Researching to Build Knowledge and Teach Others: Trees are Alive
In this module, students, explore the big ideas that all living things in the natural world have needs in order to survive and grow and that, through observation, we can discern patterns in the ways that living things meet their needs. Through a close study of trees and the living things that depend on them, students take on the roles of researcher and scientist to make observations of the natural world. From those observations, they determine patterns that explain how living things live and grow.
In Unit 1, students learn what makes something living or nonliving, about different types of living things, and the common needs of all living things. They develop this understanding through research reading of the text What’s Alive. Students also plan and conduct investigations (during module lessons and Labs) such as closely viewing various living things, caring for seedlings and observing what happens over time, and recording their observations in a Living Things research notebook.
In Unit 2, students focus on the needs of animals as living things and how trees help to meet those needs. Through a close study of the text Be a Friend to Trees, students engage in whole group and small group research on how trees provide food for animals.
In Unit 3, students build on their understanding of the needs of living things and further develop their research skills by researching a specific tree in small groups. During their small group research, students learns about the tree, its needs, and how it supports other living things’ need for food. This learning culminates in a series of Science Talks designed for them to share their research findings. They then use their learning to create an informational tree collage, which includes a collage, informative writing, and an animal puppet. They revise their writing and collage and practice presenting their work in preparation for sharing it with families and friends at the end of module celebration.
Module 3 also lays the foundation for the work in Module 4. In Module 3, students build deep knowledge about the scientific topic of living things, and trees, specifically. In Module 4, students then apply this knowledge in order to make a meaningful contribution to their community. Module 4 focuses on “contribute to a better world,” and teaches students specific habits of character (e.g., applying their learning and using their strengths to help others grow) that will help them make a difference in the world around them. Refer to the Module 4 Overview for more information.
Big Ideas & Guiding Questions
- What do all living things need to live and grow?
- All living things need food, water, air, and the ability to move and grow.
- What do researchers do?
- They try to find out more about ideas and information that make them curious.
- How do we know that something is living?
- It eats food, drinks water, breathes air, and moves and grows.
- How do living things depend on trees to meet their needs?
- Living things depend on trees for food, water, air, shelter, wood, and sap.
- What patterns can we observe in how living things meet their needs?
- All living things need food, water, air, and the ability to move; however, different living things may meet those needs in similar or different ways.