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Living Systems
Virginia Science Standards of Learning 2.5
The student will investigate and understand that living things are part of a system. Key concepts include
a) living organisms are interdependent with their living and nonliving surroundings;
b) an animal’s habitat includes adequate food, water, shelter or cover, and space;
c) habitats change over time due to many influences; and
d) fossils provide information about living systems that were on Earth years ago.
Understanding the Standard
The student will investigate and understand that living things are part of a system. Key concepts include
a) living organisms are interdependent with their living and nonliving surroundings;
b) an animal’s habitat includes adequate food, water, shelter or cover, and space;
c) habitats change over time due to many influences; and
d) fossils provide information about living systems that were on Earth years ago.
Understanding the Standard
- Living organisms are dependent on other living organisms and their nonliving surroundings for survival.
- All of the interactions between and among living organisms and their nonliving surroundings are referred to as a system.
- Shelter may be living (coral, tree) or nonliving (caves, houses).
- The habitat of an animal includes adequate food, water, shelter or cover, and space. If any of the basic elements of an animal’s habitat are absent, the animal’s survival is threatened. The animal may adapt or leave the area.
- The habitats of living organisms, such as forests, grasslands, rivers, and streams, change due to many human or natural influences (e.g., forest fires, hurricanes, and droughts). Habitats change from season to season.
- Fossils found provide scientists with information about plants and animals that lived on Earth many years ago. (e.g., The rise and fall of sea level is recorded in the richly fossiliferous rocks of Virginia’s coastal plain. An abundance of marine fossils – fossil clams, snails, sand dollars, shark’s teeth, and whale bones – can be found in Virginia’s coastal plains.)
- Virginia’s state fossil, Chesapecten jeffersonius, is a large extinct species of scallop that dates to approximately 4.5 million years ago. It was the first fossil ever described in North America and is named after Thomas Jefferson, one of our founding fathers, and an amateur paleontologist.
Books
This book explains how fossils are formed and what they tell us about the past.
Fossils Tell of Long Ago. By Aliki. 1990. 32p. Illus by Aliki. Publisher Collins. (9780064450935). Gr. K and up.
The text of this book is simple, and the illustrations are bright and colorful. Readers of this book will learn about the forest habitat and some of the animals and plant life that call it there home.
A Forest Habitat. By Bobbie Kalman. 2006. 32p. Publisher Crabtree Publishing Company. (9780778729792). Gr. K and up.
The text of this book is simple, and the illustrations are bright and colorful. Readers of this book will learn about the desert habitat and some of the animals and plant life that call it there home.
A Desert Habitat. By Kelley MacAulay. 2006. 32p. Publisher Crabtree Publishing Company. (9780778729785). Gr. K and up.
The text of this book is simple, and the illustrations are bright and colorful. Readers of this book will learn about the grassland habitat and some of the animals and plant life that call it there home.
A Grassland Habitat. By Kelley MacAulay and Bobbie Kalman . 2006. 32p. Publisher Crabtree Publishing Company. (9780778729877). Gr. K and up.
This book offers colorful photographs, interesting facts, and a simple writing style. The book is both fun and educational for children of any age.
The ABCs of Habitat. By Bobbie Kalman. 2007. 32p. Publisher Crabtree Publishing Company. (978077873431). Gr. 2 and up.
This book describes plants and animals that live in various habitats, why they live there, what is special about the place, and of course, what a habitat is. The book offers simple text and colorful photographs.
Backyard Habitat. By Kelley MacAulay and Bobbie Kalman. 2006. 32p. Publisher Crabtree Publishing Company. ( 9780778729853). Gr. K and up.
Websites
Click on the link for more information
http://www.abpischools.org.uk
The activity on this websites tests students knowledge of the environment and the needs of different animals
http://www.chias.org/
Students learn about habitats with Beauregard Beaver.
http://www.bbc.co.uk
Find the animals and put them in the correct food chain.
The activity on this websites tests students knowledge of the environment and the needs of different animals
http://www.chias.org/
Students learn about habitats with Beauregard Beaver.
http://www.bbc.co.uk
Find the animals and put them in the correct food chain.
Lessons and Activities
Click on title of the lesson for more information.
Animals Adaptations
To expand students’ knowledge of animal features and behaviors that can help or hinder their survival in a particular habitat.
Fossils
This activity will teach the students how fossils help us learn about the Earth's past.
Habitats of the World
Students will learn Earth supports many different animal habitats, each of which has distinct features and distinct plant and animal populations.
To expand students’ knowledge of animal features and behaviors that can help or hinder their survival in a particular habitat.
Fossils
This activity will teach the students how fossils help us learn about the Earth's past.
Habitats of the World
Students will learn Earth supports many different animal habitats, each of which has distinct features and distinct plant and animal populations.
Assessment
Click on title for more information
Animals Habitats Quiz
Computer based quiz on animal habitats.
Desert Quiz
Computer based quiz on the desert habitat.
Tropical Rainforest Quiz
Computer based quiz on the tropical rainforest quiz.
Computer based quiz on animal habitats.
Desert Quiz
Computer based quiz on the desert habitat.
Tropical Rainforest Quiz
Computer based quiz on the tropical rainforest quiz.