This week, we launched our Active Science Prime Changing Environments unit. In small groups, the third grade scientists examined a mystery object and shared their ideas about what it might be. They used observational evidence to try to identify it. Students were then given a chance to share their thinking with the whole class and compared their findings and thoughts. Later, they learned that fossils provide evidence about the types of organisms that lived long ago, and about the nature of their environments. Students read about plants and animals that have become extinct. For any particular environment some kinds of organisms survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all. Students learned that environmental changes affect organisms. The third graders were given a chance to reflect on this lesson, and expressed an eagerness to learn more!
