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Organisms, Objects, and Events

Organisms, Objects, and Events

TEKS Objective

 The student will ask questions about organisms, objects, and events observed in the natural world.

Essential Understanding

The student develops abilities to ask questions and seek answers in classroom and outdoor investigations. 

Science Background

What is Inquiry Science Teaching? BioEd Online (video) - Strategies for using questions and investigations to guide your students’ science learning.

What is Inquiry Science Teaching?
BioEd Online, www.bioedonline.org

It’s Time for More Early Childhood Science: National Science Teachers Association (website) - Article that explains why primary students are at the perfect age to begin “discovering” science.

It’s Time for More Early Childhood Science
National Science Teachers Association, www.nsta.org

Signature Lesson

Air, It’s Really There! American Chemical Society (PDF) - Students seek to answer the question, Does air take up space? by investigating and observing the transfer of bubbles in an aquarium.

Air, It’s Really There!
American Chemical Society, portal.acs.org

Supporting Lessons

Hoopster: Exploratorium (website) - Students investigate the question, How can a round paper hoop fly if airplane wings are flat? To find the answer, they build and test-fly their own paper hoops.

Hoopster
Exploratorium, www.exploratorium.edu

Look at Those Leaves! Science NetLinks (website) - Students observe, measure, and sort tree leaves, and investigate the relationship between individual leaves and an entire tree.

Look at Those Leaves!
Science NetLinks, www.sciencenetlinks.com

How Does a Butterfly Become a Butterfly? K-12 Databases (PDF) - Students learn about life cycles by exploring the physical characteristics of a caterpillar as it changes into a butterfly.

How Does a Butterfly Become a Butterfly?
K-12 Databases, web.esc20.net

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

How are Animals Alike and Different? K-12 Databases (PDF) - Lead students through an investigation in which they identify, discuss and draw the physical characteristics of different animals.

How are Animals Alike and Different?
K-12 Databases, web.esc20.net

Assessment Ideas

Ask students to use a hand lens to observe a rock and write three questions about the rock in their science notebooks. Afterward, have students work in pairs to share and discuss their questions and collaborate on answers for each question. Each student should record the answers in his/her science notebook. 

Literature Connections

Scientists Ask Questions. Garrett, Ginger (ISBN-13: 978-0516246628)

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why. Shields, Amy (ISBN-13: 978-1426307935)

TIME for Kids Big Book of Why. Perritano, John (ISBN-13: 978-1603208420) 

Related Science TEKS

(1.2A) Ask Questions
The student is expected to ask questions about organisms, objects, and events observed in the natural world.

(1.2B) Plan and Conduct Descriptive Investigations
The student is expected to plan and conduct simple descriptive investigations such as ways objects move.

(1.2C) Collect Data
The student is expected to collect data and make observations using simple equipment such as hand lenses, primary balances, and non-standard measurement tools.

(1.2D) Record and Organize Data & Observations
The student is expected to record and organize data and observations using pictures, numbers, and words.

(1.2E) Communicate Observations
The student is expected to communicate observations with others about simple descriptive investigations.

(1.4A) Tools for Collecting Information
The student is expected to collect information using tools, including computers ,  hand lenses , primary balances, cups, bowls, magnets, collecting nets, and notebooks; timing devices, including clocks and timers; non-standard measuring items such as paper clips and clothespins; weather instruments such as demonstration thermometers and wind socks;  and materials to support observations of habitats of organisms such as terrariums and aquariums.

Related Math TEKS

1.7F     Compare and order two or more objects according to weight/mass (from heaviest to lightest).

1.9A    Collect and sort data.

1.12A  Explain and record observations using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

1.13A  Justify his or her thinking using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology. 

Additional Resources

Questioning Strategies: Lawrence Hall of Science (website) - Explore strategies for using questions to leading discussion in the science classroom. Includes downloadable supplemental information.

Questioning Strategies
Lawrence Hall of Science, www.lawrencehallofscience.org

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