Interactions and Cycles in the Earth System Give evidence that water in the Earth System exists naturally in all three states and water continuously circulates through the earth's crust, oceans and air. Provide examples illustrating that water plays important roles in regulating Earth's climate and shaping Earth's crust. Explore and describe that rain or snow falls and moves by gravity from higher to lower areas both on the surface and on the ground and that the natural flow region is called the watershed. Use maps to look at topography of nearby towns and make a model of the hills and valleys that make up the local watershed. The primary focus of Marine Lab is for students to become acquainted with the adaptations and classification of intertidal organisms such as sea stars, urchins, lobsters, periwinkle and barnacles.
Students then view plankton samples on a projecting microscope.
Grades PreK-4 Learning Standards and Examples of Student Learning Characteristics of Organisms Demonstrate an understanding that plants and animals go through predictable life cycles. These cycles differ from species to species, but all include growth, development, reproduction, and death. Observe and describe that plants and animals have different structures which serve different functions in growth, survival, and reproduction. These contribute to the well-being of the whole organism, and to the success of its offspring. Demonstrate awareness that there are millions of kinds of living things on earth, and that the number of species is not known.