Meerkats and Survival

During our science unit on Ecosystems, we have been studying: How do organisms interact with each other and their environment to survive?

In today’s lesson we constructed an argument to explain how being a part of a group helps Meerkats to survive. Students provided a claim, evidence and a reasoning format.

We read the informational text below on Meerkats.

As we gather and discuss information about animal behaviors and the effects of survival for each group, we realize some species can adapt, survive, or become extinct based on many factors.  From previous lessons, we learned about natural habitats and whether or not animals can survive in another habitat. The additional videos below have helped us bridge these concepts and understand how organisms can survive or possibly not survive, if the environment changes enough where organisms cannot adapt.

Meerkat Mob video

BrainPop VIdeo

Geologic Timeline Song

Animals Survive in a Group

How do organisms interact with each other and their environment to survive?

Today we learned that being part of a group can help animals survive by finding food, shelter, water, defending themselves from predators, reproducing and caring for offspring. We read informational texts on ants, ducks, fish, cheetahs, and beavers to understand cause and effect based on how an animal behaves to survive.

Our class took notes after reading each text and we noticed patterns with these animal behaviors.  Now, students will sort the animal groups and categorize them by: shelter, food/water, defense, and care of offspring.

Complete the padlet below and sort each animal group.

  • give evidence to why you chose to sort it the way you did
  • Use correct spelling and punctuation
  • Write in complete sentences

Sort Animal Groups

If you would like to explore other animals, visit Kiddle.co 

Here’s the video we watched in class to show different animal group behaviors. Have fun watching it again!

Youtube video on animals

Khan Academy Addition and Subtraction with Regrouping

Please use the links from Khan Academy below to practice and further understand the math skills we have been working on in class.  I would recommend watching one link per night since there is a lot information to review. Enjoy and have fun being a flexible mathematician, as you continue to think about different strategies and visualizing numbers in many different ways.

Breaking apart 3-digit addition problems

Adding and subtracting on number line

Worked example: Subtracting 3-digit numbers (regrouping)

Missing number for 3-digit addition within 1000