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Unit 3
Theme Launch
Discuss the Big Idea
As a class, discuss the Big Idea question, How are people and nature connected?
Explain that in order to survive, all
living things must interact with and are affected by everything in their environment.
Ask students how humans are affected by the environment. (Possible
responses: by climate, weather, availability of food and water)
A good example would be that humans use natural resources found in their environment (food, water, air, raw materials) to get what they need to live.
Theme and Concept Connections
Weekly lesson concepts help students connect the reading selections and the unit theme. Theme-related activities throughout the week provide opportunities to explore the relationships among the selections, the lesson concepts, and the unit theme.
Unit Inquiry Project
Environmental Change
In the unit inquiry project, students choose a change made by people to some natural Earth feature and research what effect the change had on the environment. Students may use print or online resources as available.
The project assessment rubric can be found on p. 400a. Discuss the expectations before students begin the project. Rubric
PROJECT TIMETABLE
WEEK   ACTIVITY/SKILL CONNECTION
1
 IDENTIFY QUESTIONS Students choose a change made by people and browse a few Web sites or print reference materials to develop an inquiry question about how human change can affect the environment.
2
 NAVIGATE/SEARCH Students conduct effective information searches and look for text and images that can help them answer their questions.
3
 ANALYZE Students explore Web sites or print materials. They analyze the information they have found to determine whether or not it will be useful to them. Students print or take notes on valid information.
4
 SYNTHESIZE Students combine relevant information they've collected from different sources to develop an answer to their inquiry questions from Week 1.
5
 ASSESSMENT OPTIONS COMMUNICATE Each student prepares a list of useful resources for other classes who may wish to explore how changes made by people affect the environment. Students may also prepare presentations about how human changes affect the environment.
UNIT 3
The Gardener
Pushing Up the Sky
PEOPLE AND NATURE
PEOPLE AND NATURE
PEOPLE AND NATURE
Night Letters
PEOPLE AND NATURE
PEOPLE AND NATURE
PEOPLE AND NATURE
A Symphony of Whales
Volcanoes: Nature's Incredible Fireworks
connect to SCIENCE
connect to SOCIAL STUDIES
connect to SCIENCE
connect to SCIENCE
connect to SCIENCE
Read It Online
The Gardener
A country girl becomes
a city gardener.
REALISTIC FICTION
Pushing Up the Sky
Learn how some people
explain nature.
PLAY
Night Letters
A girl observes the natural
world around her.
REALISTIC FICTION
A Symphony
of Whales
People come together
to rescue whales.
FICTION
Volcanoes: Nature’s
Incredible Fireworks
Scientists study volcanoes to
predict when they will erupt.
EXPOSITORY NONFICTION
Paired Selection
Worms at Work
HOW-TO ARTICLE
Paired Selection
Catch It and Run!
MYTH
Paired Selection
dear stars
POETRY
Paired Selection
He Listens to
Whales
EXPOSITORY NONFICTION
Paired Selection
Natural Disasters
SEARCH ENGINE
HOW ARE PEOPLE AND NATURE CONNECTED?
 
   
Close  
CONNECTING CULTURES
 
Use the following selections to help students learn more about how living things interact with their environments.
A Symphony of Whales Have students discuss how living things in the harsh environment interact. Example: Glashka's family feeds and takes care of the sled dogs; then they use the dogs as a means of transportation.
Volcanoes Discuss how volcanoes are signs that Earth is still changing. Explain how volcanoes affect the surrounding environment and its inhabitants when they erupt. Emphasize that volcanoes are a necessary force of nature.