Studying the family through Science


http://edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/edtec596/Units/put.the.URL.here.html

by

Stacy Alvarez

Introduction

For the next two weeks, we will be exploring many different scientific families. We will be learning the types and parts of families. You will be involved by researching, reading, getting information from films and the internet, making charts and doing surveys of your classmates. All these methods will enable you to understand the importance of families. There are five individual lessons that we will be doing. This is the first lesson. Click below to see the others.
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
Lesson 4
Lesson 5

The Task

The end result of this first lesson will be to get you to understand and compare the parts of a family by using three very different types of families. You will be able to do the following:

Resources


We will be using several resources. A seventh grade science text, handouts and student survey sheets.

The Process

The process will be basic. We will be going step by step through three different families, following this outline.

Human families
  1. First, we will be surveying each other to get information on human families.
  2. Each of us will collect data using these three questions.
  3. How many people in your family?
  4. What does each member do?
  5. What parts(people,etc.)are necessary in your family for survival?
  6. Using this data, we will come up with parts that all families share.
  7. We will compare and contrast information with each other.
  8. Class as a whole will come up with the parts that we can all agree on.
Animal families
  1. We will learn about animal families by studying animal behaviors
  2. We will deal with animals you are familiar with: bats, birds and fish.
  3. Listing behaviors, you will arrive at mostly survival behaviors.
  4. We will also learn about social behaviors of oxen, wolves and bees.
  5. Using your lists, you will come up with behaviors that are the same in all these animals.
  6. You will find the parts of animal families by picking the behaviors done in groups.
Plant families
  1. The first step in studying plant families is determining that each plant is its own family.
  2. We well study the plant kingdom in general and the parts of individual plants.
  3. Then you will list the function of each part.
  4. You will then determine that each part of a plant is necessary to the "family."
  5. Studying plants will give you a basic knowledge of families because of their simplicity.

Learning Advice

The besy way to go about these activites would be to stay extremely organized. Keep all your survey sheets together during the study of human families. At the end of the surveys, students should arrange their information in chart form or a list that can be easily read. During the study of animals, you must take careful, conscientious notes of your readings and class discussions. Using these notes, you will compile your lists of behaviors and group behaviors. You will use the same method of gathering information while studying plants.

Evaluation

Evaluation for this entire unit is incorporated into each lesson. Some of the exercises will involve your own evaluation of information. Other tasks that you will be doing will require you to hand in products. These products will be graded according to your participation and how well you understood the assignments. Although their will be no formal exam given, do not worry, there are numerous opportunities for you to show me what you know and what you have learned.

Conclusion

At the conclusion of this lesson, you will be able to discuss the parts of families in general, and state specific types of families and their parts. (animal, human, plant)


Lesson

Last updated April 28, 1996. Return to the Unit Outline Page