Learning About
Our Environment
Jessica Hohl, Kelly Scheidemantel,
Autumn Botsch, Caroline Kaiser
Why This Lesson?
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3rd Grade
Introductory lesson on environments for an ecosystem unit.
NSES Standards:
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Content Standard A Science as Inquiry-Abilities to do scientific inquiry
and understanding about scientific inquiry
Content Standard C Life Science-Characteristics of organisms, life
cycles of organisms and their environment
Content Standard F Science in Personal and Social PerspectivesChanges in environment.
Appropriate for visual and hands on learners.
Students will gain a basic understanding and scaffold for
future lessons.
It works!
Objectives/ Outcomes
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Students will develop a clear understanding of
what an environment includes.
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Students understand similarities and
differences among various environments.
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Students connect the science content of this
lesson to their own life (the bigger picture!).
Attention Third Grade:
It’s Time for Today’s Lesson!
“Observe Your Environment”
In Our Lesson…
Materials Used:
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Wire hangers
Worksheet from
textbook
The outdoors
Example pictures of
different types of
environments
Safety Issues:
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Choosing safe areas to
explore
Hanger behavior
Roles
Teacher’s Role:
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Engage students with
question
Explanation of Purpose
Guidance and Expectations
Modeling
Review and lead discussion
Wrapping up main concepts
Direct Instruction
Student’s Role:
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Previous knowledge
Discovery learning
Analysis of data
Extending knowledge
Group cooperation
Scientific Content &
Background Information
Background Information:
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Living vs. Non-living Things
Students’ previous knowledge on environments
In This Lesson:
Environment: is everything around a living thing
 What living things get from an environment
Where this Unit is Going:
 Ecosystem: everything around living thing and the
interactions that occur among living things
Visual Aids and References
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Worksheet
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Pictures of Different
Environments
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“Our Environment”
Textbook:
Harcourt Science Life
Science Units A and B
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Motivational Quality
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Using the outdoors
Engaging Student Participation with
Discussions
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Why does this lesson motivate students??
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Learning Styles
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Visual
Verbal
Tactile
Interpersonal
Naturalistic
Direct Instruction
Discovery Learning
Assessment
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During the lesson/ Checking for understanding
Challenging Thinking
Take Home Assignment (referring back to
lesson)
References for this Presentation:
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Harcourt Science Teacher’s Edition
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Harcourt School Publishers, 2000