How do you inspire students to keep records like scientists? Share the primary research of real scientists and explicitly teach students how to keep records--that's how! Therefore, a group of third-grade students and their teacher studied the work of famous primatologist Jane Goodall and her modern-day counterpart Ian Gilby. After learning about…

Crayfish, also known as "crawfish" or "crawdads," are easy to keep in the classroom, and with patience and luck, students will observe the complete life cycle of the crayfish. They will also learn about aquatic animals and habitats and get to conduct inquiry experiments about animal behavior. This article describes how a third-grade teacher used…

Developed by the Oregon Elementary English Project, the lessons in this first of a two-part unit on the human language are built around Luther Click, a boy who turns into different animals to show that different creatures have different means of communicating. Intended for grades three and four, the six lessons develop the concept that different…

Developed by the Oregon Elementary English Project, the lessons in this second of a two-part unit on the human language intended for grades three and four revolve around the character Sad Sam, who gets lost in the woods and happens to observe four animals (bears, raccoons, geese, and robins). Having been introduced to Sad Sam in lesson 1, the…

GRADES OR AGES: Grades K-6. SUBJECT MATTER: Science; animals. ORGANIZATION AND PHYSICAL APPEARANCE: The guide is divided into the following sections: initiary activities; developmental activities, evaluation, vocabulary, children's books, and films. OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES: Fifty-one concepts are included in the section on developmental…

A partnership between a university and a science and technology magnet school brings a renowned herpetologist. Dr. Meg Stewart, to involve third-graders in her studies of coqui frogs. These students prepared to meet this scientist with a series of lesson plans (eight activities and four lab lessons) to learn the anatomy, behavior, and diversity of…

This thematic unit involves 2nd and 3rd grade students in an in-depth study of wild animals and their habitats. The interdisciplinary unit connects knowledge related to art, language arts, applied mathematics, social studies, and science. Students think about different types of animals from around the world and consider how they are alike and…