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3.1
Environments.
Full Option Science System (FOSS) series. Developed by Lawrence Hall of Science (Berkeley, Calif.). Hudson, N.H.: Delta Education, 1993.

Program Overview
The Full Option Science System (FOSS) program is a K-6 science curriculum consisting of 27 stand-alone modules. The 8 modules for grades 5-6 are organized under topics in the life, physical, and earth sciences and in scientific reasoning and technology. They can be used in any order. The FOSS program is designed to engage students in scientific concepts through multisensory, hands-on laboratory activities. All modules of the program incorporate 5 unifying themes--(1) pattern, (2) structure, (3) interaction, (4) change, and (5) system. The components of a FOSS module are a teacher's guide and a kit of materials.

Teacher's Guide
Recommended grade level: 5-6.
Environments introduces students to several basic concepts of environmental biology. Structured investigations in both terrestrial and aquatic systems develop the concepts of environmental factor, tolerance, environmental preference, and environmental range. In this unit, students observe interactions in a terrarium, investigate the environmental preferences of isopods and beetles, determine the water tolerance of seeds and plants, monitor environmental factors in freshwater aquariums, and investigate the salt tolerance of plants and brine shrimp eggs.

Environments consists of 6 activities and requires 8 weeks to complete. The teacher's guide includes a module overview, the 6 individual activity folios, duplication masters (in English and Spanish) for student sheets, and an annotated bibliography.

The module includes science background information, detailed instructions on planning for and conducting each activity, an extensive assessment component, and extensions for integration and enrichment.

Key to Content Standards: 5-8 (see app. C)

UNIFYING CONCEPTS AND PROCESSES: Systems, order, and organization; evidence, models, and explanation.
SCIENCE AS INQUIRY: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry; understandings about scientific inquiry.
LIFE SCIENCE: Regulation and behavior; populations and ecosystems.
SCIENCE IN PERSONAL AND SOCIAL PERSPECTIVES: Populations, resources, and environments.

Prices: Teacher's guide (ISBN 0-7826-0070-0), $101. Complete module, $399.
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.

Aquariums,
  • Life Sciences: Ecosystems, ~ Ecosystems, ~ Mapping Fish Habitats, ~ Pond Life,
    Isopods,
  • Life Sciences: Parade of Life: Animals, ~ Animals in Action,
    Plants,
  • Life Sciences: Ecosystems, ~ 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: 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 . . .
    Seeds,
  • Life Sciences: Experiments with Plants, ~ Glencoe Life Science, ~ Fungi--Small Wonders, ~ Rainforest Researchers, ~ Seeds and Seedlings, ~ What Seed Is It?--A Hands-on Classroom Project,
    Terrariums,
  • Life Sciences: Ecosystems, ~ Ecosystems, ~ Middle School Life Science, ~ Bottle Biology,
  • Earth Sciences: Solar Energy.

    [Ch 1: Physical Science] [Ch 2: Life Science]
    [Ch 3: Environmental Science] [Ch 4: Earth and Space Science]
    [Ch 5: Multi and Applied Science] [Ch 6: Sources of Info on Software]
    [Ch 7: Books on Teaching Science] [Ch 8: Science Book Lists]
    [Ch 9: Periodicals] [Ch 10: Museums]
    [Ch 11: Professional Associations]
    [Title Index] [Index of Authors, etc.]
    [Subject Index] [Topics Index]
    [Content Standards Index] [Grade Level Index]
    [Scientific Areas Index] [Ancillary Resources Index]

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