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Grade 8: Structures & Mechanisms
Grade 8: Structures & Mechanisms
Systems in action
Systems in action
For PDSB Educators: if you are looking to reach out to the Peel Field Centres for further ways to connect your learning to the environment visit the PDSB Field Centre Share Point site.
For PDSB Educators: if you are looking to reach out to the Peel Field Centres for further ways to connect your learning to the environment visit the PDSB Field Centre Share Point site.
Nature Journaler: @billiejooutdoors
Nature Journaling: I Notice..., I Wonder...?, It Reminds me of...
Nature Journaling: I Notice..., I Wonder...?, It Reminds me of...
Nature Journaling is an incredible tool for students to investigate the impacts of the automation on the environment. Their nature journal allows them to write/draw their observations helping to cement the concepts being taught.
Nature Journaling is an incredible tool for students to investigate the impacts of the automation on the environment. Their nature journal allows them to write/draw their observations helping to cement the concepts being taught.
At this age all three prompts "I notice..., I wonder...?, and "It reminds me of..." become very intuitive. However the statement "I wonder..." becomes very important at this age all the way up to 18 years as students deepen their understanding of the world around them. Encourage students to begin writing using single words, simple sentences, lists, point form, paragraphs and even poetry. Please note that spelling is not a focus in the nature journal. At this age you may start to see art fears - please ensure you are re-iterating it is not about a pretty picture. It is about their observations. Please see the link feedback at the bottom of this lesson for tips on this. Using words, pictures and numbers allows the students multiple tools to document their observations. With permission Bethan Burton has allowed us to link to her website as she has written a blog post for Teaching nature journaling at all ages.
At this age all three prompts "I notice..., I wonder...?, and "It reminds me of..." become very intuitive. However the statement "I wonder..." becomes very important at this age all the way up to 18 years as students deepen their understanding of the world around them. Encourage students to begin writing using single words, simple sentences, lists, point form, paragraphs and even poetry. Please note that spelling is not a focus in the nature journal. At this age you may start to see art fears - please ensure you are re-iterating it is not about a pretty picture. It is about their observations. Please see the link feedback at the bottom of this lesson for tips on this. Using words, pictures and numbers allows the students multiple tools to document their observations. With permission Bethan Burton has allowed us to link to her website as she has written a blog post for Teaching nature journaling at all ages.
Here are some more ideas to get you started.
Engage the fives senses (whenever possible)
Make leaf prints ( paint the leaf and press the print into the journal)
Make leaf rubbings
Trace the items they are looking at
Add leaves into the journal using tape
Count the birds/squirrels/insects etc.
Measure as much of the phenomena as the students can using non standard and standard units of measurement.
Here is a downloadable lesson from John (Jack) Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren book: How to Teach Nature Journaling. All resources shared with permission. "I Notice..., I Wonder...?, It Reminds me of..."
GIVING FEEDBACK here is a fantastic resource from Jack and Emilie
NOTE: You are encourage to spend time in the outdoors Nature Journaling. However, you can also bring nature inside, look out your wonder window, have a refrigerator Safari or even observe a house plant or pet.
Photos by: Tammy Hand
Analyze Systems
Analyze Systems
This activity requires the student to do some online research. They can use E-books through PDSB BYOD or other sources.
This activity requires the student to do some online research. They can use E-books through PDSB BYOD or other sources.
Systems help things to function properly. Below are some examples of how systems can be categorized:
Systems help things to function properly. Below are some examples of how systems can be categorized:
mechanical systems
body systems
optical systems
mass transit systems
Indigenous clan systems
health care systems
electrical systems
Look at things both inside your house and outside in your neighbourhood. Identify and write down some of the systems you see and where they come from. What is their purpose?
Look at things both inside your house and outside in your neighbourhood. Identify and write down some of the systems you see and where they come from. What is their purpose?
Choose one system you would like to study. Research and explain what needs to go into the system to make it work and what comes out of the system (inputs and outputs). What does it produce?
Choose one system you would like to study. Research and explain what needs to go into the system to make it work and what comes out of the system (inputs and outputs). What does it produce?
Example: a garden – purpose: to grow things; input: seeds, water, fertilizer, sunlight; output: flowers, food, more seeds for new plants
Can you think of any changes that would improve the system to make it more efficient?
Can you think of any changes that would improve the system to make it more efficient?
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.
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