Science and Technology
Staying Alive
Unit Overview: All animals, including humans, use their sensory organs to gather information about their environment. The sharp eye, the cocked ear, or the careful sniffing of air can warn animals of dangers that might threaten their survival. Humans use senses to gather information not only critical for our immediate safety, but also for planning to meet our basic needs for things such as food, water and shelter.
The Staying alive unit is an ideal way to link science with literacy in the classroom. It provides opportunities for students to investigate needs for survival of animals, including humans, and how our senses help us stay alive. Students' understanding of basic needs and their importance in our lives will be developed through hands-on activities. Through investigations, students will explore the needs of a classroom pet and compare them to their own needs.