will depend on the options on the choice board chosen by teachers and by students. |
Storyline Launch → → → → → Investigating → → → → → Sensemaking |
Materials
Awesome Animal Actions (3-5) Storyline (PDF): https://bit.ly/3jg6cUs
Awesome Animal Actions (3-5) Standards alignment: https://bit.ly/3ysalct
Some prerecorded animal charades (no sound): https://bit.ly/383Xxy6
Animal Charades Instructions: https://bit.ly/3Di1PAg
Observation Recording Sheet: https://bit.ly/3zcZap3
- Example Sheet for Hummingbird: https://bit.ly/3yerhmp
- Example Sheet for Bear: https://bit.ly/3zoCu5u
Example Animal Behavior Videos
- Collection of animal actions – pause after each for discussion. NOT LABELLED: https://bit.ly/2UFHPpF
- Examples grouped by action: https://bit.ly/3sEl0PU
List of highlight videos and live webcams for a variety of animals: https://bit.ly/3jgzYsh
System Models
- PDF Version: https://bit.ly/2WmLw4i
- Google Doc Version (Forces you to save a copy to your own google space): https://bit.ly/2Wr2qhV
- Jamboard Version (Forces you to save a copy to your own google space): https://bit.ly/3zjHQyP
- Example System Model (Hummingbird): https://bit.ly/3yid34b
- Example System Model (Bear): https://bit.ly/3sKdZwM
Reading and Read-Aloud Suggestions: https://bit.ly/3sLcDlz
Sensemaking Activities Choice Board: https://bit.ly/2Wohtci
Google Folder with most of these resources: https://bit.ly/2WtcQhm
Standards Alignment
This document lists the Science AND ELA standards that are/can be addressed with these materials - at the Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade levels.