Being a Scientist Routines: Animal Cams + Where We Are

Description

About the Two Being a Scientist Routines

The activities in this packet are designed to be daily routines for students building their scientific observation skills.

Routine 1– Animal Cam Observations is a sheet to accompany animal cameras or animal videos. Katmai has excellent animal cams, as does Explore.org, the San Diego Zoo, the Department of Interior, and the University of New Hampshire. The animal cam observation sheets are at four levels, designed to be accessible and educational for students not yet writing to students working at a 4th grade + level.

• Level 1 includes picture choices for where the animal is and what they are doing and space to draw.
• Level 2 includes picture choices for where the animal is, questions on the animal’s behavior, and space to draw.
• Level 3 includes space to describe the animal’s habitat and behavior as well as space to draw.
• Level 4 includes questions on habitat, behavior, what you can learn about the animal from its behavior, what animal it reminds you of, and space to draw.

Routine 2– Where We Are: Observe is an observation sheet designed to get students to take a closer look at where they are. It works really well outside but can also work for observing a classroom or looking out a window. At its most fundamental, science is the art of observing and this builds students’ ability to discuss what they see, hear, and experience. Like the Animal Cam, this one is at four different levels. Note that the lowest level here has word choices, not images, and is best done with partner support.

• Level 1 includes multiple choice questions on time of day, where you are, temperature, and weather; oral response questions on what you see, smell, and hear; and space to draw.
• Level 2 includes multiple choice questions on time of day, where you are, temperature, and weather; questions on what you see, smell, and hear; and space to draw.
• Level 3 includes questions on time of day, where you are, temperature, weather and what you see, smell, and hear, as well as space for your own questions and to draw.
• Level 4 includes questions on time, location, temperature, weather, smells, sounds, plants and animals observed, and habitat observed, as well as space to draw.