PhD Science Texas - Level K Module 1 - Extension Activities

TEXAS

Extension Activities

Level K Module 2

Lesson 15 Extension | Life

Working individually or in groups, students identify plant parts to compare Mojave Desert plants and Chihuahuan Desert plants.

PREPARATION

Provide students with books or computer devices and websites to research different plants in the Mojave and Chihuahuan Deserts. Consider directing students to the plant pages of the

National Park Service websites for the Mojave Desert (https://www.nps.gov/moja/learn/nature/ plants.htm) and a Texas park in the Chihuahuan Desert (https://www.nps.gov/bibe/learn/nature/ plants-of-big-bend.htm).

Distribute and read aloud the following procedure sheet to students.

Compare Desert Plants

1. Choose one Mojave Desert plant and one Chihuahuan Desert plant.

2. Point to the different plant parts you see.

3. How are the two plants similar? Write.

4. How are the two plants different? Write.

Provide opportunities for students to learn more about other scientists and naturalists. Working individually or in groups, students draw and write about a scientist’s tools and contributions.

PREPARATION

Select children’s books or online resources about scientists to read aloud to students. When selecting

additional scientists to feature, be mindful of diversity, inclusion, and representation. Consider resources featuring these scientists: George Washington Carver, Eugenie Clark, Jane Goodall, Ernest Everett Just, Ellen Ochoa, and Joan Beauchamp Procter.

Distribute and read aloud the following procedure sheet to students.

Research a Scientist

1. Choose a scientist.

2. Draw the scientist. Draw the tools the scientist used.

3. What work did the scientist do? Write.

Review the Mojave Desert animal needs cards. Reread the text of the Joshua Trees Knowledge Deck poster and card and of the book A Day and Night in the Desert by Caroline Arnold (2015). Working individually or in groups, students use the information from the sources to figure out where kangaroo rats live and how they are similar to desert tortoises and chuckwallas.

PREPARATION

Gather the Mojave Desert animal needs cards (Lesson 25 Resource B), the Joshua Trees Knowledge Deck poster and card, and the book A Day and Night in the Desert (page 7). If necessary, prepare to read aloud the text from any of these resources.

Distribute and read aloud the following procedure sheet to students.

Research Kangaroo Rats

1. Where does the kangaroo rat live?

Circle.

Wonderland of Rocks Oasis of Mara

2. How do you know? Write.

3. I think this because

4. Think about the kangaroo rat, the chuckwalla, and the desert tortoise. How are they similar? Circle.

They all get water from their food. They all have shelter underground.

Play the video “The Art of Basket Weaving” (http://phdsci.link/1694) from 33:38 to 39:03. Discuss connections between what students learned from the Basketmaking Knowledge Deck poster and what they learned from the video. Working individually or in groups, students design their own basket and include in their design a plant or animal from their own environment that is important to them.

PREPARATION

Prepare to play the video.

Distribute and read aloud the following procedure sheet to students.

Design a Basket

1. Draw your basket. Include a plant or animal you care about.

2. Share your work with another student.

Working individually, students choose a rock from a collection of rocks. Students write a description of their rock, and they identify a possible use of their rock.

PREPARATION

Gather a collection of different rocks either by using the class rock kit or by having students bring in rocks.

Distribute and read aloud the following procedure sheets to students.

Describe a Rock

1. Draw your rock.

2. What are the properties of your rock? Write.

3. How could you use your rock? Write.

My rock is good for

I think this because

Students vote as a class to research or investigate one unexplored question or related phenomenon from the module. With teacher support, students work in groups to perform research or carry out a simple investigation. Students then present their findings to the class.

PREPARATION

Prepare a list of unexplored questions and related phenomena from the module

driving question board. As necessary, curate resources for student research or provide materials and a procedure for a simple teacher-designed investigation. Prepare to review safety measures with students if necessary.

Write the appropriate activity name and procedure on a whiteboard or a sheet of chart paper, and read them aloud.

Research a Science Topic

1. Research the topic.

2. Get ready to present what you learned.

3. Share what you learned with the class. Carry Out an Investigation

1. Gather materials.

2. Carry out the investigation. Follow all safety rules.

3. Share what you learned with the class.