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The ABCs

Animals, Biomes, and Clues:  A MysteryQuest

 

Links:

Introduction to Biomes Video

ABCs Questions

ABCs Note Taking Sheet

 

The ABC’s:  Animals, Biomes, and Clues

 

Linda Kirk:                      East Fort Montessori Academy-EFWMA-    linda.kirk@efwma.org

Kara Lynn Greenfield:   R. F. Patterson Elementary - Kennedale I.S.D; Kennedale; TX   greenfieldk@kisdtx.net

Elizabeth Murray:           Onondaga Nation School - LaFayette School District; LaFayette, NY   emurray2@lafayetteschools.org

Tom Sweeney:                 Woodland Elementary - East Syracuse Minoa School District; East Syracuse, NY   tsweeney@esmschools.org        

 

Subject:  Science

Grades:  1st-4th

 

Description:     Join an exciting quest to apply what you know about animal adaptations and biomes, use your research skills, and work with a group to solve a mystery. Can you find the correct locations, using clues created by your partner classes?  This project is based on the Mystery Quest videoconferencing project.

 

Learner Outcomes:   Students will describe adaptations animals need in order to survive in a specific environment. Students will investigate biomes, research  and create clues, and analyze information to find a mystery location.

          Students will use their take note taking skills during the other locations’ presentations.     

          Students will use their knowledge of biomes, animal adaptations, and research to solve the clues and figure out the location of another group.

          Students will create a clarifying  Yes or No Question to ask the other group.

 

Time:   65 minutes

 

Preparation:

     Students will have prior knowledge of biomes.

     Students will have prior knowledge of animal adaptations both physical and behavioral.

     Students will have basic research skills.

 

Vocabulary:

     adaptations, nocturnal, camouflage, grassland, tropical rainforest, temperate forest, tundra, desert,  hemisphere, landform

 

Materials:

     Students will have access to the internet.

     Copies of The ABCs Questions for each student

     Copies of the The ABCs Notetaking Page for each student

 

Pre-Videoconfernce Preparation:

     Teachers will assign each class with a biome.  

     Students will pick the location within the given biome.

     Students will have researched their location. 

     Students will create a presentation to give their clues to the other participating classes.

     Students will create a “Big Reveal” to present their location at the end of the program.

 

Videoconference Agenda:

     Welcome and Introductions (2-5 minutes):   

               Each class will introduce their location including the biome where  they are located.

     

     Group Presentations (5-7 minutes):                

               Each class will give their group presentation while the other participating classes will take notes on the note taking sheet.  

     

     The Quest (20-30 minutes):              

               Each class will divide into groups.  The groups will each focus on one location and research the groups location based on the clues.  All sites on mute.

     

     Questions & Answers (5-7 minutes):

           Each group will come up with a Yes or No question to get a little more information before giving their final answer.  The question may not be a guess of the location.

                    Group A will answer all questions.

                    Group B will answer all questions.

                    Group C will answer all questions.

 

     Finalize Answers (2-5 minutes):

          Groups will evaluate their thinking and finalize their answer.  All sites on mute.

 

     Final Answers (2-5 minutes):

          Each group will state their guess of the locations.

                    Group A will give their guess of location of Group B.

                    Group C will give their guess of location of Group B.

                    Group A will give their guess of location of Group C.

                    Group B will give their guess of location of Group C.

                    Group B will give their guess of location of Group A.

                    Group C will give their guess of location of Group A.

 

     The Big Reveal (2-5 minutes):

          Each location will reveal their biome and its location.

 

     Two Stars & a Wish (5 minutes):

          Each location will give two positives and one thing they wish for the presentations.

 

     Good-Bye (2 minutes):

          Each location will say, “good-bye” to the other locations beginning with Group A, then B, and finally C.

 

     Post Activities:

Students will do a self reflection, of two things they did well during the project and one thing they could improve on or would change given the chance to do it again.

 

     Assessment & Evaluation:

Assessment will be based on the research skills used to create the clues, then how those skills are adapted to then use clues to find the location.  The teacher will listen as students work in groups for use of vocabulary and conversation.

 

     Implementation Plans:

          Participating teachers will teach biomes and animal adaptations.

          Teachers will work together to assign each class a different biome.

          Technology Contacts at each location will do a test of equipment two days prior to the conference.