Life Science: Animals in Action

Sample Material

» Table of Contents (PDF)
» What's the Big Question (PDF)
» Learning Set 1 (PDF)

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The Big Question: How do scientists answer big questions and solve big problems?

Within a life science context, students make observations, keep accurate records, use models and simulations, and construct explanations and make recommendations based on evidence to address this Big Challenge: Design an animal enclosure that allows animals to feed and communicate as they would in their natural habitat, and also allows scientists to make accurate observations of the animal. By addressing the challenge, students explore the practices of biologists, while learning such fundamental science principles as biological structures and functions, adaptations, and interdependence of living things.

Implements STEM initiative
Uses the Engineering Design Cycle

• adaptation
• animal vision
• carnivores
• color and light
• echolocation
• effects of habitat
• ethology
• foragers
• herbivores

• how humans hear
• instinctive and learned behavior
• joints and levers
• models and simulations
• mutualistic relationships
• omnivores
• predators
• relationships

• social interaction
• sonar
• sound and sound waves
• species
• structure and function
• survival
• the waggle dance

• asking questions
• careful observation
• criteria and constraints
• iteration
• interpreting data
• keeping good records
• making measurements

• making recommendations
• modeling and simulations
• reliable data supporting claims
• using a microscope using evidence
• using scientific tools

21ST CENTURY SKILLS
Collaboration
Communicating plans and ideas Developing explanations
Finding trends in data
Critical thinking including:

• building on the work of others
• collecting, organizing, and analyzing data
• observations and interpretation using science knowledge
• using evidence to support claims