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Scavenger Hunt / Scavenger Hunt Worksheet

Ingredients of Life Scavenger Hunt

Grade: 2-3

Subject Integrated: Science

Rationale:
In this lesson, the student will explore their homes to find products that contain the essentials ingredients of life.

Objectives:
Students will be able to give examples of what is necessary for life found in products in and around their homes.

Materials:

Learning Activities:

    a) Instructional Materials and Resources
    • Worksheets
    • Examples of each necessity: water, sugar, nitrogen, carbon, proteins

    b) Procedure
    • Class sits at carpet, waiting for brainstorming stimulus from teacher.
    • Teacher explains what we need to live everyday on Earth: shelter, food, water, clothes.
    • Teacher explains for life on other planets other things are needed as well: water, sugar, nitrogen, carbon, protein.
    • Teacher shows the students these items as everyday products.
    • The worksheets are handed out to the students – they are required to complete
      this at home with the aid of a parent.
    • The students are to find two items that contain one of the ingredients for life.
    • The following day, students share different items they found which contain the ingredients for life.

    c) Instructional Groups
    • Lesson will be taught to the class as a whole.
    • Teacher will assist students at recess or at after school program for students who do not receive parental assistance at home.

    d) Discussion
    • What do humans need to survive?
    • What is carbon? What has carbon?
    • Where can you find water?
    • What foods have sugar?
    • What is a protein? Where can you find them?
    • What is nitrogen? Where can you find some?
    • Are there any questions?

    e) Assessment
    • Formative assessment will be used as students brainstorm initially.
    • Teacher will take notes on students with trouble with the skills for further assistance.
    • The teacher will assess the students’ based on their completion of the assignment and participation in the discussion.
    • Stickers can be placed on worksheet when completed.

Closure:

    a) Ending the Lesson
    • Have students put the worksheets in their mailboxes to take home.
    • The next day students will share the different items they discovered.

    b) Evaluating and Reflection of the Lesson
    • Evaluation of lesson will be done by thorough formative assessment.
    • Teacher will observe to see make sure each student understands the concept introduced in the lesson.
    • Teacher will make sure all requirements and guidelines are met by giving specific instructions to students who struggle with the skills.
    • Teacher will self-critique on what worked well and what did not work well in the lesson.

Standards:

  • NGSS: 2-LS4-1. (strong fit) Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats.
  • NGSS: 3-LS4-3. (supportive fit) Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.

Teacher References:


The content was developed at Albion College by Professor Nicolle Zellner (Albion College Department of Physics) and Victoria Della Pia (Albion Elementary School), with educational oversight by Melissa Mercer-Tachick (Muse Consulting). To develop these lesson plans and assessments, Victoria Della Pia was supported by a grant from the Foundation for Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity at Albion College.