Tuesday Teacher Tips
November, 11, 2014
NGSS Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits and iPad apps for Remembering
The Marmot & Soay Sheep: Impact of the Environment on Animal Traits
Marmots are super cute and cuddly looking rodents that live in Northern Hemispheres. Soay Sheep are a special breed of sheep that most notably live on islands off the coast of Scotland, and resemble small antelope. What could these two species possibly have in common?
It is argued that climate change has affected their size, and changes in their average size has impacted their survival.
If you are getting ready to start a unit on NGSS 3 LS3-2 "Heredity: inheritance and variation of traits" with the focus that "The environment also affects the traits that an organism develops" or 4-LS1-1 that has the focus that students should "construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior and reproduction" you might want to take a closer look at these two species.
Check out some of the resources below.
Looking for resources for other NGSS standards? Email me and I'll see what I can find!
It is argued that climate change has affected their size, and changes in their average size has impacted their survival.
If you are getting ready to start a unit on NGSS 3 LS3-2 "Heredity: inheritance and variation of traits" with the focus that "The environment also affects the traits that an organism develops" or 4-LS1-1 that has the focus that students should "construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior and reproduction" you might want to take a closer look at these two species.
Check out some of the resources below.
Looking for resources for other NGSS standards? Email me and I'll see what I can find!
Characteristics of Marmots
This article on Pawnation gives a general overview of Marmots: what they eat, where they live etc.
Marmots in Glacier National Park
Learn about the Hoary Marmot colonies in Glacier National Park and even see a video.
The Long View
In this professional article, learn about research conducted by ecologist Dan Blumstein. It might be good as a teacher resource to use to summarize data.
How Climate Change May Shrink Species
This Time Magazine article from 2011 gives background on an article written about the Soay sheep phenomenon in 2009 with information about other shrinking species.
How Soay Sheep Survive in Dreary Scottish Islands
This 2010 article focuses on how the Soay sheep have extreme environmental factors to deal with and the effect immune boosting antibodies have on survival. It may be a little advanced in concept for students, but could provide a good article for teachers to reference and summarize.
Soay Sheep- General Description
Learn about the typical characteristics of a Soay sheep from Saltmarsh Ranch.
Just Because it's Cute: Marmot Licks GoPro
Marmot licks GoPro
3 iPad Apps for Math or Langauge Practice - Remembering Level of Bloom's
The apps below were recommended in the article "K-5 iPad Apps for Remembering: Bloom's Revised Taxonomy Part 1". If you are looking for apps that will allow students extra practice in remembering different math facts or vocabulary skills, these might be good, SAMR Substitution level apps to use for extra practice time or center time that wouldn't require a great deal of teacher instruction for students to use.
Mathmateer Free
Is an app that requires kids to solve problems related to numbers, telling time, US Money, 3D Shapes and Arithmetic to build and fly a rocket.
Try the free version first, and if it goes over well, consider the paid version, currently available for $.99. The paid version includes over 56 different math mission including fractions and decimals.
Learn more at Learning Works for Kids and see a review at Common Sense Media.
Try the free version first, and if it goes over well, consider the paid version, currently available for $.99. The paid version includes over 56 different math mission including fractions and decimals.
Learn more at Learning Works for Kids and see a review at Common Sense Media.
Learn Spanish by MindSnacks
According to the app's website and the app store, the first lesson is free, and in-app purchases allow for 50 lessons with up to 40 hours of content. Students can play games and learn 1000+ Spanish words.
Check out the review at Common Sense Media.
Check out the review at Common Sense Media.
Bluster
Bluster is a free app by McGraw-Hill that helps students practice vocabulary skills related to prefixes, suffixes, homophones, word roots etc. Students can play alone or as a team.
Check out the review on Common Sense Media. You can also find more information on Best Apps for Kids.
Check out the review on Common Sense Media. You can also find more information on Best Apps for Kids.
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