Biological Science

ACSSU94: Students will understand that the growth and survival of living things are affected by the physical conditions of their environment
Overview: This term, students will be developing their knowledge of the Biological Sciences. In particular, they will learn about the effects of different conditions that have an effect on the way different species live. They will look at the concept of survival, differentiate between living and non living things, analyse different environments and understand the adaptations required for plants and animals to live in different places. A study of migration and hibernation will be conducted as specific forms of animal adaptations to their environment, they will grow bread mould under different conditions, hypothesise about what they think will happen then reflect on the results. They will conduct other experiments with plants to determine the effects of different soli types, nutrients, water and sunlight availability and write up a scientific report on this. Finally, students will pair up to complete their own simple experiment. Science as Human Endeavour

(ACSHE098) (ACSHE099) (ACSHE100) (ACSHE220)

Testing predictions by gathering data and using evidence to develop explanations Contributions to the advancement of science have been made by people from a range of cultures Understandings, discoveries and inventions are used to solve problems that directly affect peoples lives Scientific knowledge is used to inform personal and community decisions

Scientific Inquiry Processes

(ACSIS232) (ACSIS103) (ACSIS104) (ACSIS105) (ACSIS107) (ACSIS221) (ACSIS108) (ACSIS110)

Pose questions to clarify practical problems and predict what the findings might be With guidance, plan appropriate investigation methods to answer questions or solve problems Observe, measure and record data, using digital technologies as appropriate Use equipment and materials safely, identifying potential risks Use tables and graphs to represent and describe observations, patterns or relationships in data Compare data with predictions and use as evidence in developing explanations Suggest improvements to the methods used to investigate a question or solve a problem Communicate ideas, explanations and processes in a variety of ways, including multi-modal texts

Sequence of Learning Activities:

Days Tuesday L7 Pre-assessment Week 1 Introduction to Biology Activate: What is biological science? KWLH Chart Record understanding Watchhttp://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=qLH_vjlzRxE Wednesday L6 Introduction to the unit. To gain the attention and interest of the class, play a Bear Grylls episode (or part thereof). Have a discussion about what threatened his survival, whether we are all faced with similar threats and what commonalities there are for all people when it comes to survival. Expand this idea to the survival of plants and animals, different areas of the world, basic needs of all things. Create a title page for workbooks. Week 2 Living vs non living things. This unit is all about the needs of living things. This means students need to know more about what living things are and how to differentiate them from nonliving things. Week 3 Physical conditions of different environments. Show pictures of different environments. (Make sure they cover the range of How are these environments the same? How are they different? What make them unique? Write up some information about each type of environment and make up a collage of pictures that relate.

Sequence of Learning Activities:

Days Tuesday L7 Week 4 1. The effect of the environment on 1. the species that lives there. 2. 2. 3. 3. Look at the adaptations of plants that Wednesday L6 plants have to have in order to survive different environments.ie marine vs freshwater, rainforest vs grasslands Week 5 Extreme environments. Week 6 4. Migration and hibernation. 5. Researching extreme environments6. Researching what migration and and the organisms that live there hibernation is and why some species the desert and the arctic migrate or hibernate.

Days Tuesday L7

Week 7 Growing fungi bread mould, learning how to take notes and write up a science report

Week 8 Plant survival experiments, take notes from given information by locating key details and facts. Conduct experiments and write up a report

Week 9 Independent experiments. In pairs, students design and test an experiment, write up a report *

Wednesday L6

Days Tuesday L7

Week 10 Presentations. Present the experiment and the results to the class

Wednesday L6

Reference List Science Kids www.sciencekids.co.nz/lessonplans/biology/biology introduction.html PrimaryConnections: Marvellous microorganisms, Stage 3, Life and Living Australian Curriculum Science, Biological Science, Year 6, RIC Publications Curriculum Online Organiser (AEU Site)

Introduction to Biology
Give your students an insight into the amazing world of biology with this easy lesson plan and fun activities. Teach biology basics and let children experiment with microscopes and other equipment, taking a magnified look into the world of bacteria, microorganisms and cells. This introduction to biology offers some great biology basics, easy activities, interesting questions and other useful teaching ideas. An introduction to biology: Ask if any of the students can give a general definition of biology. Enter the information on the IWB in the KWLH Chart (save) Once youve listened to their answers help them out by giving them a good definition such as: Biology is the science of living things: The life sciences collectively, including botany, anatomy, physiology and zoology. Some questions to get them thinking: 1. So what exactly does a biologist do? 2. What kind of jobs involve biology?

Watch Characteristics of living things. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLH_vjlzRxE Simple microscope activity: If you do have microscopes available then let the students experiment with them. Show them the basics first and then give them some interesting biology samples to look at under the microscope. Things like hair strands, food, plants and clothing fibers are always interesting.
Bring the students back and talk about what they saw under the microscope. Is what they saw different from what they see with the naked eye? Does this affect what they think about these objects? Other areas of biology: Other important areas of biology that can be mentioned in your introduction to biology include anatomy, physiology, neurology and evolution. Ask plenty of open ended questions to help stimulate discussion while being prepared to step in and offer some useful points when their ideas start running dry. What do muscles in the human body do? Why do some people have black hair and others blonde? How does your brain work? Why do giraffes have long necks?

Biology is a very wide area of science covering a number of different topics, While this biology introduction only covers only a few of them, it should give kids a taste of what biology is all about and hopefully stimulate an interest in what is a fascinating subject.