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Unit 1.2 Feature Factor

Description: 

Area: Structure & Info Processing

This First Grade unit is the SECOND in the curriculum of three (3) units developed to address the First Grade science standards of the Michigan Science Standards related to Structure and Information Processing.

You have just read the general description for this Phenomenal Science Unit. Before you continue your review, it would be very valuable to our field testing process for the 21 Units of Phenomenal Science for us to gather information about those educators who are reviewing each of the Units. Thank you. Please start your review with this BRIEF SURVEY. Enjoy your review.

Students will observe how plants and animals have offspring and some may look similar but not exactly like their parents/adults.  Students will explore how plants and animals have features (external and internal) that allow them to survive, grow, and meet their needs.   Students will make many observations about plant and animal parts and how they use their parts to help them survive. They will observe how different plants and animals support their offspring in survival.  Students will classify similar animals that  can vary in many ways.  Students will then apply their understanding of plant and animal survival in order to gain ideas about how to engineer something to solve a human problem.  Students will use their knowledge of plant and animal parts  to mimic one of these parts to design a solution to a human problem.  Students will construct explanations and models for multiple engineering tasks.

Learning Targets: 
Present a model of a plant and what it needs to survive throughout its life.
Present a model of an animal and what it needs to survive throughout its life.
Use their knowledge of plant and animal survival to engineer a solution to a human problem based on
Link: 
Unit 1.2 Feature Factor
https://goo.gl/HETmVJ
Author: 
Phenomenal-Science
Content Area: 
Science
Language: 
English
Resource Type: 
Unit
Licensing: 
Creative Commons Licence
Grade: 
1
Next Generation and Michigan Science
Next Generation and Michigan Science: 
1-LS1-1
1-LS1-2
1-LS3-1
Tags: 
Phenomenal Science

How are the standards/objectives assessed?

SUMMATIVE PERFORMANCE TASKS:

Students will demonstrate understanding through what complex performance?

Students will design a model or engineering plan that is inspired by a plant or animal feature this will solve a human problem.

Student prerequisite skills and knowledge

Prior PEs

We might presume . . .that students will know that plants and animals have needs.  They will know that living things have babies and adults.  They may understand that parents may help babies to survive.  That they use objects in their life to make things easier and someone invented that.

How is the concept or procedure explained or demonstrated?

The Instructional Cycles and Lessons of Unit 1.2 Feature Factor are used to facilitate student learning:

1.2.1 Instructional Cycle

Focus Question: How do plants rely on their parents for survival?  

1.2.2 Instructional Cycle

Focus Question: Do animal parents help their young survive?

1.2.3 Instructional Cycle

Focus Question: How can humans look to the natural world to solve problems and design solutions to human problems?

What concepts or procedures are being explained or demonstrated in this lesson object?

In Unit 1.2 Feature Factor, these Performance Expectations, Science and Engineering Practices, and Cross-cutting Concepts are demonstrated.

Performance Expectations:

Students who demonstrate understanding can . . .

1-LS1-1. Use materials to design a solution to a human problem by mimicking how plants and/or animals use their external parts to help them survive, grow, and meet their needs.

1-LS1-2. Read texts and use media to determine patterns in behavior of parents and offspring that help offspring survive.

1-LS3-1. Make observations to construct an evidence-based account that young plants and animals are like, but not exactly like, their parents. 

Science and Engineering Practices:

6 - Construct Explanations and Design Solutions (1-LS3-1, 1-LS1-1)

8 - Obtain, Evaluate and Communicate Information (1-LS1-2)

Cross-Cutting Concepts:

  • Patterns

  • Structure and Function

 

What was your experience, both successes and challenges, using this lesson object with your students?

This Phenomenal Science Unit is considered a "Complete Draft Unit" and is now being field tested with students in First Grade classrooms throughout Michigan. Feedback related to using the unit with students, both successes and challenges, will lead to unit modifications as necessary to prepare for wider dissemination.

As we’ve indicated above, we are currently FIELD TESTING all 21 Units of Phenomenal Science in classrooms all over Michigan during the 2016-2017 school year. They will then be revised, as needed, based on the feedback from teachers in field testing classrooms and those who have reviewed the units as you have just done through MVU’s Learning Object Repository (LOR). Please complete this SURVEY  to let us know some of your ideas about this unit.  Your thoughts can definitely contribute to this project. If you or your school/district are interested in acquiring the recommended professional development or field testing, please email Darcy McMahon at [email protected].