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2nd Grade  Project 4 weeks

Buzzing for Breakfast: Pollinator Power!

Jamie A
CS.2.5.1
2.PF.1
2.C.1
PG.3
CS.2.5.2
+ 5 more
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Purpose

The purpose of this learning experience is to engage second-grade students in exploring the vital role of pollinators in our ecosystem and their impact on food production. Through hands-on activities and collaborative projects, students will investigate the interdependence between pollinators and plants, understand the consequences of pollinator decline, and develop creative solutions to support their thriving. This project-based approach encourages students to think critically, communicate effectively, and contribute meaningfully to their community while meeting academic standards and competencies.

Learning goals

Students will explore the vital role of pollinators in our ecosystem by observing and documenting local pollinator species and their interactions with plants. They will use AI tools to analyze patterns and make predictions about the impact of pollinator decline on food production. Through collaborative projects, students will develop strategies to support pollinator health in their community, enhancing their understanding of ecological relationships and financial decision-making.
Standards
  • [Colorado] CS.2.5.1 - AI tools can perform intelligent tasks, such as recognition of patterns, decision-making, and classification of information, that help users understand the world.
  • [Colorado] 2.PF.1 - Investigate costs and benefits to make informed financial decisions.
  • [Colorado] 2.C.1 - Investigate ways in which ideas and actions can improve communities.
  • [Colorado] PG.3 - Apply geographic representations and perspectives to analyze human movement, spatial patterns, systems, and the connections and relationships among them.
  • [Colorado] CS.2.5.2 - AI tools can be designed for a variety of purposes and can impact people differently based on how they are designed.
Competencies
  • Productive Collaborator - Engages with others to achieve a common goal through building positive relationships, actively listening, showing empathy, and making individual contributions to a larger group.
  • Critical Thinker - Thinks deeply and makes informed decisions to create solutions or new understanding supported by relevant and reliable evidence.
  • Empowered Learner - Demonstrates mastery and application of academic competencies. Develops the skills and dispositions to persist through difficulties and plan for a future of self-improvement.
  • Creative Contributer - Interprets experiences, imagines and plays with new possibilities with curiosity, and creates approaches that are novel, useful, and valued by the world around them.
  • Effective Communicator - Engages diverse audiences respectfully by exchanging ideas and information responsibly, listening actively, speaking and writing clearly, and using print and digital media appropriately.

Products

Students will collaboratively design and create a pollinator-friendly garden plan, complete with labeled diagrams and plant-pollinator pairings. They will also produce a digital presentation using AI tools to classify and showcase the importance of various pollinators, supported by evidence from their research and observations. As a culminating project, students will organize a community event to share their findings and promote actions to support pollinator habitats, demonstrating their understanding and communication skills.

Launch

Begin the project with a visit to a local garden or park where students can observe pollinators in action. Provide magnifying glasses and notebooks for students to document different types of pollinators and the plants they interact with. After the field trip, facilitate a discussion about their observations and introduce the essential questions to guide their exploration over the next four weeks.

Exhibition

Students will host a "Pollinator Fair" where they showcase their findings and creative projects about pollinators and their impact on food production. Each group will present a visual display, such as a poster or a model, illustrating the life cycles and roles of different pollinators. Additionally, students will use AI tools to analyze and present data on local pollinator populations and suggest actionable steps to support their habitats. Families and community members will be invited to engage with the students' presentations and participate in interactive activities designed by the students to raise awareness about the importance of pollinators.
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