Life Science Oh Deer!

Standards  There are diverse life forms in different environments, such as oceans, deserts, tundra, forests, grasslands, and wetlands.  Living things cause changes in the environment in which they live: some of these changes are detrimental (harmful) to the organism or other organisms, and some are beneficial (helpful).  When the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

Vocabulary

diverse different; unlike; various

environment surroundings; the materials which effect the growth, development and existence of a living being surroundings; the materials which effect the growth, development and existence of a living being

survive to live or exist to live or exist

reproduce to repeat exactly or very closely; to produce (make) a new individual of the same species (for example, deer make other deer) to repeat exactly or very closely; to produce (make) a new individual of the same species (for example, deer make other deer)

shelter something that provides protection from danger or injury something that provides protection from danger or injury

competition trying to get what others want which all cannot have trying to get what others want which all cannot have

Vocabulary Review diverse diverse environment environment survive survive reproduce reproduce shelter shelter water water competition competition

Scenario Your school has been asked to study the deer population in your area. Your job is to gather data that will eventually help scientists protect both the deer population and the environment. Your school has been asked to study the deer population in your area. Your job is to gather data that will eventually help scientists protect both the deer population and the environment.

Group Discussion In your own words, what is the problem? In your own words, what is the problem? What changes might we observe in the environment where the deer live? What changes might we observe in the environment where the deer live? What causes might there be for these changes? What causes might there be for these changes? Are there any relationships between rainfall, vegetation, and animal activity? Are there any relationships between rainfall, vegetation, and animal activity?

What do you think? Predict If____________________________________ __________, then ______________________ because _____________________ If____________________________________ __________, then ______________________ because _____________________ I think that _________________________ because___________________________ I think that _________________________ because___________________________

Procedures First …..We will write our focus question and we will make our predictions. First …..We will write our focus question and we will make our predictions. Second ….. We will conduct a simulation of deer in their habitat. Second ….. We will conduct a simulation of deer in their habitat. Third…… We will gather data. Third…… We will gather data. Then… We will analyze the data. Were there changes in the deer population…in the environment? If so, what caused changes in the deer population? …in the environment? Then… We will analyze the data. Were there changes in the deer population…in the environment? If so, what caused changes in the deer population? …in the environment? Next, we will create a visual representation of our findings. Next, we will create a visual representation of our findings. Finally ……We will write a claims and evidence report for the Fish and Game Department that summarizes our findings. Finally ……We will write a claims and evidence report for the Fish and Game Department that summarizes our findings.

Focus Question How does the deer population affect the environment? How does the deer population affect the environment?

Simulation Your roles Your roles Gather Data Gather Data Identify Variables Identify Variables FoodWaterShelter Deer

Rules of Engagement You must follow the directions of the Game Warden. You must follow the directions of the Game Warden. Deer - You must move carefully so you do not injure yourself or other deer…role play Deer - You must move carefully so you do not injure yourself or other deer…role play During each round, you may not change. During each round, you may not change. We must record the results of each round. We must record the results of each round. Listen for the signal. Listen for the signal. Questions? Questions? Let’s play Let’s play

Group Data Chart How will illustrate/organize our data? How will illustrate/organize our data? What data do we want to show… What data do we want to show… Deer population changes over time Deer population changes over time …

Sharing your ideas Make a Class Data Chart

Making Meaning What did we observe? What did we observe? What did we learn? What did we learn? How did the deer affect the environment? Evidence? How did the deer affect the environment? Evidence? How did the environment affect the deer? Evidence? How did the environment affect the deer? Evidence?

CLAIMS AND EVIDENCE “You are now going to write your own claims and evidence in complete sentence form. I want you to look at the focus questions and write a claim and evidence statement that answers these questions. Revisit the class data chart(s) to get support for your claims and evidence. Record in your notebook. “You are now going to write your own claims and evidence in complete sentence form. I want you to look at the focus questions and write a claim and evidence statement that answers these questions. Revisit the class data chart(s) to get support for your claims and evidence. Record in your notebook.

Reflection “Today I learned …….I know this because…..” “Today I learned …….I know this because…..” Our investigation showed that …. Our investigation showed that ….

Next Step What other questions do you have? What other questions do you have? What other investigation might we conduct? What other investigation might we conduct? What other animals could we study? What other animals could we study?

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