42 items | 53 visits
Resources from the NSDL Brown Bag on Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears: Integrating Science and Literacy for the Elementary Classroom
Updated on Apr 07, 09
Created on Jan 12, 09
Category: Schools & Education
URL:
Life in the Polar Extremes
Resources from the April 7, 2009 NSDL webinar, Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears http://beyondpenguins.nsdl.org
April 2009, Issue 13: At first glance, the polar regions may seem barren and lifeless. Yet the tundra - found in both the Arctic and Antarctica - is home to a surprising diversity of life. In this issue, explore the tundra and how it can illustrate ecological concepts, relationships, and changes. Consider common misconceptions and strategies for formative assessment. Learn how to engage girls in science and help students write research reports. Discover informational text, children's literature, and lesson plans for classroom use.
From PBS, environmental education resources for elementary ed level
We already know why polar bears don't eat penguins, but what do they eat? In this episode, we'll share a simple activity that opens a window to understanding a unique ecosystem as one example of a food chain - the Arctic Ocean. For more information on ecosystems and food chains, see Issue 13 - Tundra: Life in the Polar Extremes.
Did you know that of the 17 penguin species, only a few live or nest in Antarctica? Or that many of our familiar bird species from the mid-latitudes migrate to breed in polar regions? While we’re all familiar with Emperor penguins, there are many other fascinating birds that call the polar regions home at least part of the year. In this session, develop your own content knowledge and learn how to use birds to promote inquiry, teach physical science concepts, and integrate hands-on science instruction with reading strategies and other literacy skills.
Science facts and activities for students
Biomes of the World--what's it like where you live? Information for upper elementary and middle school resources
Atlas of Science Literacy is a two-volume collection of conceptual strand maps—and commentary on those maps—that show how students’ understanding of the ideas and skills that lead to literacy in science, mathematics, and technology might develop from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Science literacy benchmarks across K-12.
From the NSTA Learning Center: This Science and Children article (free for NSTA members, $0.99 for
nonmembers) describes an integrated performance task that assesses
students' understanding of the biomes of the earth.
Students create brochures using print and nonprint resources. Teachers
can modify the lesson so that students are creating a travel brochure
about an ecosystem (such as the tundra) instead of one about the local
community.
This article from the NSTA journal Science and Children describes an
assessment task in which students demonstrated knowledge of an ecosystem
through a student-created newspaper. While the original lesson focused
on the prairie, it could be easily modified to focus on the tundra.
Includes a rubric, standards alignment, and related resources. Articles
are free for NSTA members and $0.99 for nonmembers.
This game is similar to tag that simulates the prey and predator relationship between polar bears and ringed seals. It demonstrates the drastic impact of global warming by linking the amount of sea ice and length of season of sea ice to the survival of the polar bear.
Students role-play a predator/prey relationship. This activity could be
modified to focus on any predator/prey pair found in the tundra.
Students use video, images, and interactive activities to learn about
the environmental conditions and species found in several biomes,
including the tundra.
Students create tundra and boreal forest food webs using Alaska Ecology cards (pdf provided) and string. Teachers may want to use masking tape to tape down the web once it has been formed.
Rocks and Mineral Resources
Resources mentioned in the January 22, 2009 NSDL Webinar for Stafford County teachers on Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears (http://beyondpenguins.nsdl.org)
September issue related to Rocks and Minerals
From Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears: This nonfiction article is written for use with upper-elementary students (grades 4-5). Students read about Julie Codispoti, assistant curator at the United States Polar Rock Repository, located at Ohio State University's Byrd Polar Research Center. The article provides an overview of Antarctic geology as well as geology as a career.
Order a rock box from the US Polar Rock Repository of the Byrd Polar Research Center. Includes rock samples and printed materials with teaching ideas and activities.
From Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears: Rocks and minerals make up the earth around us. But what exactly are rocks and minerals? What is the difference between them? How do they form? Where are they found?
This article provides content knowledge about minerals, the three types of rocks, the rock cycle, and polar geology as well as online resources for further learning and connections to the National Science Education Standards.
Suggested books for integrating science and literacy about rocks and minerals from Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears
42 items | 53 visits
Resources from the NSDL Brown Bag on Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears: Integrating Science and Literacy for the Elementary Classroom
Updated on Apr 07, 09
Created on Jan 12, 09
Category: Schools & Education
URL: