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Problem: Lack of Water in a Habitat

Problem: Lack of Water in a Habitat

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to identify and explain a problem in his/her own words and propose a task and solution for the problem such as lack of water in a habitat.

Essential Understanding

The student knows that information and critical thinking, scientific problem solving, and the contributions of scientists are used in making decisions.

Science Background

Drought for Kids: National Drought Mitigation Center (website) - Navigate this website for a large collection of useful information related to what a drought is, how drought affects our lives, how people study drought, and how me can protect ourselves from drought. Includes a glossary and links to additional resources.

Drought for Kids
National Drought Mitigation Center, drought.unl.edu

Signature Lesson

Discovering Drought: Project WET (pdf) - A series of seven brief lessons describing climate conditions, cause and effect and conservation.

Discovering Drought
Project WET, www.projectwet.org

Supporting Lessons

Do Plants Need Water? Utah Education Network (website) - Plant lima beans at successively farther distances from a water source to observe the impact of water (or lack thereof) on plant growth. Focus on Investigation #1.

Do Plants Need Water?
Utah Education Network, www.uen.org

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

Defining Drought: Science NetLinks (website) - Students examine the causes, characteristics and impacts of drought, and consider the larger issue of water usage. Includes assessment and extensions.

Defining Drought
Science NetLinks, www.sciencenetlinks.net

Global Water Supply Elementary School Curriculum: Water.org (pdf) - integrated unit on water use, lack of water and global outlook.

Global Water Supply Elementary School Curriculum
www.water.org

Assessment Ideas

Students create a public service announcement suggesting ways to protect the local wildlife and habitat during drought conditions. For example, the announcements might discuss or illustrate strategies for limiting water use.

Literature Connections

Drought (Wild Weather, 2nd Edition). Chambers, Catherine (ISBN-13: 978-1403495761)

Witness to Disaster: Droughts. Fradin, Judy and Dennis (ISBN-13: 978-1426303395)

Saving Water (Water All Around). Olien, Rebecca (ISBN-13: 978-0736836999)

Droughts (Disasters Up Close). Woods, Michael (ISBN-13: 978-0822565765)

Related Science TEKS

(2.1A) Science Safety
The student is expected to identify and demonstrate safe practices as described in the Texas Safety Standards during classroom and outdoor investigations, including wearing safety goggles, washing hands, and using materials appropriately.

(2.1B) Importance of Safe Practices
The student is expected to describe the importance of safe practices.

(2.1C) Recycling/Disposal of Science Materials
The student is expected to identify and demonstrate how to use, conserve, and dispose of natural resources and materials such as conserving water and reuse or recycling of paper, plastic, and metal.

(2.2A) Ask Questions
The student is expected to ask questions about organisms, objects, and events during observations and investigations.

(2.2B) Plan and Conduct Descriptive Investigations
The student is expected to plan and conduct descriptive investigations such as how organisms grow.

(2.2C) Collect Data
The student is expected to collect data from observations using simple equipment such as hand lenses, primary balances, thermometers, and non-standard measurement tools.

(2.2D) Record and Organize Data & Observations
The student is expected to record and organize data using pictures, numbers, and words.

(2.2E) Communicate and Justify Explanations
The student is expected to communicate observations and justify explanations using student-generated data from simple descriptive investigations.

(2.2F) Comparing Results of Investigations
The student is expected to compare results of investigations with what students and scientists know about the world.

(2.3B) Make Predictions
The student is expected to make predictions based on observable patterns.

Related Math TEKS

2.12D    The student is expected to use tools such as real objects, manipulatives, and technology to solve problems.

2.13A    The student is expected to explain and record observations using objects, words, pictures, numbers, and technology.

Additional Resources

Drought Information for Kids: Delaware River Basin Commission (website) - Learn what droughts are, how to save water during a drought, and how droughts impact plants and wildlife.

Drought Information for Kids
Delaware River Basin Commission, www.state.nj.us

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