During this unit students will be able to construct an explanation of how an organism’s survival is affected by its life cycle and social interactions.
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Lessons and Standrads
3rd Grade Summary:
Students learn the importance of the rocky seashore ecosystem, explore how animals and humans utilize this ecosystem, and learn how they can help protect the rocky seashore today and in the future.
During the Community Building Day students are introduced to the rocky seashore and the organisms that live there through a search and find activity and create a Discovery Bracelet to build their belief that they are a unique individual who belongs to a community of scientists.
During the Exploration Day at La Jolla Cove, students explore a real rocky seashore and use scientific tools to analyze how animals and humans utilize this habitat while building their belief that they can recognize and do science.
During the Make a Difference Day at the Living Lab, students learn how they can help protect the rocky seashore today and in the future. Students learn how their community is connected to the rocky seashore through the watershed and work to protect this habitat by picking up trash that will eventually end up at the rocky seashore and harm the animals that live there. Students learn about a future career opportunity by becoming ecologists and exploring the rocky seashore through experiments with living animals. Students also meet a scientist who shares their career pathway, and challenges and obstacles they have faced along the way to becoming a science leader. Collectively, these experiences build students’ belief that science is important and relevant, that a career in science is a possibility, challenges can be opportunities to learn and grow, and that they can make a difference in the world.
Students love becoming ecologists, exploring the rocky seashore, using scientific tools, getting to know science leaders, and making a difference in the world!
NGSS Alignment:
Cross Cutting Concept
Systems and systems models – students understand that a system is a group of related parts that make up a whole and can carry out functions its individual parts cannot. They can also describe a system in terms of its components and their interactions.
Classroom Media:
Rocky Seashore Video
3rd Grade Community PowerPoint PDF
Schedules
Additional Resources
- Tide Pool Information
- What is a tide pool? (NOAA National Ocean Service)
- What is the intertidal zone? (NOAA National Ocean Service)
- The Rocky Shore (Monterey Bay Aquarium)
- Lesson Plans and Activities
- Marine Debris Activities (NOAA Marine Debris Program)
- Traveling Trunks (Cabrillo National Monument)
- “See Life – Understanding Biodiversity in Marine Ecosystems”
- Science Careers
