acp approved Adirondack Curriculum Project - www.adkcurriculumproject.org
NYS Content Area Standard

ELA  1. Language for info & understanding

MST 4. Science
Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science.

Title: Habitats of Adirondack Animals

Grade Level: 3rd

Author: Kathy Janulewicz
Dr. Lydia T. Wright Elem. School
Buffalo Public Schools
Buffalo, New York

Email: kjanule@hotmail.com
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 Adirondack animals adapt to the habitats where they live?

Challenge:  
Context for this challenge: The teacher will want to make sure that the materials necessary for doing this challenge are available. The teacher will also want to do some preliminary work developing student research and note taking skills.

To create student interest in this project, the teacher might want to show students one series of pictures of habitats from around the world and another series of pictures of animals from around the world -  some of which match up with the habitats shown and others that do not. Invite students to speculate on appropriate "matches" of animal - habitat and discuss the reasons for their responses. Out of this speculation should come opportunties to discuss and begin defining the concepts of "habitat" and "adaptation". The teacher might then follow up with pictures of habitats and animals specific to the Adirondacks and follow a similar pattern of questioning and discussion. Once students are "hooked", the teacher can guide them in the selection of an Adirondack animal of interest (otter, moose, bear, chipmunk, etc) to the small group.

The Challenge:
In groups of 2 organized with the help of your teacher, prepare a presentation for the class in which you teach us about the animal and its habitat that you have chosen to study.

In your presentation, be sure to include accurate information the answers the following Focus Questions:
1. What is the proper name of your animal?
2. What does your animal look like (color, size, etc)? What are the most important distinguishing features of the animal by which it could be recognized?
3. Where does your animal live? What does that place look like? (habitat)
4. What does you animal eat? How does it get its food?
5. Is your animal nocturnal? What does your animal typically do after dark? During the day?
8. Is your animal endangered?

To help us understand your presentation, create one of the following products: a mobile, a diorama, or another product that your teacher  approves. This product should illustrate as much of the information you share in the presentation as possible (see Focus Questions above). Please make sure your product is colorful and neat, that the authors' names are displayed, and that all the words you put on the product are spelled correctly

Each member of your pair should participate in the presentation. When you show us your "product" please tell us how you made it and be ready to answer questions about any aspect of this challenge.
 
 

Quality Standards:

The Presentation:
  • Research and preparation is completed on time
  • The presenters tell us the name of their animal
  • The presenters tell us what the animal looks like and what distinguishing features it has
  • The presenters tell us where the animal lives and what that place looks like
  • The presenters tell us about what the animal eats and how it gets its food
  • The presenters tell us what the animal typically does at night and during the day
  • The presenters tell us whether or not their animal is endangered
  • All information shared in the presentation is accurate
  • The presenters support their presentation with a mobile, diorama, or some other approved product that is well done
  • The presenters tell us how they made their product
  • The presenters answer all questions satisfactorily
The Mobile, Diorama, or other approved product
  • The "product" is completed on time and is ready for display as part of the presentation
  • The "product" illustrates most of the important information shared in the presentation
  • The "product"  illustrates information about the topic accurately
  • The "product" is colorful and neat
  • The "product" displays the names of the authors clearly
  • All text included in the product is spelled correctly
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):

 

 Habitats of Adirondack Animals

Evaluator Name(s)
 
 Observed Standard/Criteria
Possible
Points
Rating
   Research and preparation is completed on time
 
 
  The presenters tell us the name of their animal
   
  The presenters tell us what the animal looks like and what distinguishing features it has

 
  The presenters tell us where the animal lives and what that place looks like

 
  The presenters tell us about what the animal eats and how it gets its food
 
 

The presenters tell us what the animal typically does at night and during the day
   

The presenters tell us whether or not their animal is endangered



All information shared in the presentation is accurate



The presenters support their presentation with a mobile, diorama, or other approved product that is well done



The presenters tell us how they made their product



The presenters answer all questions satisfactorily



The "product" is completed on time and is ready for display as part of the presentation



The "product" illustrates most of the important information shared in the presentation



The "product"  illustrates information about the topic accurately



The "product" is colorful and neat



The "product" displays the names of the authors clearly



All text included in the product is spelled correctly


 
TOTALS
 100  

nyga Produced at the 2008 Adirondack Geography Institute & reviewed and edited by the ACP.
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