Habits and Habitats - NV - Third Grade

Habits and Habitats
A Classrooms Unleashed Program
for Third Grade Students

This is the best interactive and hands-on science curriculum I’ve ever seen brought into the schools.
— 3rd grade teacher from Double Diamond Elementary School
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Throughout this unit, students investigate why the deer in Nevada have been disappearing. Students participate in two 90-minute in-class lessons that have students learning about habitats, survival of organisms, and patterns of environmental change through hands-on activities. In addition, students participate in a half-day field study at one of our local parks to explore real world examples of how environmental changes affect organisms.

 All of our lessons are backwards designed from Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core for third grade. In addition to the Sierra Nevada Journeys-led lessons, classroom teachers will be provided with 3-4 easy-to-use learning experiences to reinforce concepts and vocabulary.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

LESSON 1: THE CASE OF THE DISAPPEARING DEER

During this 90-minute classroom lesson students become ecologists and are introduced to the mystery of disappearing deer in Nevada. Students will explore images of deer, looking for evidence of what deer need to survive, and for potential threats or dangers that may be causing the decline. They will also engage in an active simulation to demonstrate the impact of environmental change on deer survival.  

LESSON 2: ECOLOGISTS IN THE FIELD

During this 3-hour field study students take their learning outside as they explore local ecosystem connections at a nearby park. Through games and activities designed to hone observation and critical thinking skills, students act as ecologists in the field, looking for evidence of environmental change in an effort to solve the mystery of the shrinking deer population.

LESSON 3: HABITAT HELPERS

During this 90-minute classroom lesson students will spend time compiling and analyzing the information they’ve learned about what deer need to survive and what might make it difficult to survive, in order to bring closure to the mystery of the disappearing deer. Students will then learn about strategies for improving or protecting the habitats of deer and other animals and will create a habitat restoration plan designed to support deer survival.


TEACHER INFORMATION

NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS

3-LS4-4

COMMON CORE 

ELA: W.3.1b, SL.3.1, W.3.8, RI.3.3

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