*** Kindergarten Science *** Standard 2 Organisms can be described and sorted by their physical characteristics. Essential Question 1 What do living things have in common? Understanding Deer - Students explore physical and behavioral attributes of deer who reside the park to increase the students understanding of how these attributes are useful in describing the deer as unique organisms as well as identifying what living organisms have in common. Air for Life/Powerful Sun Students examine how all living organisms need and use air and sunlight. They examine how organisms physical characteristics provide ways for them to use air and sunlight. Have to Have a Habitat Students identify what a habitat consists of and how all living things have a habitat. Field of Life Students will explore a field to identify how it is home to many different kinds of plants and animals and how it provides them with their essential needs. Essential Question 2- What physical characteristics are useful for describing and sorting organisms? Birds of a Feather Students discover how birds are the same and also different through exploration of their physical characteristics and functions of these characteristics. Forest Floor Student s explore the forest floor to determine components of this habitat and identify physical characteristics of the organisms that live in this habitat.
**** First Grade Science **** Standard 2.2 An organism is a living thing that has physical characteristics to help it survive. Essential Question 1 -How do the needs of plants and animals differ? Field of Life Animals and Plants Students explore a field to determine what animals and plants live in this habitat, what this habitat provides for these organisms and how the physical characteristics of the organisms are similar or different. Air for Life, Powerful Sun and Water Everywhere Students explore how different organisms use air, sunlight, and water. They identify components of environments that help or hinder organisms from these processes for both plants and animals. Surviving in Winter Students identify how the physical characteristic and adaptive behavior of animals and plants help them survive a winter environment. Essential Question 2- What helps a specific plant or animal survive? Camouflaged Creatures Students learn how camouflage is an adaptive behavior or physical characteristic of animals that help them survive. Thorns and Other Threats Students explore how the physical characteristics of animals and plants that have developed defenses assist them in their survival. Prey vs. Predator Students develop hypotheses about how physical characteristics of animals that reside in the park assist these animals to survive as prey and predators. Skins and skulls along with animal habitats are used to explore students theories. What Makes a Tree Students discover how a tree is constructed with all of its parts providing unique functions that help it survive and how its specific habitat contributes to these functions. Variations on a Leaf Students identify properties of leaves that allow them to function as food producers for their plant. Cones of Conifers Students identify properties of cones and why variations help trees to survive.
**** Second Grade Science **** Standard 2.1 Organisms depend on their habitat s non-living parts to satisfy their needs. Essential Question 1 - How do environments (habitats) differ? What Gives? Students explore various habitats to discover how they supply similar and different needs for various organisms. Essential Question 2 - How do living things depend on their habitats? Have to Have a Habitat Students investigate real life habitats for animals in the park and determine how the animals depend on elements of the environment. Field of Life Students explore the different physical characteristics of organisms in a field to discover how they are interrelated and depend upon each other to survive. Standard 2.2 Each plant or animal has different structures or behaviors that serve different functions. Essential Question 1 -What different structures do plants and animals have that perform the same function? Understanding Grasses/Deer Students explore the structures that provide essential nutrients for deer and grasses to ensure their survival and then students develop and explore hypotheses on the interrelationship of these two organisms. Trees and Insects Student explore the similarities and different in trees and insects and explore hypotheses on the interrelationship of these two organisms. Essential Question 2 - What structures and behaviors help organisms meet their needs within a specific environment?
Camouflaged Creatures Students will identify how animals have physical characteristics and adaptive behavior to camouflage themselves in their environments and explore different types of camouflage and how it is effective. Seeds and Cones Students will study seed dispersal for flowering plants and conifers as distinct and unique ways that these plant structures provide for continuation of their species. Birds of a Feather Students discover how different birds found in the park are uniquely adapted to survive in their individual habitat. Students explore different habitats in the park to increase understanding of the relationship between birds characteristics and functions.
**** Third Grade Science **** Standard 2 The duration and timing of life cycles events such as reproduction and longevity vary across organisms and species. Essential Question 1 - How are life cycles from a variety of organisms similar and different? Bears Repeating/Changing Twigs Students examine the life cycle events of a bear over a year and the life cycle events of a tree branch twig over the year to compare and contrast how these two unique organisms are designed to grow, survive and create new offspring. Dandelions /Insect Cycles Students explore a dandelion plant s life cycle events and compare and contrast it with an insects life cycle events to discover how two unique organisms are designed to grow, survive and create new offspring. Essential Question 2 -How does an organism change throughout its life cycle? Insect Cycles Students will explore an environment to identify insects at various stages of their life cycle events and to determine how these insects are similar or different and how they interact with their environments. What Makes a Tree Students will identify trees in their natural element and determine how individual trees as unique organisms change over their life span. Polliwogs to Frogs (or Toads) Students will investigate frogs or toads in their natural habitat to explore their unique life cycle events from eggs to adult. The Life of a Flower Students explore a variety of habitats to discover examples of how plants as organisms develop and change throughout their existence. Differences and commonalities amongst plants are examined.
**** Fourth Grade Science **** Standard 2 All living things share similar characteristics, but also have differences that can be described and classified. Essential Question 1 - In what different ways can plants and animals be sorted into groups? Structural Design Insects Students explore the structural design of various insects to discover how they have physical characteristics which are similar or different and how these characteristics allow them to function efficiently in their environment. Tooth and Jaw Students explore variations in the physical attributes of teeth and jaw structure of various mammals to determine how these differ between animals who reside in the park and how these characteristics are useful for classifying animals identifying their habitats. What Makes a Tree - Students discover how the parts of a tree are designed to allow the tree to function in its environment. The physical characteristics of a tree are explored to identify the function of each. Essential Question 2- How are related species similar and different? Structures of Plants Students explore grasses, leafy bushes and wildflowers to discover how different species of plants are similar in basic design but different according to their physical characteristics and how these function to provide them with survival in their environments. Birds of a Feather Students explore various birds and their physical characteristics to identify how differences assist birds in their specific needs and allow them to benefit from their individual habitats. Essential Question 3 -What physical characteristics help organisms survive? Camouflaged Creatures Students identify different types of camouflage organisms use and why it assists them to survive. Students explore information about various animals in the park and discover environments or habitats where specific camouflage would be effective for their survival. Prey vs. Predators - Students study special physical characteristics and adaptations which animals have that assist them to survive in their roles as prey or predator. Thorns and Other Threats Students explore various mechanisms that animals and plants use as defenses to assist them to survive in their specific environments.
**** Fifth Grade Science **** Standard 2.1 All organisms have structures and systems with separate functions. Essential Question 1 - How do plants and animals carry out processes necessary for life? Birds of a Feather Students will study birds and their physical characteristics to examine features which allow birds to adapt to their various habitats represented in the park (grassland, riparian and montane) and carry out processes necessary for survival. Tooth and Jaw Students examine examples of teeth and jaws for mammals in the park. They will identify similarities and differences to learn how these structures assist the animals in surviving in their environments. Exploration of park areas will lead to determination of links between environments and these physical characteristics. Prey vs. Predator Students explore characteristics of animals that help them survive in their roles as predator and prey. Students identify how the complex relationship of prey and predators is dependent on features of their environment. Insects Life Cycle Students explore how some insects may change throughout their lives and how their physical metamorphic processes enable them to survive. Structures of Plants Students examine plants from a variety of plant environments to explore and discover the commonalities, differences and adaptations of the plants. Cones of Conifers Students examine cones from various conifers in the park to discover their physical characteristics and how their structure contributes to the survival of the trees species. Essential Question 2 -What different structures do plants and animals use to carry out the same functions? Understanding Grasses and Deer Students explore structures of two very different organisms to determine how they are different or alike and how they each use these structures to meet their basic and essential needs in their environment. Attention is also paid to how these two organisms are interrelated and depend on each other. Trees and Insects - Students explore structures of two very different organisms to determine how they are different or alike and how they each use these structures to meet their basic and essential needs in their environment. Attention is also paid to how these two organisms are interrelated and depend on each other. Plants and Birds - Students explore structures of two very different organisms to determine how they are different or alike and how they each use these structures to meet their basic and essential needs in their environment. Attention is also paid to how these two organisms are interrelated and depend on each other.