Unit Name: To “Bee” or Not to “Bee.”
Time Frame: Trimester 3
Author: Egg Harbor Township STEM Committee
UNIT
Subject: Life Science
Course/Grade: 2
Country: USA
State/Group: NJ
School: Egg Harbor Township Elementary Schools
UNIT SUMMARY
The students will develop a simple model that mimics the function of a bee in dispersing
seeds or pollinating plants.
UNIT RESOURCES
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The Best of Bugs: Designing Hand Pollinators (National Center for Technological
Literacy)
Mariana Becomes a Butterfly (Written by the Engineering is Elementary Team)
Internet Resource Links:
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The Pollinator Pages www.kansasgreenschools.com
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Life Cycle of a Plant http://theseedsite.co.uk/lifecycle.html
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All About Seeds http://urbanext.illinois.edu/gpe/case3/c3facts1.html
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Seed Structures http://urbanext.illinois.edu/gpe/case3/c3facts2.html
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Life Cycle of a Plant http://urbanext.illinois.edu/gpe/case1/c1facts1b.html
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What is a Seed http://urbanext.illinois.edu/gpe/case3/c3m1.html
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Plants Come From Seeds http://www.mbgnet.net/bioplants/grow.html
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Pollination http://www.mbgnet.net/bioplants/pollination.html
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Super Market Botany http://www.mbgnet.net/bioplants/supermkt.html
STAGE ONE
GOALS AND STANDARDS
Science Standard
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2-LS2-1 Plan and conduct an investigation to determine if plants need sunlight and water to
grow.
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2-LS2-2 Develop a simple model that mimics the function of an animal in dispersing seeds or
pollinating plants.*(Engineering component)
2-LS4-1 Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different
habitats. (Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on the diversity of living things in each of a
variety of different habitats)
ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS
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Plants need water and sunlight to grow.
Animals disperse seeds and/or pollinate plants.
Plants and animals live in different habitats.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
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How do animals and plants depend on each other?
How does the bee help pollinate plants?
What role does the plant and animal play in the pollination system?
What benefits do people and animals have from the pollination process?
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
Students will know:
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Pollination: Pollen is transported from one plant to another.
Insect: bug
Dispersing: Send out
Diversity: differences between living things.
Habitat: Where something lives.
Mimic: To copy
Insects or animals are needed to pollinate many kinds of plants.
Pollinating insects, animals, and plants have a mutual beneficial relationship.
Insects and plants have complex relationships in natural systems.
Insects are important in natural systems and can be helpful or harmful.
STAGE TWO
PERFORMANCE TASKS
Part One
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Students will be in small groups to design a hand pollinator.
Part Two:
Empowering Writers - Month 9 “How to” Writing
OTHER EVIDENCE
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Class Discussions
Role Play
Teacher Questions
Jigsaw
Formative Assessment
Math and ELA Assignments
STAGE THREE
LEARNING PLAN
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Place students in small groups.
The group will build a model pollinator with materials given.
Possible materials could be: toilet paper rolls, pipe cleaners, felt, cotton, etc.
Perform experiment and redesign as needed.
Reflect, Redesign, and Reflect again.
Communicate to group their findings.