Unit 2: Parents and Offspring:

In this life science unit students were introduced to the concept of life cycle through the investigation of familiar animals. They explored a variety of young/offspring and their parents, such as dog/puppy, cat/kitten, and bird/chick. Students recognized that animals change as they mature. They identified and described the characteristics of each and discoverd that these characteristics are passed on. Students identified and described the similarities between parents and their young/offspring, noting that, for example, young beagles are born to beagles, not to Dalmatians. They learned that the egg is the first stage of an animal. Students began to recognize that animals have predictable life cycles. They examined the differences among certain animal life cycles and how these differences allow the individual to survive. Students discovered that familiar animals and plants in their local environment need each of the following for proper growth: water, light, air, shelter and nutrients/minerals.  They also learned that the sun is the most important source of energy for these familiar organisms, affecting the growth of both plants and animals on earth’s surface.

Our special projects included: spider lifecycle and frog lifecycle.