Aquatic Habitats

Deborah Kent and Teresa Rogers

AUTHOR: Teresa Rogers

TITLE OF THE LESSON: Creating an Aquatic Habitat

TECHNOLOGY LESSON (circle one):        Yes      No

DATE OF LESSON: Days 1

LENGTH OF LESSON: 30 minutes

NAME OF COURSE: 4^th Grade Science

SOURCE OF THE LESSON: Aquatic Habitats: Exploring Desktop Ponds, LHS GEMS Guide

TEKS ADDRESSED:

• 4.3(C) Represent the natural world using models and identify their limitations
• 4.5(B) Predict and draw conclusions about what happens when part of a system is removed
• 4.8(A) Identify characteristics that allow members within a species to survive and reproduce

CONCEPT STATEMENT: Building habitats helps students develop an understanding of important biological concepts.  By creating and observing an aquatic habitat students recognize what aquatic organisms need in order to survive. 

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES:

Students will be able to:

• Construct a model aquatic habitat
• Explain what happens when parts of a habitat are removed or modified
• Discuss the characteristics of different habitats (aquatic, desert, polar, etc.) and the different characteristics of species within those habitats

RESOURCES:
For entire class:

• 3-5 gallon container for a class “holding tank”
• Bucket or other large container to hold dechlorinated water
• About 10 pounds pea-sized, light-colored aquarium gravel (1 cup per team)
• About 10 pounds white or light-colored sand (1 cup per team)
• A few sprigs of Elodea water plant for the holding tank
• 1 ruler
• 1 black permanent marker
• 1 pair of scissors or a paper cutter
• 1 bottle of dechlorinating liquid
• Newspaper and/or paper towels to mop up spills
• Several sheets of chart paper for recording questions

For each group of students:

• 11/2 gallon plastic flex tank aquarium and a lid with small, round holes (about ¼” in diameter)
• A sprig of Elodea or other water plant
• 2 clear plastic cups (one each for sand and gravel)
• Dechloriated tap water
• 1 Shelter (cup, strawberry basket, or plastic flower pot)
• 1 Adhesive label for group names
• 1 set of 4 Aquatic Habitat Task Cards (master on page 21)

For each student:

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS:

·         Students will be working with water, which may spill.  If water is spilled it should be soaked up quickly with paper towels.

·         Because the water tanks contain dechlorinated water, students should wash all soap and/or lotion off hands before placing them in the water, so that chemicals don’t pollute the water.  The students should also wash their hands after removing their hands from the water tanks.

SUPLEMENTARY MATERIALS, HANDOUTS:

• 4 copies of Aquatic Habitats student sheet (master on page 22)
• 1 set of 4 Aquatic Habitat Task Cards (master on page 21)