4th Grade Microscopic World Unit Blueprint
Pacing Suggestions:
3 Days
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Why are microscopes important?
What do living things made up of one cell need to live?
5C(3-5)#2: Microscopes make it possible to see that living things are made mostly of cells. Some organisms are made of a collection of similar cells that benefit from cooperating. Some organisms’ cells vary greatly in appearance and perform very different roles in the organism.
Introduce: 5C(3-5)#1: Some living things consist of a living cell. Like familiar organisms, they need food, water, and air; a way to dispose of waste; and an environment they can live in.
Class discussion about what the students observed.
- Do students understand they are observing organisms that consist of only 1 cell?
- While the students will not be able to observe the organisms eat, do they see behaviors common to other organisms, such as movement?
12D(3-5)#2: Make sketches to aid in [reporting observations and] explaining procedures or ideas.
12A(3-5)#1: Keep records of their investigations and observations and not change the records later.
12C(3-5)#3: Keep a notebook that describes observations made, carefully distinguishes actual observations from ideas and speculations about what was observed, and is understandable weeks or months later.
Single-Celled Organisms Observation Sheet (Teacher-generated sheet)
- Do the drawings show that the student has in fact observed an object and drawn what was seen?
- Does each drawing have an “individual character” and is not a stereotype of what the student expected to find?
- Do the drawings show relative size, shape, texture, shading, position, and complexity?
- Do students’ written observations describe relative size, shape, texture, color, and other relevant details?
- Do students refrain from changing their observations (written and sketches) once class sharing has occurred?
- Do students record observations, not inferences, ideas, or speculations?
2. Bolded sections indicate portion of benchmark addressed
3. Unless noted as a Summative Assessment, the assessments are formative and should be used to guide teaching and learning.