Habitat Observations
TEKS Objective
The student is expected to collect, record, and compare information using tools, including computers, hand lenses, rulers, primary balances, plastic beakers, magnets, collecting nets, notebooks, and safety goggles; timing devices, including clocks and stopwatches; weather instruments such as thermometers, wind vanes, and rain gauges; and materials to support observations of habitats of organisms such as terrariums and aquariums.
Essential Understanding
The student uses age-appropriate tools and models to investigate the natural world.
Science Background
Terrariums: Region 20 Texas Education Service Center (PDF) - Classroom habitats, like terrariums, are essential tools that enable students to closely observe living organisms and their interactions with the environment. This article discusses the benefits of terrariums in the science classroom and explains how to arrange several different types of environments for student investigation and observation.
Signature Lesson
Animals’ Needs: BioEd Online (website) - Students observe and compare a worm model and a live worm. They create a terrarium that enables them to observe and collect data about live worms over time; learn that animals need air, water, food and a place to be; and realize that worms are living things that interact with living and non-living elements within the environment.
- Supporting Lessons
- Extensions
- Assessment Ideas
- Literature Connections
- Related
TEKS - Additional Resources
Supporting Lessons
Plants in Space: BioEd Online (website) - Be part of an exciting investigation conducted on the International Space Station and on Earth. Examine plant root growth in microgravity and compare “space plants” with similar plants grown in special habitats in your classroom. Includes a free, downloadable teacher’s guide and supplemental materials (registration required).
Elaboration Lessons and Extensions
Bottle Habitat: AskEric Lesson Plans (website) - Construct an aquatic ecosystem in a plastic, two-liter soft drink bottle and stock it with water plants, snails and fish. Over a four-week period, observe, describe and record the physical characteristics of the environment and the organisms living in this ecosystem.
Bottle Habitat
AskEric Lesson Plans, www.reachoutmichigan.org
Assessment Ideas
Over a period of two to three weeks, have students make daily observations of the terrarium created for the Signature Lesson, and record their findings in their science notebooks. At the end of the observation period, ask the following questions.
- What physical characteristics of the environment support the organisms living in the terrarium?
- How do the living organisms within this ecosystem rely on each other for survival?
- How do the organisms within this ecosystem rely on the non-living objects for survival?
Literature Connections
A Kid’s Guide to Making a Terrarium. Bearce, S. (ISBN-13: 978-1584158134)
Additional Resources
Bottle Biology: University of Wisconsin, Madison (website) - Use a simple soft drink bottle to create an ecosystem with three basic components (soil, water, plants). Students explore the links between land and water, observe and describe physical characteristics of environments within the ecosystem, and investigate how different components of the environment support living organisms.
Bottle Biology
University of Wisconsin, Madison, www.bottlebiology.org
TEKS Navigation
Grade 2
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