Adirondack Curriculum Project

Adirondack Curriculum Project - www.adkcurriculum.org tested

NYS Content Area Standard

MST: Standard 4; The Living Environment - Key Idea 5: Organisms maintain a dynamic equilibrium that sustains life. The students will be able to explain in their exhibit how an organism's body plan, structure or behavior maintains a stable internal condition while living in a constantly changing environment

Title: Winter Adaptation

Grade Level: 6-8th Grade Science

Author: Sandy Bureau, Indian Lake Central School

Email: bureaus@ilcsd.org

Adirondack Curriculum Content Area
_X_ Natural History
___ Human History
___ Culture & the Arts
___ Government & Civics
___ Economy
___ Health, Recreation & Life Skills

Investigative Question or Issue: How do animals of the Adirondacks adapt to the winter conditions of that environment?

Challenge:

Context for this Challenge: Prior to issuing this challenge, the teacher may want to throroughly explore the environment of the nature trail referenced below to ensure that there is a sufficient variety of visible animal adaptations available for study.The teacher will also want to discuss with the students what the criteria are for a "qualilty exhibit".

The Challenge: In pairs or groups of three organized with the help of your teacher, participate in the field trip to the Visitor Interpretive Center and use the resources there to learn how an "exhibit" is put together. Decide in the ensuing discussion what the criteria for a "quality exhibit" should be for this project.

Then, take a showshoe hike with your class on a local nature trail. As you hike, take notice of the many ways animals in the environment have adapted to the winter conditions you see. In your pair/group discuss which animal and it adaptations interest you the most.

Your challenge is to produce an exhibit that helps people learn about the one or two adaptations your animal has developed for surviving Adirondack winters. Your exhibit will hang on the bulletin boards outside in the hallways. You will have approximately five days to prepare this exhibit for display.

As you prepare your exhibit, please consider the following:

- The exhibit can hang on the mural and sticks out no more that 8" from the wall.
- The exhibit should be colorful and show elements of creativity
- The exhibit is interactive. It invites the viewer "to do" something that will help them remember the information
- The exhibit should include a picture or illustration of your animal that is clearly labeled.
- The exhibit should depict at least one or two adaptations your animal has developed for surviving Adirondack winters
- Your exhibit includes a written explanation of how your animal's adapations help it survive winter
- The information included in the exhibit is easy to read or view, legible, and correct in its use of English grammar and spelling.

Prior to creating the final version of your exhibit please submit a "rough draft" of the text you will use to Mrs. Stanton.

Your finished exhibit should be ready for display by ________________.

Quality Standards:

- The exhibit can hang on the mural and sticks out no more that 8" from the wall.
- The exhibit should be colorful and show elements of creativity
- The exhibit is interactive. It invites the viewer "to do" something that will help them remember the information
- The exhibit should include a picture or illustration of your animal that is clearly labeled.
- The exhibit should depict at least one or two adaptations your animal has developed for surviving Adirondack winters
- Your exhibit includes a written explanation of how your animal's adapations help it survive winter
- The information included in the exhibit is easy to read or view, legible, and correct in its use of English grammar and spelling..

Adapted for the Adirondack Curriculum Project from the work of Education By Design TM and Leading EDGE, LLC ©ACP 2002

Product Quality
Checklist
Date: ________ Class Period: ________

Product Author(s):

Product Title/Name:
Winter Adaptations Exhibit

Evaluator Name(s)

Observed	Standard/Criteria	Possible Points	Rating
	Exhibit - Form criteria	30
	Exhibit can be hung on the mural in the hall and does not stick out more than 8"
	Easy to read and legible
	Spelling and grammar correct
	Colorful and creative
	Assignment - is completed on time	10
	Exhibit - Content criteria	50
	You have depicted one or two animal adaptations to winter
	You have clearly described how the adaptations help the animal survive winter
	Your exhibit has the viewer do something
	Your exhibit has a picture or illustration of your animal
	Above & Beyond	10
	TOTALS

Comments: 6th grade Project culminated in an opening event for the exhibition. Parents were invited and room was set up with cookies and punch for their guests. Students also invited other students namely sisters and brothers and other classes in the school were given a general invitation. Exhibit was set up in the hallway and was readily accessible to all passing by. Did create a little of a traffic issue because all students loved so much and would stop read and do in between classes and on way to bathroom etc… Benefits of this far outweighed the problems. But you should be aware. Extra credit for students who designed and produced an invitation to our opening of the exhibit

Worked in collaboration with English teacher. Students researched adaptations and good exhibit design with science teacher. Students prepared rough drafts of their material, edited for English and science then produced a final copy for an English grade. They then used this "storyline" to develop the text for their exhibit. Students had already been introduced to research and a bibliography of references was part of the English assignment.