A Comprehensive Lesson on Animal Habitats and Biomes
Research and explore animal habitats, compare and contrast the habitat needs of various animals, and design and create an interactive "sales pitch" to convince an animal to move to your habitat in this science PBL unit.
Your students will learn all about animal ecosystems in this complete project-based learning unit on habitats and biomes for 2nd to 4th grade science. They'll research where and how animals live in detail, compare and contrast different habitats (including their own), and design and create a "sales pitch" presentation that enables them to synthesize and showcase their knowledge of force and motion.
What's Inside
Packed with hands-on inquiry-based activities, extensions and enhancements, cross-curricular independent and group work, and engaging and interactive challenges, this 55-page project-based unit comes complete with:
- For the Teacher: A complete animal habitats Lesson Plan with step-by-step instructions for all activities, teaching tips, assessment guidance, and inquiry questions.
- For Students: A full-color Student Pack complete with all of the printables and instructions students need for the experiments and activities - just print (or share) and teach!
A complete, ready-to-teach Teacher Pack that includes:
- Teacher versions of all the student printables with step-by-step annotations and notes for teaching habitats and biomes;
- Formative and summative assessments, answer keys, and a full project rubric;
- Instructions and guidance for the extension activities and project enhancements;
- Materials and resources lists, plus additional resources for lecture and presentation.
What's Included
Lesson Plan - Step-by-Step Project Guide
- Milestone 1: Connecting Prior Knowledge of Habitats
- Milestone 2: Researching Habitats
- Milestone 3: Writing a Persuasive Commercial
- Milestone 4: Creating Visual Aids for the Commercial
- Milestone 5: Presenting the Commercial
Teacher and Student Resources
- List of Books About Animal Habitats Habitat Cards
- Find My Home Animal Cards
- Email Template
- Habitat Clues
- Habitat Information Sample Answers
- Commercial Planning Sample Answers
- Habitats Quick Quiz
- Habitats Quick Quiz Answer Key
- Sample Visual Aid
- Oral Presentation Mini-Lesson
- Habitats Summative Assessment
- Habitats Summative Assessment Answer Key
- Exploring Animal Habitats Group Presentations Rubric
- Biome Exploration
- Habitat Sales Pitch
- Animal Information
- Milestone #1 Inquiry Question
- How to Do Good Research
- Habitat Information
- Milestone #2 Inquiry Question
- Commercial Planning
- Milestone #3 Inquiry Question
- My Habitat
- Tips for Making Posters
- Milestone #4 Inquiry Question
- Exploring Animal Habitats Group Presentations
- Milestone #5 Inquiry Question
OVERVIEW:
This project-based learning lesson is designed to support and reinforce the concepts taught as part of a lesson on Animal Habitats and Biomes. It is built around 5 inquiry-based milestones that incorporate cross-curricular hands-on projects, formative and summative assessments, independent and group activities, and extensions.
STUDENT/GROUP OUTPUT:
In the course of this project-based learning unit, students will:
- Research and document different animal habitats by going on virtual field trips and a biome walk;
- Research and document living and non-living things that exist in various types of habitats and biomes;
- Choose an animal and a habitat to develop expert inquiry-based knowledge about, through group research and activities;
- Synthesize acquired research and empirical knowledge into the creation and design of a "sales pitch" designed to entice the animal they researched to live in the habitat they researched;
- "Show what they know" by presenting their "sales pitches" to the class, and offer feedback on presentations given by other students.
SUGGESTED SUBJECT PREREQUISITES:
Students will acquire necessary background knowledge of animal habitats and biomes as part of this project, and instructional materials for providing that background are included in the Teacher Pack.
SEQUENCE AND PACING
This project-based unit is divided into 5 milestones. The minimum suggested duration for completing this project-based unit is 5 class periods. However, the unit is completely flexible can be lengthened or shortened as necessary or desired, based on available class time and interest level.
TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES (suggested):
- Internet access
- Microsoft Office PowerPoint, Google Slides, or other presentation software.
STANDARDS ALIGNMENT
These activities support the following NGSS curriculum standards:
- LS2.A, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
- 2-LS4-1, Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats
