Changing the Environment: Epic K/1st Grade Classroom Mission

Storyline

When Moodoo contaminated the water of Tellenor, the crew will identify how living things are affected and will implement a solution to address the problem.

When the crew arrives at Tellenor, they'll investigate how plants and animals have adapted to the contaminated water and changed their environment accordingly. They'll discover that plants grow longer roots and animals move to cleaner water sources and collect rainwater. The crew will learn about cause and effect relationships and consider solutions like "water catchers" and "water cleaners." They'll decide that using a combination of both is the best way to help everyone on Tellenor. After implementing the solution, they'll send Moodoo and his ships away, ensuring a happy, healthy future for Tellenor's inhabitants.

Est. time: 25 min.

Targeted Standards

3-Dimensional Science

Phenomenon

Toxins in the environment have an effect on living things.

Science and Engineering Practices

Asking Questions and Defining Problems

The mission involves identifying the problem (contamination) and questioning its impacts on the local ecosystem.

Analyzing and Interpreting Data

The mission requires learners to analyze and interpret visual data (before and after footage along with graphs and info texts) to understand the impact of contamination.

Constructing Explanations and Designing Solution

The mission calls for designing and implementing a solution (hybrid water cleaner) to the problem of contamination.

Crosscutting Concepts

Cause and Effect

The mission involves understanding the effects of the contamination on living organisms (cause) and their subsequent changes in behavior (effect).

Systems and System Models

The mission requires the learners to think of the ecosystem as a system, with all living and non-living elements interconnected.

Structure and Function

In trying to understand the changes in plant and animal behavior due to the contamination, learners are exploring the relationship between the structure of living organisms and their function in terms of survival.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

LS1.C: Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms

All animals need food in order to live and grow. They obtain their food from plants or from other animals. Plants need water and light to live and grow.

ESS3.A: Natural Resources

Living things need water, air, and resources from the land, and they live in places that have the things they need. Humans use natural resources for everything they do.

Tackling Toxins