Multi-cellular organisms rely on internal systems to survive, reproduce, and interact with their environment.

CONCEPTS

• Systems
• Organism
• Interdependence
• Survival
• Adaptation
• Reproduction
• Interactions
• Environment
• Stewardship

Students will keep considering…

• What is a living organism?

• What do all organisms need for survival?

• What adaptations help the organism survive in its environment?

• What interactions do you observe –between organisms, and between the organism and environment?

• How am I connected to the organism(s) I’ve experienced during field studies?

• What does it mean to be a steward of the environment?

• What is a system?

• What does it mean to think using a systems approach?

• How have I experienced ‘Systems’ at ODS? (e.g. in what ways is a pond a living system?)

• How am I connected to ‘Systems’ in my everyday life?

Students will demonstrate their knowledge, skills & understanding by:

• collecting qualitative & quantitative data from the pond & surrounding area
• collecting organism samples
• exploring the pond in a sensory way (smell, hearing, sight)
• drawing a sketch of the pond
• demonstrating proper use of a hand lens or microscope
• observing organisms under a hand lens or microscope
• using a dichotomous key to identify different organisms
• making a list of species found (type & #)
• constructing a food chain
• learning information about pond organisms from Pond Critter cards
• pair-sharing observations, questions, reminds me…
• pair-sharing and group sharing of interview questions
• using observation and reasoning to make explanations about the health of the pond ecosystem

Teacher will monitor progress:
Teachers can monitor progress through ongoing formative assessment including but not limited to:

• N/A

• ODS Pond Orientation
• Beetles: Hand Lens Intro
• Beetles: Walk and Talk
• Beetles: I notice, I wonder, It reminds me of
• Utah State University: Pond Critter Cards
• Strange Beginnings by Karen Needham and Launi Lucas
• bioblitz Canada
• Key to Macroinvertebrate Life in the River

How will teachers and their students reflect on and evaluate the completed project?

Teacher Reflection

• What aspects of the field study went well?
• What did students struggle with?
• What did you struggle with?
• What would you add/revise the next time you taught this field study?
• Were there any unintended outcomes?
• Were students engaged?

• Full Unit Plan (PDF)
• Full Unit Plan (MS Word)

The Big Ideas consist of generalizations and principles and the key concepts important in an area of learning. The Big Ideas represent what students will understand at the completion of the curriculum for their grade. They are intended to endure beyond a single grade and contribute to future understanding.

Visit the Ministry of Education for more information

Communications Competency

The set of abilities that students use to impart and exchange information, experiences and ideas, to explore the world around them, and to understand and effectively engage in the use of digital media

Thinking Competency

The knowledge, skills and processes we associate with intellectual development

Social Competency

The set of abilities that relate to students’ identity in the world, both as individuals and as members of their community and society

Visit the Ministry of Education for more information

Visit the Ministry of Education for more information

To read more about First People’s Principles of Learning, please click here.

For classroom resources, please visit the First Nations Education Steering Committee.