How Do Living Things Stay Safe And Grow?
How Do Living Things Stay Safe and Grow? is part of Smithsonian Science for the Classroom, a new curriculum series by the Smithsonian Science Education Center. It is aligned to a group of grade 1 standards. It has a focus on life science with a secondary focus on engineering. In this module, students:
- Use observations of adult plants and animals as evidence that offspring are very similar to, but not exactly like, their parents
- Obtain information from text, images, video, and a simulation to determine how patterns of behavior help offspring survive
- Explore how external parts of plants and animals help them survive, grow, and meet their needs
- Mimic external parts of plants and animals in designing a tool to solve a human problem
- Apply their knowledge of behaviors and external parts to “survive” in a hypothetical game
Below are digital resources that support teaching of this module.
Blackline masters for the module
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This file contains the blackline masters for the module, including notebook sheets and activity sheets.
Ada Asks Introduction (1:21)
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Ada introduces students to the module.
What Am I? Answers
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This file shows the correct sorting of the cards.
Young Dama Gazelle (0:26)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uol-vtf-sI
This video shows a young gazelle at the Smithsonian National Zoo.
Parent and Offspring
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This photo shows a parent penguin with two chicks.
Bald Eagle
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These photos show bald eagles at different life cycle stages.
Discussion Rules
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This file has simplified rules for engaging in argument from evidence.
Cow
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This photo shows adult and young cows.
Penguin Feeding
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This video shows a penguin parent feeding a chick.
Rockhopper Penguins
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This photo shows adult and young rockhopper penguins.
Penguin Protection
Play simulation
The Penguin Protection simulation is available as a website for computers. Download the application for use on tablets or mobile devices (coming soon).
The Penguin Protection simulation gives students the opportunity to choose which behaviors will best help a penguin chick.
Penguin Parent
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This photo shows a penguin parent bending down to feed its chick.
Claws
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These photos show different animals and their claws.
Ada Asks Engineering (1:06)
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Ada introduces students to the engineering task.
Survival Game Rules
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This file contains simple rules to guide students in playing the Survival Game.
Comic Interview
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This file contains several questions to guide students in conducting an interview.
Kit Tips & Tricks