EMSE 3123
Math and Science in Education
Life and Environmental
Sciences
Presented by
Frank H. Osborne, Ph. D.
© 2015
1
Life Science
The structure, characteristics, basic needs and
diversity of living organisms.
2
Life Science
Life science is the study of the structure,
characteristics, basic needs and diversity
of living organisms. Key components
include:
• Matter, energy and organization in living
systems
• Diversity and biological evolution
• Reproduction and heredity
3
Life Science
K-2 Level Investigations
Matter, Energy and Organization in Living Systems
• 1. Investigate the basic needs of humans and
other organisms.
– Humans
• Food, Clothing (protection), Shelter
– Animals
• Food, Shelter
• Animals develop their own protection
– Plants
• Correct climate, temperature, rainfall
4
Life Science
K-2 Level Investigations
Matter, Energy and Organization in Living Systems
• 2. Compare and contrast essential
characteristics that distinguish living things
from nonliving things.
5
Life Science
K-2 Level Investigations
Straw-wrapper Worm
6
Life Science
K-2 Level Investigations
Straw-wrapper Worm
• Remove straw wrapper using the closed
hand and pounding it on the table
• An accordion shape results in the
wrapper
• Drip one drop of water on the “worm”
and watch it move
7
Life Science
K-2 Level Investigations
Properties of the Nervous System
Thermal Receptors
8
Life Science
K-2 Level Investigations
•
•
•
•
Properties of the Nervous System
Thermal Receptors
Three cups of water--hot, room temp,
cold
One finger in hot, one finger in cold
Hold for a minute or two
Place both into the water at room
temperature
9
Life Science
K-2 Level
Investigations
Diversity and
Biological
Evolution
• 1. Different
types of plants
and animals
live in different
parts of the
world.
10
Life Science
K-2 Level Investigations
Diversity and Biological Evolution
• Habitat picture display
– Uses pictures of plants and animals from
magazines or photographs of pets
– Obtain images from the Internet
– Pictures are sorted according to biomes
• Natural diversity
– Sort the pictures again according to
biological relationships
11
Life Science
K-2 Level Investigations
Diversity and Biological Evolution
• 2. some kinds of organisms that once lived on
earth have completely disappeared.
12
Life Science
K-2 Level Investigations
Diversity and Biological Evolution
• Hadrosaurus foulkii was the first recognized
nearly complete fossil to be discovered. The
discovery was made in Haddonfield.
13
Life Science
K-2 Level Investigations
Reproduction and Heredity
• 1. Humans and other organisms resemble their
parents.
14
Life Science
K-2 Level Investigations
Reproduction and Heredity
• Genetic variation in cats or dogs
Tailessness (Manx)
Folded Ears (Scottish Fold)
Many breeds of cats come in longhair and shorthair varieties.
15
Life Science
K-2 Level Investigations
Reproduction and Heredity
• Genetic variation in cats or dogs
Hairlessness (Sphynx)
Curled Ears (American Curl)
Many breeds of cats come in longhair and shorthair varieties.
16
Life Science
K-2 Level Investigations
Reproduction and Heredity
• Students can do a small webquest
– American Cat Fanciers Association (ACFA)
• www.acfacat.com
– Dogs - American Kennel Club (AKC)
• www.akc.org
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Life Science
3-5 Level Investigations
Matter, Energy and Organization in Living Systems
1. Identify the roles that organisms may serve in a food chain.
Green plant  Insect  Frog  Snake
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Life Science
3-5 Level Investigations
Matter, Energy and Organization in Living Systems
2. Differentiate between the needs of plants and those of animals.
19
Life Science
3-5 Level Investigations
Matter, Energy and Organization in Living Systems
• 3. Recognize that plants and animals are composed of
different parts performing different functions and working
together for the well being of the organism.
20
Life Science
3-5 Level Investigations
Matter, Energy and Organization in Living Systems
• 4. Describe the basic functions of the major
systems of the human body including, but not
limited to:







digestive system.
circulatory system.
respiratory system.
nervous system.
skeletal system.
muscular system.
reproductive system.
21
Life Science
3-5 Level Investigations
Diversity and Biological Evolution
1. Develop a simple classification scheme for grouping organisms.
22
Life Science
3-5 Level Investigations
Diversity and Biological Evolution
2. Recognize that individuals vary within every species,
including humans.
23
Life Science
3-5 Level Investigations
Reproduction and Heredity
1. Identify different stages in the lives of various organisms.
24
Life Science
3-5 Level Investigations
Reproduction and Heredity
1. Identify different stages in the lives of various organisms.
25
Standard 5.5: Nervous System
Properties of the Nervous System
Distance between two Touch Receptors
26
Life Science
Properties of the Nervous System
Touch Receptors
• Adjust two toothpicks to various
distances beginning with 1 mm.
• Touch various parts of the body to
determine if one or two points are felt.
• Make a data table in your Science
Journal
27
Life Science
Distances between Touch Receptors
Data Table
LOCATION
DISTANCE
Tip of Index Finger
Palm of Hand
Back of Hand
Cheek
Arm
28
Life Science
Habitat Picture Display
• Four basic biomes
– Tundra
– Forest (pine forest, deciduous forest, rain
forest)
– Grassland
– Desert
• Suggested activities covered in
presentation
– Uses pictures of plants and animals from
magazines or photographs of pets
– Obtain images from the Internet
– Pictures are sorted according to biomes
29
Life Science
Adaptations for Seed Dispersal
30
Life Science
Pyramid of Energy is a Food Chain
31
Life Science
Where does each stage fit in the food chain?
32
Levels of structure
in organisms
33
Life Science
• What does each of these systems do?
– digestive system
– circulatory system
– respiratory system
– nervous system
– skeletal system
– muscular system
– reproductive system
34
Environmental Science
Understanding of the environment as a system
of interdependent components affected by
human activity and natural phenomena
35
Environmental Science
Environmental science includes the study
of the environment as a system of
interdependent components affected by
human activity and natural phenomena.
Key components include:
• A. Natural Systems and Interactions
• B. Human Interactions and Impact
36
Environmental Science
K-2 Level Investigations
Natural Systems and Interactions
• 1. Associate organisms' basic needs with how they
meet those needs within their surroundings.
37
Environmental Science
K-2 Level Investigations
Natural Systems and Interactions
• The four natural resources
– sun, rocks/soil, air, water
38
Environmental Science
K-2 Level Investigations
Human Interactions and Impact
• 1. Identify various needs of humans that
are supplied by the natural or
constructed environment.
• 2. Make lists of human needs and
environmental impact.
• 3. Make lists of natural and artificial
materials that are found in the
environment.
39
Environmental Science
3-5 Level Investigations
Natural Systems and Interactions
1. Differentiate between natural resources that are
renewable and those that are not.
40
Environmental Science
3-5 Level Investigations
Natural Systems and Interactions
• 2. How animals depend on plants.
41
Environmental Science
3-5 Level Investigations
Human Interactions and Impact
• 1. Explain how meeting human
requirements affects the environment.
42
The End
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