Living Things for Grades 3-5: An Inquiry Approach

Introduction to Hands-On Science 5

• About Hands-On Science 5
• Format of Hands-On Science 5
• The Multi-Age Approach 6
• Inquiry and Science 6
• The Goals of Science Education in British Columbia 6
• Hands-On Science Principles 7
• Cultural Connections 8
• Indigenous Perspectives and Knowledge 9
• References 12

How to Use Hands-On Science in Your Classroom 13

• Multi-Age Teaching and Learning 13
• Module Overview 13
• Talking Circles 16
• Multiple Intelligences Learning Centres 17
• Icons 18
• Makerspaces 19
• References 20

Curricular Competencies: How to Infuse Scientific Inquiry Skills and Processes Into Lessons 21

• Observing 21
• Questioning 21
• Exploring 21
• Classifying 22
• Measuring 22
• Communicating, Analyzing, and Interpreting 23
• Predicting 25
• Inferring 25
• Inquiry Through Investigation and Experimentation 25
• Inquiry Through Research 26
• Addressing Students' Literacy Needs 27
• Online Considerations 27
• References 28

The Hands-On Science Assessment Plan 29

• Student Self-Assessment 29
• Formative Assessment 31
• Summative Assessment 32
• Indigenous Perspectives on Assessment 33
• Connecting Assessment to Curricular Competencies 33
• Module Assessment Summary 34
• Important Note to Teachers 34
• References 34
• Assessment Reproducibles 35

How Do Living Things Survive in Their Environment? 59

• About This Module 60
• Curriculum Learning Framework 65
• Curricular Competencies Correlation Chart 67
• Resources for Students 69
• 1 Initiating Event: What Do We Observe, Think, and Wonder About Living Things in Their Environment? 77
• 2 What Can We Learn About Living Things Through Storytelling? 83
• 3 What Do We Know About How Living Things Survive in Their Environment? 88
• 4 What Do We Know About Habitats, Communities, and Ecosystems? 93
• 5 What Are Some Special Features of Plants? 99
• 6 What Is a Fungus? 109
• 7 Why Do Organisms Live in Certain Habitats and Biomes? 114
• 8 What Are the Characteristics of Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers? 120
• 9 What Is a Food Chain? 125
• 10 What Is a Food Web? 130
• 11 How Do Plants Adapt to Survive in Their Environment? 134
• 12 How Do Animals Adapt to Survive in Their Environment? 140
• 13 What Is Biodiversity? 147
• 14 How Do Humans Sense and Respond to Their Environment? 155
• 15 How Do Humans Stay Healthy? 164
• 16 What Happens to Food After We Eat It? 173
• 17 Why Is Healthy Blood Red? 179
• 18 How Does Exercise Affect Your Heart and Lungs? 187
• 19 How Do Healthy Joints, Bones, and Muscles Help You Move? 195
• 20 Personal Inquiry Project: What More Do We Want to Know About How Living Things Survive in Their Environment? 205

Appendix: Image Banks 209

About the Contributors 217