"Water"
You Observing?

Activity Introduction and Overview

In this activity, students will make and record observations of an organism (Great Blue Heron) then compare what they learned through observation with facts from a resource.

Phenomena/Driving Question

What can I learn about an organism through observation?

Learning Objectives

• Students will know an observation is information that comes through their senses.

• Students will experience how observations inform explanations.

• Students will learn about the behavior and habitat of Great Blue Heron.

• Students will reflect on the impact of human littering on Heron habitat.

Materials Needed

• Internet access to YouTube and projector with speakers so everyone can see and hear the video.

• Paper and pencil for each student, enough for 5 drawings.

Online Water Festival Trunk

This activity does not require any supplies from the Online Water Festival Trunk.

Activity

1. Tell the students that they are going to learn about how much they can learn through observing an organism. Define organism as something that breathes, eats and grows like a plant or an animal. Explain they are going to watch a video and follow along in the classroom.

2. Tell them this video highlights South Dakota. Show them a map of South Dakota and show them where they are on the map.

3. Take out paper and pencil.

4. Start the video.

5. Pause the video at 2:24 to discuss what is observation. Allow students to discuss ideas with with each other. Note: Observation for this session will mean to gather information using the senses and in this session we'll be using the sense of sight or seeing.

6. Pause the video at 4:40 for students to record observations of the organism (heron) using pictures, words, and numbers. (iNaturalist photo)

7. Pause the video at 7:50 for students to record observations of the heron with the snake. (iNaturalist photo)

8. Pause the video at 8:56 for students to record observations of the heron nest. (iNaturalist photo)

9. Pause the video at 9:53 for students to record observations of the heron in a tree. (iNaturalist photo)

10. Pause the video at 11:54 for students to record observations of the heron in a field. (iNaturalist photo)

Extra: Discuss the impact of litter on natural areas and animals. (iNaturalist photo)

Wrap Up Discussion

Help students connect their knowledge gained from observing with the facts from the website. Read the section on habitat, food, and nesting. Help them understand terms like marsh, reptile, mandibles. Make the connection from the student observations to the facts presented on All About Birds. If students have access to devices, allow them to look at observations of herons on iNaturalist (North American observations, South Dakota observations)

Assessment/Application

Have students make and record observations of Great Blue Herons from photos on iNaturalist. Have them explain how their observation supports the information from All About Birds.

Good quality photos are:

• https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/71761447

• https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/50691304

• https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/38649872

• https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/71743256

Important: Please view the photos on iNaturalist to honor copyright and licenses rather than downloading. You can expand the photo in the observation by clicking on the photo when a hand lens with a plus inside appears.

Oceti Sakowin Understandings

Share this story from Mary Louise Defender Wilson about the Blue Heron Who Stayed for the Winter.

Standards

Science: 5-ESS3-1 Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment. 5-ESS2-1 Develop a model to describe the interaction of geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere.

Oceti Sakotwin Essential Understandings: Identify elements of Oceti Sakowin culture within oral tradition, written accounts and primary source information, and compare them to written accounts by mainstream historians.