Statement of Topic:
Cycles of life, exploring life cycles of animals and plants
Stage: 2 Year: 3-4 Age: 8-9 years
This unit is an investigation of life cycles of animals and plants, where children have the opportunity to practice scientific investigations in a purposeful context. Through observations, questioning and discovery (Skamp, 2012) children learn about life cycles within the environment. The experiences will help the children understand how living things have basic needs for life (Lind, 2005) and interact with other living and non living things through nutrient cycles and energy flows (Mader, 2000). That is, plants and animals rely on each other, and other aspects of the environment for life. Therefore, no matter how big or how small, all species play a vital part in the ecosystem (Warren, 2002).
The unit covers an entire term, giving children the opportunity for deeper learning and inquiry (Murdoch, 2012) as they engage with real life and hands on experiences. The lessons allow for cross curricular learning, and there is significant integration of technology and digital artefacts to motivate the children to construct their own learning (Skamp, 2012).
Through studying cycles of life, children’s curiosity will be stimulated as they develop a foundational understanding of biological concepts (Lind, 2005) and understand their own role within the food and life cycles. The unit will help children generate more scientific views of their world and have a better understanding of behaviour of animals and plants, and their needs (Skamp, 2012). Children will begin to understand that different forms of life have very different life cycles that rely on many different aspects of the environment for survival. Children can hypothesise and pose theories as they monitor the changes in plant and animal life cycles and engage in rich discussion and collaboration with their peers as they write and draw their findings.
References:
Lind, K. (2005). Exploring science in early childhood (4th ed.). CA, USA: Delmar.
Mader, S. S. (2000). Inquiry into life (9 ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill.
Murdoch, K. (2012). Inquiry learning – journeys through the thinking processes. Paper presented at the Learning Assets Workshop, VIC. http://www.kathmurdoch.com.au/uploads/media/inquirylearning.pdf
Skamp, K. (2012). Teaching primary science constructively (4th ed.). South Melbourne: Cengage Learning.
Warren, Z. (2002). The importance of insects. Technology in Education Retrieved 17th Oct, 2013, from http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2002/03/030402t_insects.jhtml
The unit covers an entire term, giving children the opportunity for deeper learning and inquiry (Murdoch, 2012) as they engage with real life and hands on experiences. The lessons allow for cross curricular learning, and there is significant integration of technology and digital artefacts to motivate the children to construct their own learning (Skamp, 2012).
Through studying cycles of life, children’s curiosity will be stimulated as they develop a foundational understanding of biological concepts (Lind, 2005) and understand their own role within the food and life cycles. The unit will help children generate more scientific views of their world and have a better understanding of behaviour of animals and plants, and their needs (Skamp, 2012). Children will begin to understand that different forms of life have very different life cycles that rely on many different aspects of the environment for survival. Children can hypothesise and pose theories as they monitor the changes in plant and animal life cycles and engage in rich discussion and collaboration with their peers as they write and draw their findings.
References:
Lind, K. (2005). Exploring science in early childhood (4th ed.). CA, USA: Delmar.
Mader, S. S. (2000). Inquiry into life (9 ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill.
Murdoch, K. (2012). Inquiry learning – journeys through the thinking processes. Paper presented at the Learning Assets Workshop, VIC. http://www.kathmurdoch.com.au/uploads/media/inquirylearning.pdf
Skamp, K. (2012). Teaching primary science constructively (4th ed.). South Melbourne: Cengage Learning.
Warren, Z. (2002). The importance of insects. Technology in Education Retrieved 17th Oct, 2013, from http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2002/03/030402t_insects.jhtml