Science - 4th Grade
Lesson Plans

Standard 5

Students will understand the physical characteristics of Utah's wetlands, forests, and deserts and identify common organisms for each environment.

Objective 2

Describe the common plants and animals found in Utah environments and how these organisms have adapted to the environment in which they live.

• Mapping It Out
  This activity will help students learn about Utah's environments, temperature, elevation and rainfall.
• NHMU: Adaptation Scavenger Hunt
  Students will learn to recognize the specific adaptations of living things and relate them to survival within the animals environment.
• NHMU: Bird Watching 101
  Students will learn the basics of bird watching, finding and interpreting bird clues and attracting birds to a particular location or habitat.
• NHMU: Birds Will Be Birds
  Students will analyze the physical characteristics of 12 different birds and consider how this enables them to survive in their individual habitats. They will then expand on this knowledge by applying it to other species not covered in the handout.
• NHMU: Living Food Web
  Students will be able to name some plants and animals that live in Utah's desert, forest or wetland ecosystems. They will also describe the interdependence of the organisms in a food web.
• NHMU: Our Ancient Earth - The Stratigraphy Cup
  In this activity, students will make a stratigraphy cup by layering specimens in sand and plaster.
• Plant Puzzlers
  Students will be presented with data cards about plants and they will need to determine how to sort the data.
• Putting Down Roots
  The adaptations of plant roots and leaves are compared and physical features that allow particular plants and animals to live in specific environments are observed.
• TRB 4:5 - Investigation 2 - Elevation, Plants & Animals
  This activity will help students understand that elevation is one of the things that affect where and how plants and animals live.
• TRB 4:5 - Investigation 3 - Web of Life
  Students will understand environments and how organisms adapt to their environment.
• TRB 4:5 - Investigation 5 - Desert Dynamics
  Students will understand the plants and animals found in Utah deserts and how these organisms have adapted to their environment.
• TRB 4:5 - Investigation 6 - Endangered Species of Utah
  Students will research and report on an endangered Utah species.

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http://www.uen.org - in partnership with Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and Utah System of Higher Education (USHE).  Send questions or comments to USBE Specialist - Jennifer  Throndsen and see the Science - Elementary website. For general questions about Utah's Core Standards contact the Director - Jennifer  Throndsen.

These materials have been produced by and for the teachers of the State of Utah. Copies of these materials may be freely reproduced for teacher and classroom use. When distributing these materials, credit should be given to Utah State Board of Education. These materials may not be published, in whole or part, or in any other format, without the written permission of the Utah State Board of Education, 250 East 500 South, PO Box 144200, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4200.