Incorporating ELA into science labs for grades K-5

1. Incorporating ELA into science labs for grades K-5 By : Heidi Morea and Heather Hayes Brookwood Elementary School Forsyth County ,Georgia

2. Table of Contents • Guess the Specimen Classification Project -5th grade • Water Pollution lab- 3rd grade • Using Observation recording sheets with inquiry stations-1st grade • Using Science Interactive Journals -2nd-5th • Using an “I Wonder “ board

3. Guess the specimen project S5L1: Students will classify organisms into groups and relate how they determined the groups with how and why scientists use classification. a. Demonstrate how animals are sorted into groups (vertebrates and invertebrates) and how vertebrates are sorted into groups ( fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals).

4. Student directions: • 1. You will receive a partner . • 2. You and your partner will choose a number out of a bag. • 3. This number will correspond to a jar with a science specimen in it. • 4.Starting tomorrow you and your partner will go down to • the science lab ( at your assigned time) • You will get to see your specimen • You will begin filling out your graphic organizer • You might need to stop by the library to findout • additional information to help you. • You will begin writing clues that will help • someone match your clues to the correct specimen • jar. • Don't tell anyone your number or what your • specimen is.

5. Student Graphic Organizer Research Sheet Group Members: Specimen’s Name______________________________ Specimen Number________________________ Species: Habitat: Warm Blooded or Cold Blooded? ________________________ How do you know? Skin Covering: (Fur, Scales,Feathers) In the box, draw a picture of your specimen List the characteristics of your specimen: 1.      5. 2.       6. 3.      7. 4.       8. Is your specimen a vertebrate or invertebrate? How can you tell? Does your specimen have an exoskeleton or an inner skeleton? How can you tell? What can you tell about how your specimen lived based on your observations? Using the information above, write clues about your specimen: ( You must have at least 10 clues)

6. Justification Sheet Team Members:____________________________ We think our clues describe specimen #__________________________________ We think this because our specimen is ( list all the characteristics of the specimen and the how you could tell) Example: 1. Our specimen is cold blooded. We know this because it has scales.

8. Start by showing students examples of “What am I poems”. For example: I'm a powerful stick,I'm a masterful thing.I go "poof" and a flowerturns into a ring.I go "zap" and a bunny'sa small, yellow bird.I can change anythingwith just one magic word.Being magic is grandand the crowd loves my work.They say "ooooh" and sigh "aaaaah"and the kids go berserk!It's a wonderful gigand I'll never regret it,but that silly magiciantakes all of the credit!WHAT AM I?(C) 1998, Arden Davidson

9. Directions for writing • Have students guess what is being described in the poems. They can only use the clues provided. • Discuss with students what makes a good clue; makes you think, isn’t very obvious, is factual. • Have students practice and create their own “What am I Poems” based on something in science ( microscope, lab coat, goggles). • Students should share their poems and have their classmates try to guess. • During ELA time, students should visit the lab in pairs to observe, discuss, and take notes about their specimen. • They should use the internet, library and other resources to collect additional information about their specimen. • ( You might want to touch base with your media specialist before hand) . • In pairs students will create their clues about their specimen using the graphic organizer research sheet to help guide them.

10. 3rd grade water pollution Lab

11. 1. Choose a task below. 2. As a lab group or with a partner, perform a task to help to teach others in our school what they can do to help keep our waterways free from litter and protect the living things that live there. You may record these in your lab journal , on poster board, or on construction paper . Task 1- Make a poster to teach others about how trash that sinks or floats such as plastic bags can be harmful to turtles, otters, and birds living in or near water. Task 2- Make a brochure to teach how plastic items such as soda can rings or metal cans could harm animals living in or near the water. Task 3- Write a letter to a large plastic company asking them to consider using a different/ less harmful material such as paper in their product. Ask them to consider making plastic bags have a cost to use. Task 4- If you were the plastic bag, write a story about what happened to you in your life cycle. Did you end up harming a habitat or animal, or was there a happy ending for you?

12. 1st grade Observation Recording sheets S1P1: Students Will investigate Light and sound. c. Investigate How vibrations produce sound. d. Differentiate Between various Sound in terms of Pitch ( high and low) and volume (loud or soft).

14. UsingInteractive Science Journals 3rd grade student- Brookwood Elementary

15. 5th grade student Brookwood Elementary School

16. Science Lab Journal Reflection Writing Anchor- 3rd grade

17. Student examples of Science Lab journal reflection 4th grade student Brookwood Elementary School

18. 5thgrade student- Brookwood Elementary

19. Using an “I Wonder” board

20. Thank you! Any questions? hmorea@forsyth.k12.ga.us hhayes@forsyth.k12.ga.us Credits: Majestic Plastic Bag , www.youtube.com I Wonder Boards, www.wonderopolis.com