Life and the Environment

Mystery Science Units: Animal Secrets / Plant Secrets

ReadyGen / Literacy Connections

Unit 1 Where is Home, Little Pip?, A House for Hermit Crab, Life in a Pond, A Bed for Winter
          (K-LS1-1: Plant and Animal Needs)

Unit 2 The Little House, Four Seasons Make a Year (K-ESS2-2: Environmental Change)

Unit 3 Come On, Rain!, Sleuth Read-Aloud: “Bear and Fox” 
            (K-ESS2-2: Environmental Change)

Unit 5 The Tiny Seed, Jack’s Garden, Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature, Plant Patterns
            (K-LS1-1: Plant and Animal Needs)

Unit 6 On the Town: A Community Adventure (K-ESS3-1: Environmental Relationships)


Mystery Science Kindergarten Student Notebook


Nonfiction Science Literacy Resources


Graphic Organizers / Thinking Maps


Multilingual Learner Language Expectations

Clarification & Boundary Statements

Clarification Statement: Examples of patterns could include that animals need to take in food but plants do not; the different kinds of food needed by different types of animals; the requirement of plants to have light; and, that all living things need water. 


Boundary Statement: none

Clarification & Boundary Statements

Clarification Statement: Examples of plants and animals changing their environment could include a squirrel digs in the ground to hide its food and tree roots can break concrete.  


Boundary Statement: none

Clarification & Boundary Statements

Clarification Statement: Examples of relationships could include that deer eat buds and leaves, therefore, they usually live in forested areas; and, grasses need sunlight so they often grow in meadows. Plants, animals, and their surroundings make up a system.


Boundary Statement: none

Clarification & Boundary Statements

Clarification Statement: Examples of human impact on the land could include cutting trees to
 produce paper and using resources to produce bottles. Examples of solutions could include reusing
 paper and recycling cans and bottles.  

Boundary Statement: none

Mystery Science Units

Kinder Phenomenon Storylines    

What is an Anchoring Phenomenon?

Mystery Science Kindergarten Student Notebook


Animal Secrets - In this unit, students use observations to understand the basic needs of animals. Students explore how animals need things to eat and a safe place to live, and also how animals can change their environments to meet those needs.


Plant Secrets - In this unit, students use observations to understand the basic needs of plants, such as water and sunlight. They also observe young plants and the changes they undergo as they grow from seed to seedling.

Anchor Phenomenon

Animal Secrets Anchor

A small collection of plants and animals that live in very different places and do very different things. Yet they all have in common that they rely upon the place in which they live to meet their needs.


Mystery Science Lesson / Connections to Anchor Phenomenon 


Mystery Science Lesson / Connections to Anchor Phenomenon 




Using ChatGPT to find local Colorado Phenomena

Use the following prompt, adjust accordingly. "I am an elementary school science teacher looking for a local Colorado phenomena to address NGSS standard (enter standard you are looking for... example 1-ESS1-2)"

CDE: Grade Level Expectations

Prepared Graduates:

2.5 Students can use the full range of science and engineering practices to make sense of natural phenomena and solve problems that require understanding how individual organisms are configured and how these structures function to support life, growth, behavior and reproduction. 


Grade Level Expectation:

1. To live and grow, animals obtain food they need from plants or other animals, and plants need water and light. 


Colorado Department of Education - Elementary Science Standards

Hands On, Minds On Connections

The Importance of creating Active Learners

The Science Wonder of the Day


Mystery Packs:

You should have received your Mystery Pack at the start of the school year. This includes all you should need to pair your science instruction with your literacy resources. If you have not received your Mystery Pack or need additional supplies please contact contact Michael O'Toole at otoole_michael@svvsd.org 

Additional Hands on Options: Science to Go

Trees - Enhancement Kit for Kinder Mystery Science Plant Secrets Unit. To a Kindergartner the oak tree on the corner, the pines at the park, and the mulberry trees at school are giants. Systematic investigation of trees will bring students to a better understanding of trees' place at school and in the community, and will provide some solid experiences on the way to understanding all plants.


Colorado Wildlife Kits


Raptors - Feet, wings, skulls and tails of raptors are provided for this unit. Kit includes publications and Project Wild activities.


Animal Signs - Realia shows students how to recognize the animals that have been in the area through tracks, scat and other signs. Kit includes publications and Project Wild activities.


Herptiles - turtle shells and skull, publications, and Project Wild activities complete this kit on herptiles.


Mammal Hides - The hides of 17 mammals and the antlers and horns of 5 mammals provide students the opportunity to learn about mammals. Publications and Project Wild activities complete the kit.


Mammal Skulls - Skulls of twelve mammals are the centerpiece of this kit which also includes publications and Project Wild activities. This kit contains 2 parts.


Birds / Waterfowl - Duck and grouse wings and feathers, publications, and Project Wild activities create this kit on wetlands and migration.


Aging Deer & Elk - Real teeth and jaws show the growth and development of the mule deer and elk. This kit includes realia, selected publications and Project Wild activities.




Nearpod Lessons / Activities / Videos



Environmental Education Connections



STEM Connections

Teacher Notes / Assessments / Career Connections

Using A.I. to find local Colorado Phenomena

Use the following prompt, adjust accordingly. "I am an elementary school science teacher looking for a local Colorado phenomena to address NGSS standard (enter standard you are looking for... example 1-ESS1-2)"


Science Database

Offers elementary students a safe place to find answers to their questions, practice research skills, and explore a broad range of subjects like animals, science and more, all in one place. Gale in Context: Elementary



3 Dimensional Science Assessments

This spreadsheet is a collection of existing assessments from across the country designed to support implementation of NGSS and similar state standards. The openly available tasks represent a wide range of task types and purposes. Some of these assessments are similar to what your students will experience on their 5th grade CMAS Exam. It is a good idea to introduce these types of assessments to students at all grade levels to better prepare them for success demonstrating their science knowledge.  Combined 3D Task Inventory



Career Connections

Connecting what students are learning to careers not only deepens their engagement in school but also helps them make more informed choices about their future. Browse the following related career profiles to discover what scientists really do on the job and what it takes to prepare for these careers. For additional profiles visit your Year at a Glance Page. Gale in Context: Scientist and Inventor Biographies


Thinking Map Connections

To help students Think Like a Scientists, they need to know how to question and gather evidence in order to refine and revise what they know and understand. The information below provides suggestions for connecting Thinking Maps to our science concepts. The thinking maps listed are general connections and should not be seen as the only maps that could be used. To better understand how to use Thinking Maps in Science, reference pages 188 to 196 in your Thinking Maps Teacher Guide. Each Thinking Map listed below includes the page number where it can be found in your Thinking Maps Teacher Guide


Patterns

Critical Questions: Is there a pattern? What caused the pattern? What predictions can I make? How does this pattern compare to others?


Possible Thinking Maps:

Flow or Bridge Maps for analyzing patterns (Page 54)

Tree Map for classifying (Page 42)

Bridge Map for relationships (Page 66)

Multi-flow Map for causes of patterns and making predictions (Page 60)

Double Bubble Map for comparing / contrasting patterns (Page 36)


Cause and Effect

Critical Questions: What evidence is there for this cause and effect relationship? What are other possible causes? How is this relationship similar to others? How does changing one event affect the results?


Possible Thinking Maps:

Multi-flow Map for cause and effect (Page 60)

Partial Multi-flow Map (Page 60)

Circle Map for Brainstorming (Page 24)

Double Bubble Map for cause and effect (Page 36)


Systems and System Models

Critical Questions: What parts and sub-systems make up this system? What interactions and processes involve this system? How is this system alike or different from others? What are the effects of modifying one part of the system?


Possible Thinking Maps:

Brace Map for taking systems apart (Page 48)

Flow Map for organization of the system (Page 54)

Double-Bubble Map to systems (Page 36)

Multi-flow Map to analyze impact of modifying systems (Page 60)