NAME: _________________

DATE: _________________

STUDENT #: _________________

AT HOME PROJECT

(Living Things)

We are currently working on our first unit of study in science "Life Science."  To extend the unit we would like the students to complete an at home project.  This project will allow the students to "stop" and explore a living thing of their choice.  The requirements for the project are listed below.

• Each student will need to complete a "Did You Know Board"
• Each student will also need to create a "Diorama" (a model of their living things in their own habitat/environment)

Included with this packet is a set of requirements/directions for both the "Did You Know Board" and the "Diorama."   With these directions and the support of you, the parents/guardians, the students will be successful when completing their "At Home Project."  Along with the requirements/directions for the "Did You Know Board" and the "Diorama" you will also find a pacing calendar in this packet.  This pacing calendar will allow the students to pace themselves with this project so that they are not completing it at the last minute.  The quality of their project will greatly benefit from the pacing calendar.

The exploration of your child's living thing has already begun.  The project is due on Wednesday, November 4th at the beginning of class.  The third grade teachers will be putting together a schedule of when your child will share their project with their classmates.  We will send home a copy of this schedule, so that if you would like to come in and watch, you are more than welcome.

If you have any question in regards to this at home project, please feel free to contact your child's teacher at (530) 634-9723 or email.

DID YOU KNOW BOARD

(Requirements/Directions)

The requirements for the "Did You Know" board are listed below.

·        The board needs to be put together on a piece of poster board/foam board.  These boards can be purchased at The Dollar Store, Staples, Target, Wal Mart, etc…  If you need assistance obtaining these supplies, please contact me as soon as possible.

·        The work either needs to by typed, using punch out letters, and/or best handwriting.  Those students', who complete their "Did You Know" boards' typed/using punch out letters, will receive extra credit.

·        The board needs a title.  The title should be the name of your child's living thing.  I would strongly recommend that the font of your child's title be much larger than the font they use for the rest of their board.  They might also want to make the font "bold."

·        The board will need to include the following facts:

1.       The habitat(s) of where their living thing lives.

2.     A map of where their living thing lives.

3.     The type of environment their living thing needs in order to survive in its habitat.

4.     At least three special adaptations that their living thing might have.  [All living things have special adaptations that allow them to survive in their environment.]

5.     The diet of their living thing.

6.     The physical description (what it looks like) of your living thing.  [These facts will also help you complete your "Diorama."]

7.     Five [5] additional facts about their living thing that they found interesting. [These facts may not be facts that the students' have already used.]

·        The facts will either need to be typed or hand written in their best hand writing.  NO CUTTING AND PASTING FROM INTERNET SOURCES OR PLAGERISM WILL BE ALLOWED.  PLEASE HAVE YOUR CHILD PUT THESE FACTS INTO THEIR "OWN WORDS."

·        Each fact will need to start with "Did you know…."  For example, "Did you know that the Polar Bear lives in Antarctica."

·        Each fact needs to be broken apart so that each stands out.  An idea might be to cut the facts out into strips and glue each one on separately, so that they stand apart from each other.

·        You will need to include 4 color pictures.  These pictures can be printed from the computer, hand drawn, and/or additional resources.

·        The student's name needs to be included on the BACK of the foam board.

·        Before gluing on any of the items above . . . I strongly recommend that your child lay each item on the poster board, so that it is nicely arranged.

DIORAMA

(Requirements/Directions)

The "Diorama," (model) for your child's "At Home Project" will need to be of their living thing in their habitat/environment.  If you need some assistance in creating a "Diorama" please follow the directions listed below for a "shoebox diorama."

·        Use a shoebox/box to hold your model.

·        Spray paint or cover the inside and outside of your shoe box with a solid color.  Choose a color that works best for your child's living thing's habitat/environment.

·        Before putting the "Diorama" together, their name, date, and student number needs to be written on the bottom of the box after you have it spray painted a solid color.

·        Use the inside of the shoe box to create a model of your living thing's habitat/environment.  You can find several different types and examples of "dioramas" at:                         http://www.stormthecastle.com/diorama/diorama-examples.htm

·        The habitat/environment should be realistic.  Include anything that your living thing needs in order to survive (environment).  You can get these facts from the "Did You Know Board."

·        Along with the habitat/environment your child will also need to include a model of his/her living thing.  This model needs to be made by hand (please do not go out and buy a toy of some sort or print a picture from the internet and stick it on the project).  Some ideas on how to make this model by hand are using supplies from a craft store; making clay and molding the living thing, etc…  The model itself should be realistic as well.  You can use the physical description facts from your "Did You Know Board" to help you.

·        Be CREATIVE!  If your living thing lives in the snow you could paint your box white and use cotton balls to imitate snow.  The objects in the "Diorama" do not have to be flat.  Most "Dioramas" look their best when the objects used to put the "Diorama" together are three-dimensional.

PACING CALENDAR

This pacing calendar starts on the 15^th of October and runs through the 4^th of November.  This calendar will help you and your child pace through this project so that it is not completed the last minute.  A little bit of work each day will keep the stress away.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

We have read the paperwork about the At Home Project (Living Things).  We understand that the "Did You Know Board" and the "Diorama" are due on Wednesday, November 4th at the beginning of class.

Please sign below.  This paper needs to be returned by tomorrow, Friday, October 16^th, 2009.

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Student Signature

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Parent/Guardian Signature

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Parent/Guardian Signature