Pond Ecology   Stefanie Dunn

CURRICULUM AREA

Science

GRADE LEVEL

5

Purpose and Description

·       Via exploration of The Webster Hill Pond (located in our courtyard), non- fiction books, The Missing Gator Of Gumbo Limbo by Jean Craighead George, science investigations, computer software and content area web activities, students will gain the understanding of the components of pond life. Via whole group, small group and individual tasks, students will have opportunities to read, write, listen, speak, and view. This integrated unit of study will run the length of the school year. The activities described below are only the major components of this unit.

ACTIVITIES/PROCEDURE	NETS PROFILE FOR LEVEL	ENGLISH LANG ARTS STANDARDS
1. Create a scientist’s pond journal for gathering data and observational notes using our Webster Hill pond. Student journals will include pond specific vocabulary, sketches and observational notes about changes they observe throughout the different seasons.	A1 A2 C3 E3 F4	1,3
2. Students will Navigate Web Page created for Webster Hill’s 5th grade pond study http://anidomby.tripod.com to gain basic information about a pond and its characteristics. On this site, students will be able to: take a virtual pond dip tour, learn about succession, listen to nature poetry created by classmates, read biographical information about Henry Thoreau and Walden Pond and complete a word search. Students will use this site to complete a scavenger hunt.	A1 A2 E1 E2 C1 C2 C3 E3 G1	1,2,3,,4,5,7,8,1112
3. Children will read The Missing Gator of Gumbo Limbo, (Jean Craighead George) an ecological mystery. Students will be responsible for learning  specific vocabulary and answering all categories of questioning from literal to inferential. Missing Gator of Gumbo Limbo web quest  to be completed in partnerships will serve as final project for this trade book.	A1 A2 C1 C2 C3 E1 E2 F4	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,12
4. Students and teacher will use INSPIRATION software to compare and contrast ecological facts from  Missing Gator’s habitat (hammock in the Evergaldes) to the Webster Hill pond.	A1 A2 C1 C2 C3 E1 E2 F4	1,3,6,7,8,11,12
5.Poetry - students will  read various forms of poetry and create their own nature poem. Students will dictate their poem onto the aforementioned site.	E1	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12
6. Making an Aquatic Insect and plant collection. Students will collect samples of pond water on their Westmoor Park fieldtrip. Samples will be joined into bucket and put into glass aquarium in the classroom. Students will observe the insects and plant life. Students will create “Pond Word Wall” which will include sketches and observations from the classroom “pond aquarium”	A1,2 C1,2,3	12
7. Webster Hill pond advertisements. In small groups students will create advertisement posters about the school pond. Advertisements will include basic information about the pond and its animal and plant life. Student groups will travel to different grade levels to present their information. This will serve to encourage more ownership and excitement for the school pond from grades k-4.	C1,2,3	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,11,12
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9.

TOOLS AND RESOURCES

SOFTWARE:

Inspirations

Encarta Encyclopedi

Microsoft word

WEB SITES and searches/borrowed ideas and information:

Brainpop .com

www.nettrekker.com

CanterburyEnvironmental Education Centre/Ponds.com

Yahooligans .com

http://www.whps/library/webquests/index.htm

http://nanosft.com/walden/index.html

www.tripod.com

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/conker/pond-dip/

http://mbgnet.mobot.org/fresh/

http://www.naturegrid.org.uk/

http://www.whps.org/library/webquests/elementary/webhill/gator/florida%20websites.htm

www.beepworld.de

 http://mbgnet.mobot.org/fresh/slide.htm

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/pond/pondlife.shtml

www.puzzlemaker.com

OTHER

Many fiction and non fiction books/magazines which have to do with water, ponds, poetry and nature have been checked out from library and will remain in classroom for students to read for the duration of this unit.

ASSESSMENT

The work that will be assessed:

Student observational journal

Missing Gator of Gumbo Limbo

 Web quest

  Chapter work

Nature poetry

Scavenger Hunt

Students and teacher will come up with a rubric for each of these tasks. Rubrics are based on number system then converted to percentiles. Percentiles follow the standard 90-100% =A  80-89% =B etc.

I have not taught this unit before but am excited to begin. I found it easy to get carried away with setting up the web page. More activities will be added as the unit continues and flourishes.