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.

• If Bugs Could Talk - Bugs Don't Bug Me
  Students will evaluate the quality of a "water sample" (using a bag of skittles to represent pollution and pictures of aquatic macroinvertebrates to represent invertebrates found in their sample), graph their results, and form a hypothesis about the land use near the location their "water sample" was collected.
• Introduction to Habitat Alteration
  Students will be introduced to the concepts of habitat and habitat change through lecturing and guided inquiry. Students will engage in an open discussion of habitat change, view time-lapse footage of change, and identify /evaluate images of natural and human caused habitat alteration. Attention will be focused on identifying indicators and causes of habitat alteration.
• Macroinvertebrate Graphing Activity - Bugs Don't Bug Me
  Students will learn about water quality indicators through the use of candy representing a "macroinvertebrate sample." Sorting the candy and evaluating what is found will tell the students about the quality of the water.
• Macroinvertebrate Investigation - Bugs Don't Bug Me
  Students will collect live macroinvertebrates from a river or stream. They will then classify and count the invertebrates and use that data to determine the EPT index.
• Macroinvertebrate Mix and Match - Bugs Don't Bug Me
  The class will learn about the head, thorax and abdomen of insects by mixing and matching pictures of bugs. They will also match the larva/nymph stage of each species to the adult.
• Macroinvertebrate Simon Says - Bugs Don't Bug Me
  After a short introduction to macroinvertebrate feeding habits, students will play a Simon Says game.
• 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.

---

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.