6th grade MSP Science Suggested Activities- Teacher Guide
Challenge: NASA expects to establish a permanent base on the lunar surface by 2024!
Can you imagine yourself living and working in space? Well, NASA can! NASA Human
Spaceflight engineers are already working with NASA scientists and architects to
design pods, or buildings, for the future lunar base. NASA needs 3 circular pods to
house different ecosystems that will provide the biotic and abiotic features necessary
to sustain life. Your team of environmental engineers has been chosen to create the
first prototype technical drawing of the pods. With this drawing, include all the
following to submit to the mechanical engineers.
As a team:
 Choose three biomes; one for each pod.
 List the abiotic factors that will sustain all biotic factors within each biome.
 Determine the size of each biome.
Constraints: utilize the maximum area possible within the defined rectangular plot.
Pods must be three different sizes and have a circular base.
Science Standards:
SPI 0607.2.3 Identify the biotic and abiotic elements of the major biomes.
SPI 0607.2.4 Identify the environmental conditions and interdependencies among
organisms found in the major biomes.
Vocabulary Concepts
 Biotic vs. Abiotic
 Population, Community, Ecosystem, Biomes, Biosphere
 Food Chain vs. Food Web
 Land Biomes
I. Scaffolding Activities for STEM Challenge:
A. Hook: Possible Activities
-AT&T Commercial- It’s not Complicated: “Is more better than less?” Observe
commercial and provide evidence stating your point. When dealing with living organisms
and their needs, “Is more better than less?” Explain and justify your answer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdofUBR3SJc
-Biodome YouTube video will be used as introduction of the challenge during the
training session https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4DX994NonE
B. Possible Activities to teach concepts
Website: What and Where are the Global Biomes?
http://www.geographypods.com/24-rainforests--deserts.html
Handout is available in the MSP WikiSpace as “Spatial Distribution of Biomes”.
Teacher Notes: The energy pyramid uses two concepts: temperature and moisture. These
two concepts or abiotic factors affect living organisms. This is a good point to spiral back
and re-teach weather SPI’s.
Power Point “US Map and Its Biomes- Science, Math and Reading Integrated Activity”:
Includes the world and the US maps with the major biomes; and two close readings
comparing US biodiversity with other parts of the world.
Students will study the US map and estimate the size of each biome. This will create a frame
of reference as students are asked to determine the size of chosen biomes. A second part of
this lesson is to read two separate short texts comparing the biodiversity of the rainforest
to the biodiversity of the US. Power Point is available in the MSP WikiSpace.
“Close Readings: US vs. Rainforest”: handout that goes with Power Point. It is available in
the MSP WikiSpace.
II. STEM Challenge Resources
6th MSP Science Part of Challenge: Students research different aspects of biomes and
choose 3 biomes to be designed inside circular pods on the moon. Available in the MSP
WikiSpace.
Science Biomes Research Table: Student handout to collect answers in a table format.
Available in the MSP WikiSpace.
Science Table with Food Chains for Each Biome: Student handout to help with ranking
of biomes. Available in the MSP WikiSpace.
6th MSP Math Part of Challenge- Teacher Guide: to be completed in math class. Available
in the MSP WikiSpace.
6th MSP Math Student Instructions for Pod Design: to be completed in math class.
Available in the MSP WikiSpace.
MSP Grant Training- Grade 6
January 2015