2.3
Ecosystems.
Robert C. Knott and Herbert D. Thier. Science Curriculum Improvement Study 3 (SCIS 3) series. Hudson, N.H.: Delta Education, 1993.
Program Overview
The Science Curriculum Improvement Study (SCIS) series focuses on the concepts and processes of science for grades K-6. The most current version of the series--SCIS 3--consists of 13 units: a kindergarten unit and 2 sequences of 6 units each in physical-earth science and life-environmental science for grades 1 through 6.Two units are designed for grade 6. The components of a SCIS 3 unit are a teacher's guide and a kit of materials.
Teacher's Guide
Recommended grade level:
6.
Ecosystems introduces students to physical and biological aspects of ecosystems in the world around them. The unit consists of 22 chapters organized in 5 sections: (1) "Reviewing Concepts and Creating Classroom Ecosystems," (2) "The Water Cycle," (3) "The Oxygen-Carbon Dioxide Cycle," (4) "Cycles in an Ecosystem," and (5) "Pollution."
The unit begins with students constructing aquarium-terrarium systems. They discover evidence of the water cycle as they observe evaporation and condensation in this system and in other experimental setups. Activities include the use of snails, ladybugs, aphids, daphnia, guppies, hornwort, and algae. Students use bromthymol blue (an indicator) to explore the role of plants and animals in the oxygen-carbon dioxide cycle, and they learn about the food-mineral cycle and investigate various aspects of the water cycle and water pollution. Diagrams of the 3 cycles illustrate the exchange and cycling of materials in an ecosystem. Students also study photographs of natural ecosystems, data cards listing features of ecosystems, and maps showing the locations of 7 different ecosystems in the United States and Canada.
The teacher's guide includes an introduction to the unit, lesson plans for each of the 5 sections, a glossary, and blackline masters for a student journal. Science background information, detailed instructions on planning for and conducting each activity, an extensive assessment component, and extensions for integration and enrichment are provided.
Key to Content Standards: 5-8 (see app. C)
UNIFYING CONCEPTS AND PROCESSES: Systems, order, and organization; evidence, models, and explanation; change, constancy, and measurement.
SCIENCE AS INQUIRY: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry; understandings about scientific inquiry.
LIFE SCIENCE: Populations and ecosystems.
EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE: Structure of the earth system.
SCIENCE IN PERSONAL AND SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES: Populations, resources, and environments; natural hazards; risks and benefits.
Prices:
Teacher's guide (ISBN 0-87504-942-7), $39.50. Kit, $680.00.
Publisher/supplier:
Delta Education.
Materials:
Available locally, from commercial suppliers, or in kit.
Topic Index listings linked to this entry
Use these listings to find related entries.
Algae, Life Sciences: Parade of Life: Monerans, Protists, Fungi, and Plants, Environmental Sciences: Water Wisdom: A Curriculum for Grades Four Through Eight, Multi & Applied Sciences: How Might Life Evolve on Other Worlds?
Animals, Life Sciences: Exploring Life Science, ~ Glencoe Life Science, ~ Parade of Life: Animals, ~ Mapping Animal Movements, ~ Pond Life, ~ Animals Alive! An Ecological Guide to Animal Activities, ~ Living in Water: An Aquatic Science Curriculum for Grades 5-7, Environmental Sciences: Biology Is Outdoors! A Comprehensive Resource for Studying School Environments, ~ Living Lightly on the Planet: A Global Environmental Education Guidebook, ~ Activities to Teach Mathematics in the Context of Environmental Studies, ~ Our Wonderful World: Solutions for Math + Science, Multi & Applied Sciences: The Local Environment, ~ Prime Science: Level A, ~ Forecasting the Future: Exploring Evidence for Global Climate Change.
Aquariums, Life Sciences: Ecosystems, ~ Mapping Fish Habitats, ~ Pond Life, Environmental Sciences: Environments.
Condensation, Multi & Applied Sciences: Steamed Up!, ~ Exciting Science and Engineering: A Series of Problem Solving Tasks for Seven to Fourteen Year Olds.
Daphnia, Multi & Applied Sciences: Investigating Systems and Change.
Ecosystems, Life Sciences: Ecology: Earth's Living Resources, Ecosystems, ~ Middle School Life Science, ~ Pond Life, ~ Zebra Mussel Mania, ~ Project WILD Aquatic Education Activity Guide, ~ Project WILD: K-12 Activity Guide, Environmental Sciences: Changes in Ecosystems, ~ Earth's Ecosystems, ~ Investigating and Evaluating Environmental Issues and Actions: Skill Development Program, Earth Sciences: Arid Lands, Sacred Waters, Multi & Applied Sciences: Matter and Energy in the Biosphere, ~ Middle Grades Science: A Problem-Solving Approach, Sixth Grade, ~ Science 2000: Grade 6, ~ Science 2000: Science 1 (Grade 7), ~ Super Science Activities: Favorite Lessons from Master Teachers.
Evaporation, Life Sciences: Exploring Classroom Hydroponics, Earth Sciences: Geothermal Energy, Multi & Applied Sciences: Steamed Up!, ~ Forecasting the Future: Exploring Evidence for Global Climate Change, ~ The Teaching Tank Discovery Book.
Guppies, Life Sciences: Ecology: Earth's Living Resources, Parade of Life: Animals.
Indicators, Physical Sciences: Glencoe Physical Science, ~ Changes in Matter, ~ Chemical Interactions, ~ Of Cabbages and Chemistry, ~ Analysis, ~ Introduction to pH Measurement Kit, ~ Personal Science Laboratory pH Experiments, ~ Science Experiments: Chemistry and Physics, ~ Science Projects about Chemistry, Life Sciences: Cells: Building Blocks of Life, Bottle Biology, Environmental Sciences: Chemical Survey and Solutions and Pollution, ~ Global Awareness for Students (GAS): Studies in Climate, Multi & Applied Sciences: Integrated Science: Book Two, ~ SciencePlus Technology and Society: Level Green.
Plants, Life Sciences: Experiments with Plants, ~ Exploring Life Science, ~ Glencoe Life Science, ~ Parade of Life: Monerans, Protists, Fungi, and Plants, ~ Food from Our Land, ~ How Much Is Too Much? How Little Is Too Little? Factors That Affect Plant Growth, ~ The Lives of Plants, ~ Plants in Our World, ~ Pond Life, ~ Power Plants: A Plant-Based Energy Curriculum for Grades 5 through 8, ~ Exploring Classroom Hydroponics, ~ GrowLab: A Complete Guide to Gardening in the Classroom, ~ GrowLab: Activities for Growing Minds, ~ Living in Water: An Aquatic Science Curriculum for Grades 5-7, Environmental Sciences: Environments, ~ Biology Is Outdoors! A Comprehensive Resource for Studying School Environments, ~ Living Lightly on the Planet: A Global Environmental Education Guidebook, ~ Activities to Teach Mathematics in the Context of Environmental Studies, ~ Investigating Your Environment: The MINI Edition, ~ Our Wonderful World: Solutions for Math + Science, Multi & Applied Sciences: The Local Environment, ~ Prime Science: Level A, ~ Prime Science: Level C, ~ Food Production: Second Module in Bio-Related Technologies Unit, ~ Forecasting the Future: Exploring Evidence for Global Climate Change, ~ Science Is . . .
Pollution, Life Sciences: Ecosystems, ~ Biodiversity: Understanding the Variety of Life, ~ The Interrelationships of Soil, Water and Fertilizers and How They Affect Plant Growth, Environmental Sciences: Changes in Ecosystems, ~ Chemical Survey and Solutions and Pollution, ~ Pollution, ~ Endangered Species: Wild and Rare, ~ Environmental Resource Guide: Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention, ~ The Environment: The Science and Politics of Protecting Our Planet, Earth Sciences: River Cutters, ~ The Great Ocean Rescue, Multi & Applied Sciences: Middle Grades Science: A Problem-Solving Approach, Seventh Grade, ~ Prime Science: Level C, ~ Science 2000: Science 2 (Grade 8), ~ Minds-on Science: For the Sake of the Nation.
Snails, Life Sciences: Animals in Action.
Terrariums, Life Sciences: Ecosystems, ~ Middle School Life Science, ~ Bottle Biology, Environmental Sciences: Environments, Earth Sciences: Solar Energy.
Water cycle, Environmental Sciences: Earth's Ecosystems, ~ H2O Below: An Activity Guide for Groundwater Study, Earth Sciences: Exploring Earth Science, ~ Weather and Health, ~ The Amateur Meteorologist: Explorations and Investigations, ~ Arid Lands, Sacred Waters, ~ Earth: The Water Planet, ~ Science Projects about Weather, Multi & Applied Sciences: The Local Environment, ~ Prime Science: Level C, ~ Earth and Physical Science: Content and Learning Strategies.
Water pollution, Environmental Sciences: There Is No Away, ~ Chemical Survey and Solutions and Pollution, ~ What's in Our Water?, ~ Environmental Issues: Intermediate, ~ Environmental Resource Guide: Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention, ~ Experiments That Explore Recycling, ~ Minds-on Science: For Profit, for Planet, Earth Sciences: Concepts and Challenges in Earth Science, ~ Arid Lands, Sacred Waters.
