Environmental changes
Third Grade Lessons
This unit was developed featuring Southern and Rural Nevada environments using Next Generation Science Standards. This unit was designed for third grade and focuses on the NGSS standards 3-LS4-3: Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all and 3-LS4-4: Make a claim about the merit of a solution to a problem caused when the environment changes and the types of plants and animals that live there may change. However, it can be used for other grade levels and areas as well.
These activities are listed in their recommended order. This order will help to deepen student understanding by building on concepts from activity to activity. However, they were also designed to provide students with enough information that they will make sense on their own.
Download Environmental Changes Teacher’s Guide with additional notes and timing for each lesson. If you are using Google Classroom, consider using kamiapp.com to easily integrate activity pages which are created as PDF Fillable Forms.
do I belong here?
Students will use this written worksheet as a guide through matching an animal to its ideal habitat. They must figure out what parts of the habitat fit the animals needs and what is missing to determine the ideal habitat.
Download Do I Belong Here Activity Page
Spanish Do I Belong Here Activity Page
NGSS: 3-LS4-3: Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
Resilience Dice Game
NGSS: 3-LS4-3: Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
Students use the written worksheet as a guide to play a dice game of odds. They will learn how changes in an animal's habitat can affect the animal's survival.
Download Resilience Dice Game Activity Page
Spanish Resilience Dice Game Activity Page
Select one of the three activities below
Mormon Cricket Management Plan
NGSS: 3-LS4-4: Make a claim about the merit of a solution to a problem caused when the environment changes and the types of plants and animals that live there may change.
Learn about Mormon Crickets and develop a plan to keep the crickets from destroying their plants.
Mule Deer Restoration Plan
NGSS: 3-LS4-4: Make a claim about the merit of a solution to a problem caused when the environment changes and the types of plants and animals that live there may change.
Learn about the mule deer and develop a plan to keep the mule deer safe.
Download Mule Deer Restoration Plan Activity Page
Spanish Mule Deer Restoration Plan Activity Page
Desert Tortoise Conservation Plan
NGSS: 3-LS4-4: Make a claim about the merit of a solution to a problem caused when the environment changes and the types of plants and animals that live there may change.
Students learn about the four basic parts of a habitat (food, water, shelter and space). They discuss what a desert tortoise would need in their habitat. Then they develop a plan to keep the desert tortoise safe from the damage humans can cause in their environments (plant native plants, post signs, build fence holes).
Download Desert Tortoise Conservation Plan Activity Page
Spanish Desert Tortoise Conservation Plan Activity Page
Select from one of these two activities below
Wildfire Preventers
NGSS: 3-LS4-4: Make a claim about the merit of a solution to a problem caused when the environment changes and the types of plants and animals that live there may change.
Students learn about wildfires and must choose the best solution to prevent or mitigate damages from wildfires.
Download Wildfire Preventers Activity Page
Spanish Wildfire Preventers Activity Page
Desert Dan – Tortoise Adventures
Learn about the adaptations (shell, claws, and bladder) that a desert tortoise has to help it survive in the desert.
Download Desert Dan – Tortoise Adventures Activity Page
Spanish Desert Dan – Tortoise Adventures Activity Page
Reflection
NGSS: 3-LS4-3: Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
NGSS: 3-LS4-4: Make a claim about the merit of a solution to a problem caused when the environment changes and the types of plants and animals that live there may change.
Reflection questions: Describe an environmental change and explain how one of the animals in that habitat could react. How could humans help animals better adapt to this change?
Download Reflection Activity Page
Spanish Reflection Activity Page
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