How do children really learn science? By observing, wondering, inquiring, and finding answers. Our life cycle unit is made more challenging and engaging through real life examination of living organisms.
Our elementary school is located in a semi-agricultural community that is part of a large Florida school district near an urban core.
The percentage of students receiving free/reduced lunch is approximately 62%. Our population is diverse with about 1/4 of our students being Asian or Hispanic and the remaining equally black and white. Our school offers a program that is internationally minded and concept driven. My students are taught to be and have become curious inquirers who want to find out more about the world. They are building a foundation of knowledge and the skills of how to learn, which will promote academic growth.
My Project
This unit is particularly important because it allows students a deeper understanding of how the natural world works. The requested resources will allow students to develop real world understandings about the laws and interactions of biology. They will be able to develop the skills of real scientists in the lab and in the field. The big idea of the unit is that all living things follow sequential stages during their life cycles. Students will focus on the developmental stages of living organisms and the characteristics of those organisms. Students will look at how animals reproduce and which ones look or do not look like their parents during various life cycle stages. They will observe, predict, and keep journals as they experience the life cycle stages of mealworms, butterflies, lady bugs, and chickens. Students will understand the stages of insect's life: egg, larvae, pupae and adult. They will observe the developmental stages of a chicken including the process of incubation.
My goal for the students is to be able to use the skills they have learned both inside and outside of the classroom.
Additionally these are important concepts that will build an understanding of scientific principals. My expectation is that students will leave my class being better thinkers, readers, and scientists for the future.
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