Students explore the relationship between living things and their environment, and how the environment can impact a species' ability to survive, while referring to the text to ask and answer questions.
In this unit, students explore the relationship between living things and their environment and how the environment can both positively and negatively impact a species’ ability to survive. Using the Next Generation Science Standards as a guide, students will learn about different species, what they need for survival, their life cycle, and how they have adapted for survival. Then students will be challenged to create arguments that explain why some organisms are able to survive well, some survive less well, and others can’t survive at all in certain habitats. Through this unit, along with others in the sequence, students will use the scientific information they learn to think critically about the world around them.
The Science of Living Things texts were chosen as mentor texts for this unit because the author, Bobbie Kalman, uses text features and clear language to clearly communicate complex concepts about the animal kingdom, life cycles, and animal adaptations. As readers, students will be challenged to constantly ask and answer questions about key details in the text, explicitly referring to the text to support an answer or a question. Over the course of the unit, students will also deepen their understanding of how Bobbie Kalman uses text features to not only organize information, but to help a reader learn new information and facts about a subject. Students will also work on using context clues to figure out the meaning of genre-specific vocabulary, find the main idea of a section, and explain cause and effect in relation to scientific concepts.
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Book: What is a Life Cycle? (The Science of Living Things) by Bobbie Kalman and Jacqueline Langille (Crabtree Pub Co, 1998) — NC880L
Book: What is the Animal Kingdom? (The Science of Living Things) by Bobbie Kalman (Crabtree Pub Co, 1997) — IG770L
Book: How do Animals Adapt? (The Science of Living Things) by Bobbie Kalman and Niki Walker (Crabtree Pub Co, 2000) — NC940L
Book: Invertebrates by Brooke Bessesen (Science A-Z)
Book: Vertebrates by Kira Freed (Science A-Z)
Book: Life Cycles by Ned Jensen (Science A-Z)
Resource: Recommended Texts for Independent Reading (Grade 3 Unit 3)
See Text Selection Rationale
These assessments accompany this unit to help gauge student understanding of key unit content and skills. Additional progress monitoring suggestions are included throughout the unit.
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adapt adaptation amphibian burrow camouflage carnivore characteristics cold-blooded defense evolution exoskeleton hatchlings invertebrate kingdom life cycle metamorphosis migrate mimicry molt nocturnal offspring omnivore organ prey reproduction reproducing skeleton support vertebrate warm-blooded
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What is the Animal Kingdom? pp. 4 – 7
RI.3.2
RI.3.3
RI.3.7
Explain what the animal kingdom is and the types of living things you might find in the animal kingdom.
What is the Animal Kingdom? pp. 8 – 11
RI.3.3
RI.3.7
Explain what characteristics all simple animals and worms share and how they vary.
What is the Animal Kingdom? pp. 12 – 15
RI.3.3
RI.3.7
RI.3.8
Explain what characteristics all mollusks and arthropods share and how they vary.
Writing
L.3.1.h
L.3.1.i
Use subordinating conjunctions to write more interesting and complex sentences.
2 days
Writing
Invertebrates — Investigation Files
3-LS4-2
3-LS4-3
RI.3.3
W.3.2
W.3.2.a
W.3.2.b
W.3.7
W.3.8
Defend if all arthropods are exactly the same and if all arthropods can survive in a variety of habitats.
What is the Animal Kingdom? pp. 16 – 21
RI.3.3
RI.3.7
RI.3.8
Explain what characteristics all fish and amphibians share and how they vary.
What is the Animal Kingdom? pp. 22 – 27
RI.3.3
RI.3.7
RI.3.8
Explain what characteristics all reptiles, birds, and mammals share and how they vary.
Writing
W.3.1.c
L.3.2.d
Use transition words to help illustrate certain points or ideas.
2 days
Writing
Vertebrates — Investigation Files
3-LS4-2
3-LS4-3
RI.3.3
W.3.2
W.3.2.a
W.3.2.b
W.3.7
W.3.8
L.3.2.d
Defend if all reptiles are exactly the same and if all reptiles can survive in a variety of habitats.
Discussion
SL.3.1
SL.3.1.a
SL.3.1.c
Analzye and debate unit essential questions using details and understandings from the text.
What is a Life Cycle? — pg. 4-5, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13
RI.3.3
RI.3.7
Describe the different stages of a life cycle and why the continuation of a life cycle is important for the survival of a species.
Writing
W.3.1.b
W.3.1.c
L.3.2.d
Use transition words to help show time and sequence.
Writing
What is a Life Cycle? pp. 13 – 14
W.3.2
W.3.2.a
W.3.2.b
W.3.7
W.3.8
Describe the stages of a ladybug beetle and frog life cycle.
What is a Life Cycle? — pg. 14-15, 16-17
RI.3.3
RI.3.7
RI.3.8
Explain how amphibian and reptile life cycles are unique and different.
What is a Life Cycle? — pg. 18-19, 20-21, 22-25
RI.3.3
RI.3.7
Explain how fish, bird, and mammal life cycles are unique and different.
3 days
Writing
Life Cycles — Focus Books
3-LS1-1
RI.3.3
W.3.2
W.3.2.a
W.3.2.b
W.3.7
W.3.8
SL.3.1
Compare and contrast the life cycle of two organisms by using information from the text and class presentations to support an idea.
Discussion
All unit texts
3-LS4-3
RI.3.3
SL.3.1
SL.3.1.a
SL.3.1.c
Construct an argument with evidence from the unit to support why some animals can survive well in a desert habitat, others survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
How Do Animals Adapt? pp. 4 – 9
RI.3.3
RI.3.7
Explain the connection between evolution and adaptation and give an example of how an animal has evolved in order to survive.
How Do Animals Adapt? pp. 10 – 17
RI.3.3
RI.3.7
RI.3.8
Explain how the environment in which an animal lives impacts the way an animal adapts and why different adaptations are needed.
How Do Animals Adapt? pp. 18 – 23
RI.3.2
RI.3.3
Explain how the environment in which an animal lives impacts the way an animal adapts and why different adaptations are needed.
How Do Animals Adapt? — pg. 24-end
RI.3.3
RI.3.7
Explain how the environment in which an animal lives impacts the way an animal adapts and why different adaptations are needed.
4 days
Opinion Writing
3-LS4-3
3-LS4-4
W.3.1
W.3.1.a
W.3.1.b
W.3.1.c
SL.3.1
L.3.2.d
Design an animal and defend if the animal would or would not survive in a particular environment.
Discussion
SL.3.1
SL.3.1.a
SL.3.1.c
Analzye and debate unit essential questions using details and understandings from the text.
Assessment
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