Grade 6 Animal Unit Overview
LESSON
1.
2.
DESCRIPTION
DURATION
Introduce project
1. Key questions:
a. What do I need to know to keep my pet alive?
b. What information do you think a manager at a zoo needs to know
when they prepare an exhibit for a new animal?
c. What does an animal need to survive?
d. Do all animals have the same needs?
2. Activities:
a. Animal pictures (Pet and Farm) – Needs of animals
b. What other kinds of animals are there?
c. Dichotomous Key (Birds, Reptiles, Mammals, Amphibians, Fish)
d. Introduce DQ – KWL Board
Assessment product:
Completion of Pet and Animal worksheets. Focus on ability of
students to make claim supported with evidence.
2 Days
Birds and Beaks
1. Key questions:
a. How do animals’ structures allow them to specialize in procuring
food?
2. Activities:
a. Birds and Beaks simulation
3. Assessment product:
Birds and Beaks worksheet. Focus on writing conclusions (Claim,
Evidence, Rationale) questions 4 – 8.
2 Days
INDICATOR(S)
6.3.1(Partial)
Characteristics of
Vertebrae Animals
TEST
ITEM(S)
2,5,19b
6.1.X (Dichotomous
keys)
6.3.4 (partial)
13,19a
3.
E-FieldTrips
1. Key questions:
2. Activities:
a. E-FieldTrips
i. Day 1: Birds of Prey
ii. Day 2: Amphibians and Reptiles
iii. Day 3: Hot vs. Cold Animals
b. Meaning Making
Assessment product:
Zoo Connection (Good mid point assessment)
4 Days
6.3.2, 6.3.4, 6.3.5
6.3.6
3,6,10,11,
12,13,14,15
16,17,18,
20a 20b
21c
4.
Invisible Zoo
1. Key questions:
a. How are endo- and ectothermic animals different?
b. How are they the same?
2. Activities:
a. Learning about Infrared Light
b. Using Infrared Images to Identify Endo- and Ectothermic Animals
c. Extending and Applying Understanding
3. Assessment Product:
A Day in the life or Design a Zoo Habitat
3 Days
6.3.4, 6.3.5
2,3,4,6,10,
17,18,19c,
20a 20b
5.
Wow Bugs
1. Key question:
a. How do you find out what animals need / prefer?
2. Activities:
a. Guided Experiment(s) Using Temperature
b. Semi-Opened Experiments Involving Other Senses
c. Add EDI for learned behavior
3. Assessment Product:
Wow bug experimental lab report
4 Days
6.3.5
7,8,9,16
6.
Introduction to Invertebrate Animals
1. Key question:
a. Are “bugs” animals?
2. Activities:
a. Which Animal Doesn’t Belong? Game
3. Assessment Product:
Class participation
1 Day
6.3.1
1
7.
Exploring Freshwater Invertebrates
1. Key question:
a. How are structure and function connected to the environment?
b. Where should you go to collect invertebrates?
c. How do you classify invertebrates?
2. Activities:
a. Investigation of “micro-environments” and Types of Invertebrates
3. Assessment Product:
Experiment lab report
3 Days
6.3.1 – 6.3.6
1
8.
Addressing the Driving Question and Zoo Presentations
1. Key questions:
a. What do animals need?
b. How can you design a zoo exhibit for an animal? (4 animals)
2. Activities:
c. Exhibit Construction
d. Presentation
3. Assessment Product:
Zoo exhibit and presentation