Life Science Units and Lessons for Grades 4-6
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Life Science
Grades 4-6 |
Physical Science
Grades 4-6 |
Earth and Space Science
Grades 7-9 |
Engineering
Grades 7-9 |
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| Lesson | Description | Prep Time | Lesson Time Needed | Complexity |
| Space Adaptations |
Activities to investigate the adaptations that humans must make during spaceflight. Keywords: bone loss, bone strength, microgravity, oxygen |
1 Hour | 3.5 Hour | Moderate |
| The Brain in Space |
Activities to investigate the effects of space travel on the human brain. Keywords: inner ear, human vestibular system, motion, fatigue, reaction time |
2 Hours | 4 Hours | Advanced |
| Train Like an Astronaut |
Students can participate in physical activities modeled after the real-life physical requirements of humans traveling in space. Keywords: disorientation, vestibular system, muscles, bones, brain, space adaptation, exercise, pressure changes |
1 Hour | 4 Hours | Moderate |
Food Unit
| Lesson | Description | Prep Time | Lesson Time Needed | Complexity |
| Food for Thought |
Students explore the unique problems of keeping astronauts happy and healthy in space. Keywords: energy, health, preparation, selection, waste, mold growth, planning and serving, ripening fruits and vegetables, nutrition, calories, storage |
1.5 Hours | 7 Hours | Moderate |
Life Out There? Unit
| Lesson | Description | Prep Time | Lesson Time Needed | Complexity |
| Astrobiology: Life Here and Out There |
Students explore life here on Earth and utilize that understanding to determine what life is and how to look for it on other planets. Keywords: journaling, observation, living conditions, definition of life, food, air, temperature, extremes |
1 Hour | 3.5 Hours | Moderate |
| Habitable Zones |
Students explore some of the reasons to think extraterrestrial life is possible by varying the distance from the Sun, studying organisms living under extreme conditions on Earth, and investigating extreme temperature effects on metabolism. Keywords: temperature, metabolism, gas, extremophiles, star mass, bond albedo, distance from star, greenhouse effect of atmosphere |
1 Hour | 4-5 Hours | Moderate |
| Search for Life on Other Worlds - Observing and Classifying Life |
Activities challenge students to make observations regarding the physical traits of living things with the intent to classify them through comparisons and contrasts. Keywords: animal classification, stereoscopic vision, observations, written observations, accuracy |
1.5 Hours | 4.5 Hours | Basic |
| Search for Life on Other Worlds - What is Life and What Does it Need to Live? |
Students examine the nature of life, what it requires, its limits, and where it might be found as well as learn important ideas related to the search for extraterrestrial life. Keywords: define life, aliens, physical features of the body, habitation requirements |
2 Hours | 4 Hours | Moderate |
| Shapes and Food Chains |
Students explore why plants and animals may need support systems and discover that plants are the main source of energy in the food chain. Keywords: relationship between food, body shape, muscles, bones and skeleton |
1 Hour | 3 Hours | Basic |
Plants Unit
| Lesson | Description | Prep Time | Lesson Time Needed | Complexity |
| Have Seed Will Travel |
Students compare plants unique adaptations to reproducing in their environment. Keywords: adaptation, survival, plants |
1-2 Hours | 1 Hour | Basic |
| How Do Plants Know Which Way to Grow? Tropisms |
Students explore the effects of gravity on plant growth. Keywords: adaptation, gravitropism, photosynthesis, survival, phototropism, light waves, gravity, light |
2.5 Hours |
7 Hours / 4-5 Days |
Moderate |
| Light Effects on Plant Behavior |
Activities investigate the principals of photosynthesis and effects of light on plants. Keywords: adaptation, gravitropism, photosynthesis, survival, phototropism, light waves |
2.5 Hours |
4 Hours / Act.1–4 Days Act.2–3 Days Act.3–4 Hours |
Moderate |
| Living Clocks |
Students observe that some behaviors and functions of living organisms vary predictably every 24 hours. Keywords: circadian rhythms, behavior, plants, adaptation |
1 Hour |
10 Minutes Daily / 6 Days |
Basic |
Survival Unit
| Lesson | Description | Prep Time | Lesson Time Needed | Complexity |
| Cool Spacesuits |
Lesson will enable students to demonstrate, test and analyze materials utilized in spacesuits to keep astronauts cool in the harsh environment of space. Keywords: radiation danger, spacesuits, outpost simulation, human needs,space environment |
1.5 Hours | 2 Hours | Moderate |
| Field Trip to the Moon |
Students explore the moon's habitability and sustainable resources with activities that culminate with plans for the design and creation of a lunar station. Keywords: lunar, satellite, stratigraphy, craters, lava, spacecraft, ecosystems, mining, habitat, scientific method, power station, energy resources, landing sites, medical |
2 Hours | 4 Hours | Moderate |
| Survivor: The Space Environment |
Students explore and compare the space environment and Earth's environment to determine the resources needed for humans to survive in both environments. Keywords: human needs, physical stress, food properties, menu selection, balanced meals, challenges, food web, population, data, ultraviolet radiation, solar, DNA, electromagnetic, solar cycle |
1.5 Hours | 8 Hours | Moderate |
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