Introduction to: Square of Life - Studies in Local & Global Environments
This telecollaborative project is located in ePals, as a CIESE Collaborative Project. We have aligned the details of this project with the Talbott Springs Elementary School's third quarter Environmental Science Unit. For this reason and because of ePal’s strict Terms of Use agreement related to the use of content, direct links to the specific project materials have been provided.
Lesson Plans
- Field Trip to Your Square
This lesson introduces the ePals project in which students will explore their square of land to record data that will be shared later via telecommunication. The teacher must prepare the 1mx1m squares prior to this lesson and ensure that the outside-area is in a safe location and contains animals, plants and nonliving items for the students to observe and record as data. In class, students will predict the types of living and non-living items in their square. To review this skill, we have added a video quiz on living and nonliving objects to the ePals lesson. Next, pupils will report outside to their assigned square to observe and record data via drawings. Reference guides will be provided so students can identify unknown objects. After about 30 minutes of observation and identification, students will draw the living and nonliving items in their square. Paper bags will be provided to collect samples that will be shared in class later. Lastly, students will return to class to share their samples and drawings. We will also debrief about the experience, including how their predictions compared to their actual data and if anything surprised them.
Sample drawing square #1 (J.D. Perkins Elementary School, Marlow, New Hampshire, 2012)
Sample drawing square #2 (Gustavus School, Gustavus Alaska, 2010)
Sample collection of living and non-living objects (Van R. Butler Elementary School, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, 2010)
- Preparing a List for Posting to Project Database
Students will summarize their data as a class and prepare a report to share with others via telecommunication. As an addition to the lesson plan, we have created a PowerPoint to display during this lesson as the class adds items to each category. The teacher should scan drawings ahead of time to include in the PowerPoint as appropriate.
- Preparing a Final Report: How Are We Alike and Different?
During this lesson, students will review the data on the Project Database provided by other participating schools. They will examine the differences and similarities among the plants, animals, ground, and nonliving items. Finally, students will write a narrative based on their conclusions.
Sample Venn Diagram (St. Genevieve School, Flourtown, Pennsylvania, 2012)
Sample Venn Diagram (M. Joan Pearson School, Delanco, New Jersey, 2010)
Sample Venn Diagram (St. Andrew's School of Math & Science, Charleston, SC, 2009)
Sample Venn Diagram (St. Andrew's School of Math & Science,Charleston, SC, 2009)
Sample Venn Diagram (Oak Hill Venn Diagram, 2009)
- Constructing a Partner's Square (Assessment)
As a culminating activity, students will work in groups to review the data of other classes participating in the project. Students will then create and present a model of their own Square of Life as well as a model that was created using the data to represent a Square of Life of another school. Finally, groups will write a report to summarize the project and their findings and comparisons.
Summative Student Assessment for Constructing a Partner's Square Lesson
Students will be evaluated based on completing an accurate representation of their square and that of their partnering school and a breakdown of their research findings in an expository writing in the form of a final report.
Students will be graded using the following assessment rubric:
Students will be graded using the following assessment rubric:
Extra Credit - Finding a "Key Pal"
As an extension of this project and for extra credit, students can establish a "key-pal" relationship with another participating student. Your student and the partner student would share information about your school, city, country, etc. that would go beyond the postings that are required for this project. If students wish to work with a Partner, they must contact participants via the Discussion Area.
Extension Activities
- Science: Classifying Objects
- Social Studies/Language Arts : Partners Around the World
- Engineering: Ant Day Care Center
- Engineering: Mini-Squares of Life