Objectives:1. The students will be able to explain and

discuss the role of rocks, soil, and water in a terrarium compared to their school yard after reviewing the material

in their textbook, and comparing it to findings from a nature walk out side of their school.

Do You See What I See?

Activities

2. The students will learn how sunlight, soil, and water affect plant life in a terrarium by

their observations of the one in their class- room.3. The students will learn the importance of water by creating a Water Journal, KWL Outline, and KWL Chart. (by generating questions and answers.

Objectives, cont.

S2CS1. Students will be aware of the importance of curiosity, honesty, openness, and skepticism, in science, and will exhibit these traits in their own efforts to understand how the world works.

a. Raise questions about the world around them and be willing to seek answers to some of the questions by making careful

observations.

GPS/SPA Standards

S2CS1. Students will be familiar with the character of scientific knowledge and how it is achieved.

d. All different kinds of people can be and are scientists.

GPS/SPA Standards, cont.

S2E3. Students will observe and record changes in their surroundings and infer the causes of the changes.

a. Recognize effects that occur in a specific area caused by weather,

plants, animals and or people.

GPS/SPA Standards, cont.

Previously, the students have read and discussed rocks, soil, water, and sunlight in their textbook. We will review this information in preparation of this lesson.

The teacher will obtain a classroom terrarium filled with rocks, soil, and water. He or she will prepare a notebook for each student, which will be called a Water Journal.

Preparation

The teacher will obtain KWL Outline l,KWL, What I Know, What I Want to Know, What I Learned charts for each student.

The teacher will obtain a clip board and pencil for each student

Preparation, cont.

Classroom terrarium Water Journals KWL Outline, and KWL Chart Clip board and pencils Science textbook http://pals.sri.com/tasks/K-4/youseewhat Isee/directs.html http://www.superteachworksheets.com

Materials

Introduction: When we observe our surroundings, do we all see the same things? No, many of us look at things very differently. Today, we are going to compare and contrast the differences in our classroom terrarium and the school yard that is outside our school. All of you are going to be scientists? You are going to observe and document your findings!

Procedures

The class will review the chapter in their textbook that discusses rocks, soil, sunlight, and water.

The students will view our classroom terrarium and make observations

The students will use KWL chars and the teacher will ask questions such as:

“What are some things you notice about this terrarium?”

(Students response could be: It has plants in it – It has a lid closed – It has water on the side – It has dirt or soil

Activities

The teacher will guide the students into “What do you want to know,” by asking,

“ What are some things you want to know about the terrarium that you can’t observe?

(Record teacher and student questions)

Activities, cont.

Students will be given a journal, which is called a “Water Journal.” The first page is entitled, “The Class Terrarium.” The students will list the questions that they have about their terrarium in the journal that they want answered.

Activities, cont.

The students will describe the reasons that rocks, soil, and water are needed in the terrarium. (The teacher will ask questions such as: “Do we need all of these resources? What would happen if we leave one out?”

Activities, cont.

The students will then go on a nature walk around the school yard, and compare the school yard to their terrarium. Again, the teacher will ask questions about the soil, rocks, water and plants that they observed in the yard. The students will also record these questions and answers on their KWL charts and their Water Journals.

Activities, cont.

After students have completed their documentations, they will be allowed to

compare and contrast their findings orally. The will be able to compare the differences they have found

Closing

As a formative assessment the students will record in their Water Journals, the ways that their school yard is different from a classroom terrarium. If the students have recorded their findings correctly, the teacher would know that the students have completed the objectives listed on the lesson plan.

Assessment

As a modification for students who might struggle with learning or behavior, the teacher or aide would assist them with their observations and documentations. This student might also be paired with a buddy who would work with him in observing and documenting his findings. During our discussions of our findings, wait time would be given for students who might need it to answer questions.

Modifications

As an enrichment, the students could be asked to identify the basic needs of the plants such as sunlight, water, air, and nutrients. The teacher could ask how these needs are met in the school yard. The student could add these findings to their Water Journal.

Enrichment

http://www.nparks.gov.sg/blogs/garden_voices/wp-content/2009/06/untitled2.jpg

http://www.janekirkland.com/storage/school-visit-photos/real-school-and-florence-es/GardenJane.jpg

http://www.suacademy.com/LaurensClass08.JPG

Activities

Activities, cont.

Activities, cont.