Air, Food and Water

UNIT OF INQUIRY    SEMESTER 2 TERM 3              JANUARY 2013             

TRANSDISCIPLINARY THEME: Sharing the Planet

TITLE:  ‘Air, Food and Water’   

Central Idea:  ‘We share resources with other living things.’

(8 weeks)

An inquiry into:    

What living things need ….. (air, food and water)

How our resources can change

Showing responsibility for our resources (air, food and water)

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES

January  28  –  February  8       

Tuning in:

1.  What is alive and not alive?  (living things and non-living things)

2.  What do living things need?  And why?      (2 weeks)

Mind map of what we need and why?

What do other living things need and why? (animals and plants)

Exploring air, food and water

Plant and animal life – in oceans, ponds and on land

Preparing flowers in water and not in water

Planting beans and watching them grow –

Make a magic water bottle!

Observation and discovery road trip to MBC for International Day Friday Feb 1^st, 2013.  What did I learn about the air, food and water resources in the area. 

(Reflection picture of road trip to MBC)

February  11 to  March  1

1. How do living things use air, food and water and where do they come from?   (3 weeks)

a.  Mind map of how living things use air, food and water?

Air –  breathe

Food – Eat to live/grow – Food chain

Water - Drinking, cooking, washing and cleaning

Watering plants and crops 

Living creatures in oceans, ponds (salt water and fresh water) and on land

b. Finding out where air, food and water come from;    

Air - What is it? Where is it? Can you feel it? Can you smell it? When is it good and bad.  (smell)

Food – Where do you get your food from?  Farms, markets – Food chain

Water - Simple water cycle principle.  Clouds - rivers - oceans

    

March 4  - March 8   

3.  How do air, food and water change?  (1 week)

Liquids changing – physical, shape, gases and solids – (ice, steam) 

Experiments 

Fruit juice smoothies

Dehydrated foods

How food/plants/animals decay (circle of life)

March 11 – 22   How can we look after what we need (air, food and water)?  (2 weeks)

Assessment                                                                         

Talking about and reflecting on;

 How can we help to keep the air clean?

 How can we help to save and protect food sources?

 How we can save water and keep it clean?

Classroom focus:  Tell our families NOT to light fires

Recycle your paper, plastic and bottles

Don’t put rubbish into rivers and canals

 Reflect on unit: What we have learned/discovered

Students will choose pictures and match them to the Teacher Questions on a mind map.

 Evaluated with a rubric and self assessment rubric  

CLOSURE

End of term March 29,  2013

4^th Term begins April 22,  2013

Mark your calendar:   Student Led Conference May 1, 2013