Created byPhillip Charles Alcock

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Design a Sustainable Farm Ecosystem

Grade 4Science5 days

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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we design a farm that enhances animal interactions and supports their roles in a healthy farm ecosystem?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.

How do animals work together in groups to increase their chances of survival on a farm?
What are the different roles animals play in a farm ecosystem?
How does the presence of different animal groups impact the health of a farm ecosystem?
What environmental factors affect the interactions among animals on a farm?
How can we design a farm that supports animal group behaviors and interactions?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:

Students will be able to identify different animal roles in a farm ecosystem.
Students will construct arguments about how animals benefit from group interactions.
Students will design a farm that incorporates strategies to enhance animal interactions.
Students will evaluate the impact of environmental factors on animal behaviors.

Next Generation Science Standards

3-LS2-1

Primary

Construct an argument that some animals form groups that help members survive.Reason: This standard directly addresses the inquiry topic of animal interactions and their roles in a farm ecosystem.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

The Animal Architects: Building a Farm Community

Students receive a video of various animals (like birds, bees, and wolves) working together in their natural habitats. This prompts them to think about how animals form groups for survival, mirroring how they'll design their own sustainable farm community.

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Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.

Activity 1

Farm Ecosystem Exploration

Students will explore the concept of how different animals form groups in a farm ecosystem and how this behavior benefits their survival. This activity sets the groundwork for understanding community dynamics in ecosystems.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Introduce students to the farm ecosystem using visuals such as videos or pictures of farm animals and their habitats.

2. Guide discussions on the benefits of group living among animals (e.g., protection from predators, hunting efficiency).

3. Ask students to think about an animal found on a farm and how it benefits from forming groups.

4. Students will pair up to create a graphic organizer that shows the chosen animal, its group dynamics, and survival strategies.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA completed graphic organizer that details the selected animal, its grouping behavior, and how this behavior assists in its survival.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with 3-LS2-1 by allowing students to construct arguments about group dynamics in farm animal ecosystems.

Activity 2

Survival Strategy Presentation

In this activity, students will present their findings about the animal's group dynamics and survival strategies. This activity encourages public speaking and reinforces their understanding of ecosystem interactions.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Students will work individually to prepare a brief presentation based on their graphic organizer.

2. Encourage students to include visual aids or props to enhance their presentations.

3. Set up a ‘gallery walk’ where students can present their findings to classmates.

4. Provide constructive feedback to peers and reflect on the presentation experience.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA short oral presentation where students convey the importance of group dynamics for survival through their chosen animal.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsSupports 3-LS2-1 as students practice constructing arguments for survival strategies within their presentations.

Activity 3

Group Dynamics Storyboard

Students will create a visual storyboard that depicts a day in the life of a particular farm animal, showcasing its interactions with others in its group and the benefits these interactions provide.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Introduce the concept of storyboards and how they can illustrate concepts visually.

2. Students will select a farm animal and list key moments in its day that involve interacting in a group.

3. Guide students to draw or use digital tools to create a 6-panel storyboard illustrating their animal's daily interactions.

4. Add captions to each panel explaining the importance of those interactions for the survival of the animal.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA 6-panel storyboard that illustrates a farm animal's daily life and its group interactions that enhance survival.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with 3-LS2-1 as students create an argument through visual storytelling about group dynamics and survival.

Activity 4

Farm Ecosystem Community Creation

For the culminating activity, students will design their own farm ecosystem, ensuring they include animals with strong group dynamics and justify their choices based on survival benefits.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Outline the components of a farm ecosystem, emphasizing the roles of different animals.

2. Students will brainstorm and draft an ecosystem plan that includes various farm animals and their interactions.

3. Using construction paper, models, or digital platforms, students will create a visual representation of their farm ecosystem.

4. Present their ecosystem to the class, focusing on how the animals’ group behaviors contribute to their survival.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA collaborative farm ecosystem display that includes various animals, with justifications on how their group dynamics help them survive.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsDirectly supports 3-LS2-1 as students synthesize their learning to showcase the importance of group dynamics in an ecosystem.

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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Farm Ecosystem Exploration Rubric

Category 1

Understanding Animal Roles

Assessment of students' ability to identify and articulate the roles and interactions of animals within a farm ecosystem.

Criterion 1

Identification of Animal Roles

Evaluate students' ability to identify different roles animals play within a farm ecosystem.

Exemplary

4 Points

Precisely identifies a variety of animal roles with detailed explanations for each role's importance in the ecosystem.

Proficient

3 Points

Identifies multiple animal roles and explains their significance within the ecosystem.

Developing

2 Points

Identifies some animal roles with basic explanations of their importance.

Beginning

1 Points

Identifies few animal roles with minimal or inaccurate explanations.

Criterion 2

Explanation of Group Dynamics

Assess students' explanations of how animals' grouping behaviors support their survival strategies.

Exemplary

4 Points

Provides comprehensive explanations with multiple examples of how group behaviors support survival strategies.

Proficient

3 Points

Offers clear explanations with examples of group benefits to survival strategies.

Developing

2 Points

Attempts explanations with some examples, but lacks depth in linking group behavior to survival.

Beginning

1 Points

Offers limited or inaccurate explanations of survival benefits from group behaviors.

Category 2

Design of Farm Ecosystem

Evaluation of students' ability to apply their understanding of animal interactions in designing a functional farm ecosystem.

Criterion 1

Design Integration

Evaluate the students' ability to integrate animal roles and dynamics into their farm ecosystem design.

Exemplary

4 Points

Designs an intricate ecosystem with well-integrated roles and detailed justifications for animal interactions.

Proficient

3 Points

Creates a coherent ecosystem design with integrated roles and justified interactions.

Developing

2 Points

Develops a basic ecosystem design with some evidence of role integration.

Beginning

1 Points

Produces a simplistic ecosystem design with minimal role integration.

Criterion 2

Justification of Survival Benefits

Assess students' ability to justify the benefits of group dynamics in their farm ecosystem designs.

Exemplary

4 Points

Articulates comprehensive justifications linking group dynamics to survival benefits with multiple examples.

Proficient

3 Points

Provides clear and logical justifications with examples of survival benefits in strategic designs.

Developing

2 Points

Offers basic justification of group dynamics' survival benefits, with limited examples.

Beginning

1 Points

Justifications are minimal or lacking clear connections to group dynamics and survival benefits.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning

Question 1

Reflect on how your understanding of animal group dynamics on a farm has changed through this project.

Text

Required

Question 2

On a scale of 1 to 5, how confident do you feel about explaining the role of animal interactions in a farm ecosystem now compared to before?

Scale

Required

Question 3

Which activity did you find most engaging and why?

Text

Optional

Question 4

How well do you think your design of a farm ecosystem supports the interactions between animals?

Scale

Required

Question 5

What challenges did you encounter while creating your farm ecosystem design, and how did you overcome them?

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Optional

Question 6

If you could redesign one aspect of your farm ecosystem, what would it be and why?

Text

Optional