Grade 3 Text and Multimedia Sets

Janine D’Angelo

Valerie Engelmann

Debbie Haynes

Jennifer Edwards

 

***  SCIENCE ***

 

Ø      Picture Books/Books Fiction and Non-Fiction

 

1.       Janine D’Angelo

Come Back, Salmon, by Molly Cone, Sierra Club Books for Children, San Francisco, 1992. 

ISBN 0871564890

Grades: 3-6

Content Standards: 

·         Life Science 3c – Students know living things cause changes in the environment in which they live: some of these changes are detrimental to the organism or other organisms, and some are beneficial

·         Life Science 3d – Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

Summary:  This book describes the efforts of the Jackson Elementary School in Everett, Washington, to clean up a nearby stream, stock it with salmon, and preserve it as an unpolluted place where the salmon could return.  Beautiful photos. 

Locator:   Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble; copy can also be found in Room 23, Kingswood Elementary School

 

 

2.      Janine D’Angelo

The Salmon (Life Cycles), by Sabrina Crewe and Colin Newman.  Published by Raintree/Steck-Vaugh (September 1998). 

ISBN  0817262342.

Grades:  K-2 

Content Standards: 

·         Life Science 3c – Students know living things cause changes in the environment in which they live: some of these changes are detrimental to the organism or other organisms, and some are beneficial

·         Life Science 3d – Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

Summary:  Two introductory series titles about the life cycles of animals in the wild. Full-color photos and drawings appear throughout, and the large and easy texts contain bolded words that are explained in the glossaries. Prairie Dog follows the development of the animal from pup to adult, touching briefly on its behavior and habitat. A cross-section of a burrow and an illustration showing other types of rodents are included. Beginning with eggs about to hatch, Salmon are shown leaving the nest, migrating to the ocean, leaping up waterfalls, changing color, fighting over a female, escaping predators, and finally returning to their original river. A double-page diagram of the parts of the sockeye salmon's body is presented and other kinds of fish are pictured. 

Locator: through Amazon.com

 

3.      Janine D’Angelo

Amazing Animal Stories, by Ellen Hobenfeld and Wade Springborn; Thurman Publishing, Seattle WA, 1980.

Grades:  K-5

Content Standards: 

·         Life Science 3c – Students know living things cause changes in the environment in which they live: some of these changes are detrimental to the organism or other organisms, and some are beneficial

·         Life Science 3d – Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

 

Summary:  High interest/low vocabulary/reading comprehension checked throughout.  Lots of animals, facts and pictures.  Questions outlined for main idea, stated facts and inference. 

Locator: through Amazon.com; copy also in Room 23, Kingswood Elementary School

 

4.     Janine D’Angelo

A Salmon for Simon, by Betty Waterton, illus. Ann Blades; Groundwood Books Publishers (2003);

ISBN 0888992769

Grades:  K-1

Content Standards:

·         Life Science 3c – Students know living things cause changes in the environment in which they live: some of these changes are detrimental to the organism or other organisms, and some are beneficial

·         Life Science 3d – Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

Summary:   Simon, a Native American boy, wants to catch a salmon.  But when he gets his chance, he doesn’t want it anymore because it is too strong and beautiful.  Great multicultural aspect to this simple story.

Locator:  Amazon.com; copy also available in Room 23, Kingswood Elementary School

 

5. Valerie Engelmann

¨The Salmon by Sabrina Crewe

Publisher:  Raintree Steck-Vaughn, Austin, Tex  1997

Grade:  K-3

Content Standard:

· Life Science 3c-Students know living things cause changes in the environment in which they live; some of these changes are detrimental to the organism or other organisms, and some are beneficial.

· Life Science 3d-Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

Summary:  This book talks about the habitat, eating habits and the life cycle of the Sockeye salmon.

Located:  Placerville Library

 

 

6.  Valerie Engelmann

¨Salmon Story by Brenda Guiberson

Publisher:  H. Holt, New York 1993

Grade:  2-4

Content Standard:

· Life Science 3c-Students know living things cause changes in the environment in which they live; some of these changes are detrimental to the organism or other organisms, and some are beneficial.

· Life Science 3d-Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

Summary:  This book describes the salmon’s journey upstream and the threats of pollution and commercial fishing.

Located:  Placerville Library

 

 

7. Valerie Engelmann

¨National Audubon Society first field guide:  rocks and minerals by Edward Ricciuti

Publisher:  Scholastic New York 1998

Grade:  5 and up

Content Standard:

·Earth Science 6c-Students know the natural origin of the materials used to make common objects.

Summary:  This book contains full color pictures and details of over 150 rocks and minerals.  Each rock or mineral contains specific information about its weight, colors, luster, etc.

Located:  Pollock Pines Library

 

 

8. Valerie Engelmann

¨Animals and the Seasons: The cycle of nature by Susanne Riha

Publisher:  Blackbirch Press  Woodbridge CT 2000

Grade:  K-3 

Content Standard:

·Earth Science 3b-Students know changes in weather occur from day to day and across seasons, affecting Earth and its inhabitants.

Summary:  This book goes describes each month including what the weather is like, what type of vegetation grows and is in season, and what type of animal activity you can expect to see.

Located:  Placerville Library

 

9. Valerie Engelmann

¨A Chronology of Weather by Michael Allaby

Publisher: Facts on File, New York 1998

Grade: 4-6

Content Standard:

·Earth Science 3c-Students know water vapor in the air moves from one place to another and can form fog or clouds, which are tiny droplets of water or ice, and can fall to Earth as rain, hail, sleet, or snow.

·Earth Science 4b-Students know the influence that the ocean has on the weather and the role that the water cycle plays in weather patterns.

·Earth Science 4c-Students know the causes and effects of different types of severe weather.

·Earth Science 4d-Students know how to use weather maps and data to predict local weather and know that weather forecasts depend on many variables.

Summary:  This is a collection of books that introduces meteorology, some aspects of environmental sciences, and climatology.

Located: Placerville Library

 

10. Valerie Engelmann

¨Snowmen At Night by Caralyn Buehner

Publisher:  Phyllis Fogelman Books, 2002

Grade: k-1

Content Standard:

·Earth Science 3b-Students know changes in weather occur from day to day and across seasons, affecting Earth and its inhabitants.

Summary:  This book answers the question:  what happens to snowmen at night as to why the look so frumpy in the morning?  There is no other solution to why snowmen look not as good as the first day than they were playing at night.

Located:  Borders

 

11. Valerie Engelmann

¥Poems for All Seasons by Lee Bennett Hopkins

Publisher:  Harper Trophy, 1995

Grade:  k-2

Content Standard:

·Earth Science 3b-Students know changes in weather occur from day to day and across seasons, affecting Earth and its inhabitants.

Summary:  This book is great for beginning readers to learn about the seasons through poetry.  Kids will read poems such as “Snowflake Soufflé” and “Sun” in poems that are short enough to keep kids attention while they read.

Located:  Borders

 

12. Deborah Haynes

Brown, Ruth.  Ten Seeds.  New York: Knopf Publishers. 2001.

                  Estimated Reading Level:  Kindergarten and First Grade

                  Content Standard, Third Grade Science, Life Sciences:

3.a  Students know plants and animals have structures that serve different functions in growth, survival, and reproduction.

3.d  Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

     Purpose and Value: This picture book tells the story of ten little seeds planted by a child.  Before the seeds can grow into plants, some     seeds and seedlings become food for bugs and birds.  One plant out of the ten survives to become a sunflower which then produces ten little seeds that can be planted to begin the plant life cycle over again. This book is a wonderful introduction to plant life cycles for primary students.

     Locator Guide:  Available at many public libraries: Arcade, Arden, Dimick, Belle Coolidge, Carmichael, Auburn, Colfax, Granite Bay. Also available at CSU, Sacramento Library and at Amazon.com.

 

13. Deborah Haynes

Rice, David. Lifetimes.  Nevada City, California: Dawn Publishers. 1997.

                  Estimated Reading Level:  Kindergarten through fourth grade

                  Content Standard, Third Grade Science, Life Sciences:

3.a  Students know plants and animals have structures that serve different functions in growth, survival, and reproduction.

3.d  Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

     Purpose and Value:  Telling the story of various plants and animals, each with varying life-spans, Rice explains the impact environment and circumstances have on living things.  Providing a wide variety of examples from bugs with brief life spans to the long-lived saguaro cactus and redwood trees, this book explains how plants survive and thrive in their unique environments despite the sometimes harsh environmental circumstances.

     Locator Guide: Available at public libraries: Arcade, Arden-Dimick, Elk Grove, Woodland.  Also available at CSU, Sacramento  Library and at Amazon.com.

 

14. Deborah Haynes

Gibbons, Gail. From Seed to Plant.  New York:

                    Holiday House.  1991

                  Estimated Reading Level:  First through fifth grade.

                  Content Standard, Third Grade Science, Life Sciences:

3.a  Students know plants and animals have structures that serve different functions in growth, survival, and reproduction.

3.d  Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

     Purpose and Value:  This book is an excellent resource for teaching about plant life-cycles.  Illustrations are clear, and the text covers all aspects of the plant life-cycle without being too long to read to primary students.  Vocabulary can be challenging, so plan to use a strategy that will help your students understand the academic language in the text. 

     Locator Guide:  Available at the following public libraries:  Folsom, Meadowvista, Belle Coolidge Community, Elk Grove, Fair Oaks,    M.L. King, No. Sacramento, South Natomas.  Also available at Borders Books in Roseville and at Amazon.com.

 

15. Deborah Haynes

Scheer, Julian. Rain Makes Applesauce.  New York:

                    Holiday House Publishers.  1985

                  Content Standard, Third Grade Science, Life Sciences:

3.a  Students know plants and animals have structures that serve different functions in growth, survival, and reproduction.

3.d  Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

     Purpose and Value:  A part of this book’s value is in its award-winning illustrations (Caldecott Honor Book, 1965.)  However, it builds a simple, clear case for how apples grow from seeds, making this book a perfect literature resource for primary grade science lessons.  The book’s repetitive refrain “… and rain makes applesauce!” will appeal to primary as well as to intermediate grade students. 

     Locator Guide:  Available at these public libraries:  Auburn, Arcade, Meadowvista, Arden-Dimick, Belle Coolidge Community, and Carmichael.  Also available at Borders Books in Roseville and at Amazon.com.

 

16. Deborah Haynes

Gjersvik, Marianne Haug.  Green Fun: Plants as Play.

                    Willowdale, Ontario, Canada: Firefly Books.  1997.

                  Estimated Reading Level:  Fifth through eighth grade.

                  Content Standard, Third Grade Science, Life Sciences:

3.a  Students know plants and animals have structures that serve different functions in growth, survival, and reproduction.

3.d  Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

            Purpose and Value:  This author proposes that plants are

                   not only beautiful, but they should be fun to play with as well.

                   Whether you garden in the city, country, or in the suburbs, the

author believes that plants which are played with are plants that will be remembered for the lessons learned from them.  Fun activities to do with common plant include making snapdragon puppets and daisy chains.  What better way to learn about plants than to have  some hands-on experiences?  

                Locator Guide:  Available at the Auburn Public Library and at

                   Amazon.com.

 

17. Deborah Haynes

Cole, Joanna et al, The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds: A Book About How Living Things Grow.  New York:

                   Scholastic.  1995.

                  Estimated Reading Level:  Kindergarten through fourth grade     

               Content Standard, Third Grade Science, Life Sciences:

3.a  Students know plants and animals have structures that serve different functions in growth, survival, and reproduction.

3.d  Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

               Purpose and Value:  Miss Frizzle takes her students on another

                   adventure, this time through the parts of a flower.  Exploring

                   plant parts as well as pollination, this fictional account of plant

life helps young readers understand important aspects of a plant’s life cycle.

     Locator Guide:  Available at the Rocklin and Loomis Public Libraries as well as at Amazon.com.

 

 18.  Jennifer Edwards

Type:  Non-Fiction Picture Book

Title:  Cactus Hotel

Author: Brenda Z. Guiberson

Illustrator:  Megan Lloyd

Publisher or source: Owlet; Reprint edition (September 1993)

Estimated reading level:  2nd – 5th Grade

Annotation describing purpose/value:  Excellent literature source to accompany Ecosystem studies.  The illustrations and text help make the subject matter of desert ecosystems and animal survival so understandable.  It actually does a better job than the required textbook.

Content Standard:  Third Grade Life Sciences:

Life Science 3c – Students know living things cause changes in the environment in which they live: some of these changes are detrimental to the organism or other organisms, and some are beneficial

Life Science 3d – Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

Locator Info:  Located in Mrs. Dultz’s classroom at Kingswood as well as bookstores.

 

19.  Jennifer Edwards

Type:  Non-Fiction Picture Book 

Title:  Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor

Author: Joanne Cole

Illustrator:  Bruce Degan

Publisher or source:  Scholastic New York, c1992.

Estimated reading level:  2nd – 5th Grade

Annotation describing purpose/value:  Includes many illustrations of the parts of the ocean and animals.  Majority of pictures are labeled.  Includes discussion of continental shelf and the food chain.

Content Standard:  Third Grade Life Sciences:

Life Science 3c – Students know living things cause changes in the environment in which they live: some of these changes are detrimental to the organism or other organisms, and some are beneficial

Life Science 3d – Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

Locator Info:  Located in Mrs. Dultz’s classroom and South Natomas library.

 

20.  Jennifer Edwards

Type:  Non-Fiction Picture Book

Title:  A River Ran Wild

Author: Lynne Cherry

Publisher or source:  Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston

Estimated reading level:  4th – 6th Grade

Content Standard:  Third Grade Life Sciences:

Life Science 3c – Students know living things cause changes in the environment in which they live: some of these changes are detrimental to the organism or other organisms, and some are beneficial

Life Science 3d – Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

Annotation describing purpose/value:  Author also wrote The Great Kapok Tree, and hopes to inspire children to love the earth.  Book includes an author’s note to emphasize to the readers that the story is true and to give background information to make the story understandable.   The text explains about pollution and how one small area’s pollution can be carried on to pollute other areas far away.  Book includes maps and historical timeline, and other short reports on children who are environmental activists. 

Locator Info:  I own this book and it can be found at Borders and Amazon.  ISBN 0395732409.

 

 

21.  Jennifer Edwards

Type:  Non-Fiction Book

Title:  Giant Book of Winning Science Fair Projects

Authors: Bob Bonnet and Dan Keene

Publisher or source: Sterling Publishing Co.

Estimated reading level: 3rd – 6th Grade 

Content Standard:  Third Grade Investigation and Experimentation.

5. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept and addressing the content in the other three strands, students should develop their own questions and perform investigations. Students will:

a. Repeat observations to improve accuracy and know that the results of similar scientific investigations seldom turn out exactly the same because of differences in the things being investigated, methods being used, or uncertainty in the observation.

b. Differentiate evidence from opinion and know that scientists do not rely on claims or conclusions unless they are backed by observations that can be confirmed.

c. Use numerical data in describing and comparing objects, events, and measurements.

d. Predict the outcome of a simple investigation and compare the result with the prediction.

e. Collect data in an investigation and analyze those data to develop a logical conclusion.

 Annotation describing purpose/value:  Has a wide variety of science fair projects that could also be used in the classroom to accompany a multitude of science standards.  The projects range in difficulty and also in simplicity.  Students can flip through the book and pick a project that is interesting or applies to a standard.

Locator Info:  I used this book at the Center for Biophotonics.  Available at Amazon.com or UC Davis bookstore.  Sterling ISBN 0806943416

 

22.  Jennifer Edwards

Type:  Nonfiction Picture Book

Title:  Eyewitness: Seashore

Authors:  Steve Parker and Dave King

Publisher or source:  DK Publishing

Estimated reading level:  2nd – 6th Grade

Annotation describing purpose/value:  Illustrations and photographs are outstanding, from huge sea animals to microscopic organisms.  Includes information on preserving shores and conservation of resources. 

Content Standard:  Third Grade Life Sciences:

Life Science 3c – Students know living things cause changes in the environment in which they live: some of these changes are detrimental to the organism or other organisms, and some are beneficial

Life Science 3d – Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

Locator Info: Located in Mrs. Dultz’s classroom.   ISBN 0789458268

 

23.  Jennifer Edwards

Type:  Fiction Picture Book       

Title:  Where Does Pollution Come From?

Author:  C. Vance Cast

Illustrator:   Sue Wilkinson

Publisher or source:  Barrons Clever Calvin Series

Estimated reading level:  2nd – 4th

Content Standard:  Third Grade Life Sciences:

Life Science 3c – Students know living things cause changes in the environment in which they live: some of these changes are detrimental to the organism or other organisms, and some are beneficial

Life Science 3d – Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

Annotation describing purpose/value:  Discusses pollution, landfills, how to recycle.  Has a glossary in back and other enrichment ideas.  Also has a section for easy experiments.

Locator Info:  Located in Mrs. Dultz’s classroom at Kingswood.

 

Ø     Poems

 

1.     Deborah Haynes

Moss, Howard. Tigers and Other Lilys. New York:

                   Atheneum.  1977.

        Estimated Reading Level:  Appropriate for kindergarten through eighth grade; however, primary students will benefit most by having the poems read to them, rather than reading them to themselves.

                  Content Standard, Third Grade Science, Life Sciences:

                   3.b  Students know examples of diverse life forms in different

environments, such as oceans, deserts, tundra, forests, grasslands, and wetlands.

        Purpose and Value:  This book describes plants that have animals as part of their names.  Besides being easy to read and listen to because of its humorous poetic form, students will enjoy this book for the connections it makes between the plant and animal kingdoms. Follow-up discussions in the classroom may focus on what characteristics each plant has that caused it to be named for an animal.

                  Locator Guide:  Available at the Sutter County Library and at

                   Amazon.com.   

 

2.  Jennifer Edwards

Type:  Poem

Title:  Welcome to the Greenhouse

Author: Jane Yolen

Publisher or source:  Houghton Mifflin

Estimated reading level:  3rd – 6th

Content Standard:  Third Grade Life Sciences:

Life Science 3c – Students know living things cause changes in the environment in which they live: some of these changes are detrimental to the organism or other organisms, and some are beneficial

Life Science 3d – Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

Annotation describing purpose/value:  Descriptive poem with dozens of adjectives and adverbs describing plants and how they grow and are important.  Poem is followed by a section titled “Did You Know” that has information and facts on the rainforest. 

Locator Info:  Located in Mrs. Dultz’s room at Kingswood.

 

 

3.  Jennifer Ewards

Type:  Poetry and Song Book

Title:  101 Science Poems and Songs for Young Learners

Author: Meish Goldish

Publisher or source: Scholastic Professional Books

Estimated reading level:  1st – 3rd grade

Annotation describing purpose/value:  Excellent for ELL students and resource students, or students who learn by putting words to a tune. 

Content Standard:  Poems cover a variety of Third Grade Science Standards including Life Sciences, Physical Science, and Earth Science

Locator Info: I used this book at my summer job at Center for Biophotonics.  Available at Amazon.com. 

 

      

Ø      Internet Resources

 

1.       Janine D’Angelo

www.fws.gov   = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  Pamphlet also available on “Salmon of the Pacific Coast” – giving facts and interesting information about the salmon and where and how they live along the Pacific Coast.

Presented by the USF&WS – Pacific Region

911 NE 11th Ave.

Portland, Oregon 97232

Grades:  K-6 = better if web site is actually used by the teacher as a resource.  It is not very student-friendly, at least not for lower grades.

Content Standards:

·        Life Science 3c – Students know living things cause changes in the environment in which they live: some of these changes are detrimental to the organism or other organisms, and some are beneficial

·        Life Science 3d – Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

Summary:  This web site is very extensive and has lots of great information about all of wildlife in the region.  In particular, there are “Fishing” and “Fisheries” links that provide valuable information including an outline of the National Fish Hatchery System and several Federal program activities.

 

2.    Janine D’Angelo

www.scholastic.com

Grades:  K-6

Content Standards:

·        Life Science 3c – Students know living things cause changes in the environment in which they live: some of these changes are detrimental to the organism or other organisms, and some are beneficial

·        Life Science 3d – Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

Summary:  This site provides lesson plans and activities for every grade, and gradations within each grade.  There are parental, child, and teacher links that provide resources to use for every subject.

 

3.      Janine D’Angelo

http://webquest.org/ a WebQuest Portal

Grades:  K-3

Content Standards:

·         Life Science 3c – Students know living things cause changes in the environment in which they live: some of these changes are detrimental to the organism or other organisms, and some are beneficial

·        Life Science 3d – Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

Summary:  This site has many WebQuests to chose from in all grades and all subjects.  These are like electronic lessons or lesson plans that a teacher can incorporate into his/her own lesson or lesson plan.  The WebQuests present some information, as well as valuable links to obtain further information for both teachers and students.  There is one designed by San Diego college students.  The students are told they are zoologists for the San Diego Zoo.  Visitors to their zoo are happy that they are seeing so many animals, but disappointed that there are no aquatic animals.  The “mission” is to set up an aquarium for the visitors.  The site walks the students through every step of the fun activities, with lots of colorful and animated icons.  The fun helps them learn as they participate in “the mission.”

 

4. Janine D’Angelo

http://www.riverdale.k12.or.us/salmon/report.html

Grades:  3-6

Content Standards: 

·        Life Science 3c – Students know living things cause changes in the environment in which they live: some of these changes are detrimental to the organism or other organisms, and some are beneficial

·        Life Science 3d – Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

 Summary:  This is a whole web site put together by the students at Riverdale Grade School in Oregon.  It is a very comprehensive web site, with one section that is devoted solely to the life cycle of the salmon.  The other sections of the web site include catching salmon, buying salmon, cooking salmon, salmon on-line forum and salmon art, just to name a few.

 

5. Valerie Engelmann

ÍWeb Weather For Kids

Grade:  5-6

Content Standard:

·        Earth Science 3c-Students know water vapor in the air moves from one place to another and can form fog or clouds, which are tiny droplets of water or ice, and can fall to Earth as rain, hail, sleet, or snow.

·        Earth Science 4b-Students know the influence that the ocean has on the weather and the role that the water cycle plays in weather patterns.

·        Earth Science 4c-Students know the causes and effects of different types of severe weather.

·        Earth Science 4d-Students know how to use weather maps and data to predict local weather and know that weather forecasts depend on many variables.

Summary:  This site is fun for kids to learn how thunderstorms happen, how tornadoes start, and how to tell the distance of a thunderstorm.  Kids can explore weather by predicting weather.

Located:  http://www.ucar.edu/40th/webweather/

 

 

6. Valerie Engelmann

ÍWeather and Kids by Ken Aucoin

Copyright:  Ken Aucoin, 2003

Grade:  5-6

Content Standard:

·Earth Science 3c-Students know water vapor in the air moves from one place to another and can form fog or clouds, which are tiny droplets of water or ice, and can fall to Earth as rain, hail, sleet, or snow.

·Earth Science 4b-Students know the influence that the ocean has on the weather and the role that the water cycle plays in weather patterns.

·Earth Science 4c-Students know the causes and effects of different types of severe weather.

·Earth Science 4d-Students know how to use weather maps and data to predict local weather and know that weather forecasts depend on many variables.

Summary:  This site is allows students to explore weather and tells kids safety tips about what to do in different storms.  Kids can learn about hurricanes, tornadoes, and thunderstorms.  Kids can also learn how to sky watch for a storm.

Located:  http://www.weatherandkids.com/

 

 

7. Valerie Engelmann

ÍSalmon Challenge

Grade:  3-9

Content Standard:

· Life Science 3c-Students know living things cause changes in the environment in which they live; some of these changes are detrimental to the organism or other organisms, and some are beneficial.

· Life Science 3d-Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

Summary:  This is an interactive game to teach kids that the decisions they make can have an effect on salmon.  If students make good decisions, their salmon will grow strong and go home to Puget Sound.  If they make bad choices, their fish will die.

Located:  http://splash.metrokc.gov/wlr/waterres/salmonch.htm

 

 

8. Deborah Haynes

Internet site of Fullerton Arboretum.

                  Estimated Grade Level:  Kindergarten through eighth grade.

                  Content Standard, Third Grade Science, Life Sciences:

3.a  Students know plants and animals have structures that serve different functions in growth, survival, and reproduction.

                   3.b  Students know examples of diverse life forms in different

environments, such as oceans, deserts, tundra, forests, grasslands, and wetlands.

3.d  Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

     Purpose and Value:  This site offers clear, simple charts of plant life cycles, the anatomy of a flower, plant types, plant reproduction, the water cycle, seasons, and related activities for drawing and writing about this topic.  Primary students may need assistance in navigating the site, but older students will have plenty of information and activities to explore.  Chart and activity pages are easy to print out.  An entire section is devoted to lesson plans for teachers.  Topic range from schoolyard plant identification to a plant’s environmental adaptations.

               Locator Guide: This site is available at:

                   http://www.arboretum.fullerton.edu/grow/primer/cycle.asp

 

9.     Deborah Haynes

Internet site by David Ducker.

                  Estimated Grade Level:  Third through eighth grade

                  Content Standard, Third Grade Science, Life Sciences:

3.a  Students know plants and animals have structures that serve different functions in growth, survival, and reproduction.

                   3.b  Students know examples of diverse life forms in different

environments, such as oceans, deserts, tundra, forests, grasslands, and wetlands.

3.d  Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

     Purpose and Value:  This site explains common plant life-cycle terms in an easy-to-understand format.  Students can look up topics such as photosynthesis, chlorophyll, and seed transportation.  An easy-to-use dictionary is included in the site.  This site is a great online research tool for intermediate grade and junior high school students.

            Locator Guide:  Visit this site at:

                   http://www.alienexplorer.com/ecology/topic3.html

 

 10.  Jennifer Edwards

Type: Internet website by Bureau of Land Management

Title:  http://www.blm.gov/education/LearningLandscapes/students.html

Estimated viewing level:  2nd – 6th grade

Annotation describing purpose/value:  This site is not only fun for students, but has resources for teachers as well.  Students can read amazing facts, adopt a soil creature, play games, mail drawings to be posted on the website, take a journey underground, all while learning about our environment and different types of ecosystems.

Content Standard: Third Grade Science, Life Sciences:

3.a  Students know plants and animals have structures that serve different functions in growth, survival, and reproduction.

3.d  Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

Locator Information:  http://www.blm.gov/education/LearningLandscapes/students.html

 

 

 

 

Ø      Videos

 

1.       Janine D’Angelo

A Visit to the Feather River Fish Hatchery

Grades:  1-5

Content Standards:

·        Life Science 3c – Students know living things cause changes in the environment in which they live: some of these changes are detrimental to the organism or other organisms, and some are beneficial

·        Life Science 3d – Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

Summary:  This is a VHS video from the California Department of Water Resources about the fish hatchery, fish life cycles.  The information is good, although sometimes presentation is a little dry.  It can certainly be used as a resource for teachers in lower grades and for students in higher grades.

Locator:   Can be obtained through their web site: http://wwwdwr.water.ca.gov/ - copy also available at Kingswood Elementary School.

 

 

2.     Janine D’Angelo

The Magic Schoolbus – Dive to the Coral Reef

Grades:  K – 4

Content Standards:

·        Life Science 3c – Students know living things cause changes in the environment in which they live: some of these changes are detrimental to the organism or other organisms, and some are beneficial

·        Life Science 3d – Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

Summary:   VHS video, animated and in color (1992); this is another in the Magic Schoolbus series – this time diving into the waters to explore the coral reef and the creatures living there.  Students will love the animation and the information presented.

Locator: Can be purchased through Amazon.com; copy also can be found in Room 23, Kingswood Elementary School.

 

3.     Deborah Haynes

Reading Rainbow Video:  Based on the book, Paul Bunyan. Kellogg, Steven. New York: William Morris Publishing.  1985

     Estimated reading level for book:  Kindergarten - fourth grade

Estimated grade level for video:  Kindergarten through sixth grade

                  Content Standard, Third Grade Science, Life Sciences:

3.a  Students know plants and animals have structures that serve

                   different functions in growth, survival, and reproduction.

3.d  Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

     Purpose and Value:  This book and video talk about how little seeds become big trees.  The video stresses the importance of taking care of trees because of their importance to the earth and to people. 

     Locator Guide:  Book available at many public libraries:  Central, Carmichael, Colonial Heights.  Also available at CSU, Sacramento  Library and at Amazon.com.

 

4.  Jennifer Edwards

Type:  VHS Visual Recording

Title:  Eyewitness Jungle

Credits:  Music, Guy Dagul ; executive producers, Simon Jollands and Eve Krzyzanowski; series producer, Bridget Sneyd. Narrated by Martin Sheen.

Publisher or source: Café Productions Ltd., BBC Worldwide Americas, Inc.,

 Oregon Public Broadcasting. 

Estimated viewing level:  3rd – 6th grades

Annotation describing purpose/value:  This series is excellent (in book or video format).  Martin Sheen does a fantastic job of narrating the video.  The photographs are incredible, and filled with interesting scenes and animal action.  Not a video the student will fall asleep watching.

Content Standard:   Third Grade Science, Life Sciences:

3.a  Students know plants and animals have structures that serve different functions in growth, survival, and reproduction.

3.d  Students know when the environment changes, some plants and animals survive and reproduce; others die or move to new locations.

Locator Info:  Located in Sacramento Library.