Grade 4 Life Science:Habitats and Communities

Created by: Melissa Horvath

Units Components13 LessonsPre-Lesson videosGain an understanding of habitats and communitiesLearn about the four components of habitats that are necessary for survivalLearning outside of the classroom

Unit ComponentsAssessment – ongoing and includes a variety of toolsSafety – included in every lessonClean up – a bucket for all science journals, have a designated spot “science area” in classroom

OutcomesHC4.1 Analyze the effects of human activities on habitats and communities. (Lessons 1 – 5, 13)HC4.2 Investigate the interdependence of plants and animals within specific habitats and communities. (Lesson 6 – 9, 13)HC4.3 Compare the structures and behaviours of animals and plants that allow them to exist in different habitats and communities. (Lessons 9 – 13)

Lesson 1: Habitat Lap SitOutcome: HC4.1, Indicator: fRead The Magic School Bus Hops Home: A Book About Habitats Students will be introduced to four main components of a habitatCreate a circle to represent the interdependence of components

Lesson 2: The LoraxOutcome: HC4.1, Indicators: c, f, hShow video of The LoraxStudents complete and discuss guiding questions

Lesson 3: Awi Usdi, the Little Deer

Outcome: HC4.1, Indicators: a, b, cRead Awi Usdi, the Little Deer as a classHave a discussion about the connection that First Nations traditionally have to the landCreate own legends using guiding questionsShare legends with other students

Lesson 4: What Did Your Lunch Cost Wildlife? (Part 1)

Outcome: HC4.1, Indicator: cExamine the foods that students brought for lunchCreate a chart or web that shows the process that the food went through to get to their lunches

Lesson 5: What Did Your Lunch Cost Wildlife? (Part 2)

Outcomes: HC4.1, Indicators: c, dExamine food process charts that they created in previous lessonDiscuss ways to lessen the effect on wildlife and the environmentAs a group, create a representation of how people can have less of an effect

Lesson 6: Connections Within the Environment

Outcome: HC4.2, Indicators: a, b, cWalk around the playground or community and write about animals they seeDiscuss relationships between animals and environmentCreate a food web as a class

Lesson 7: Weird FriendsOutcome: HC4.2, Indicator: fRead book Weird FriendsStudents follow along and fill in benefits of each relationshipDiscussion of mutualism

Lesson 8: Creating Habitats (Part 1)

Outcome: HC4.2, Indicators: e, f, kCreate a habitat using a variety of materialsWrite about their habitat using a guiding sheetWrite about relationships that are present in the habitat

Lesson 9: Creating Habitats (Part 2)

Outcomes: HC4.2, Indicators: f, lComplete habitat and written componentsExamine a classmate’s habitatAnswer questions about their classmate’s habitat

Lesson 10: Special AdaptationsOutcome: HC4.3, Indicators: a, b, cGo outside to examine different types of organismsWrite and draw about components of habitatIdentify special adaptations of an organism

Lesson 11: Identifying Adaptations

Outcome: HC4.3, Indicators: d, gView a variety of organismsAttempt to identify their physical adaptationsPlay an interactive game that focuses on animal adaptations

Lesson 12: Creating AnimalsOutcome: HC4.1 Indicators: fStudents given a description of a habitatCreate a new type of animal that could survive in the habitatMust identify the adaptations that allow them to survive

Lesson 13: ExamOutcomes: HC4.1, HC4.2, HC4.3Exam that encompasses the entire unitAllows students to apply what the knowShort answer questionsSimilar questions to what students have answered in the unit

Thank-you! Questions or

comments?We made it!

Enjoy your summer!!