River Bytes: Big Falls Data Debate!

Design for Mastery Kit

NEW

2nd Grade Project 4 weeks

River Bytes: Big Falls Data Debate!

laney r

SCI.2.CC.1

SCI.2.LS.2

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Collaboration

Self Directed Learning

+ 3 more

1-pager

Purpose

The purpose of this learning experience is to engage second-grade students in understanding the impact of urban development on local ecosystems through hands-on exploration and community collaboration. Students will investigate how a proposed data center near Big Falls County Park could affect the environment, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By working with community partners and participating in interactive activities, students will develop a sense of responsibility and connection to their community's natural resources.

Learning goals

Students will understand the basic concepts of ecosystems and the roles of plants and animals within them. They will develop critical thinking skills by exploring the environmental impact of urban development, specifically the proposed data center, on local ecosystems. Students will enhance their communication skills through peer-led discussions, presentations, and reflections. They will also engage in self-directed learning by documenting observations and insights in their reflection journals.

Standards

[Wisconsin] SCI.2.CC.1 - Students use science and engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, and patterns to make sense of phenomena and solve problems.
[Wisconsin] SCI.2.LS.2 - Students use science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and an understanding of the interactions, energy, and dynamics within ecosystems to make sense of phenomena and solve problems.

Competencies

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.
Collaboration - Students co-design projects with peers, exercise shared-decision making, strengthen relational agency, resolve conflict, and assume leadership roles.
Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
Effective Communication - Students practice listening to understand, communicating with empathy, and share their learning through exhibiting, presenting and reflecting on their work.
Content Expertise - Students develop key competencies, skills, and dispositions with ample opportunities to apply knowledge and engage in work that matters to them.
Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.

Products

Students will create a large-scale diorama of Big Falls County Park, showcasing their understanding of the ecosystem and potential impacts of the data center. They will also produce models, drawings, and written reflections detailing their findings and perspectives. These products will be displayed during the 'River Guardians Fair' to facilitate community engagement and discussion.

Launch

Kick off the project with "Ecosystem Exploration Day," where students embark on a guided nature walk in Big Falls County Park led by a local environmental expert. During the walk, students will observe wildlife, learn about the plants and animals in the ecosystem, and discuss the potential impact of a data center. This immersive experience will spark curiosity and set the stage for the project's essential question.

Exhibition

Organize a 'River Guardians Fair' where students present their diorama of Big Falls County Park, showcasing the potential effects of the data center. Invite families and community members to explore interactive displays and engage in discussions led by the students. Include stations where students can explain their findings, demonstrate their mini water filtration systems, and share their reflection journals.

Learning Journey

Question

Students will encounter a real-world environmental dilemma at Big Falls County Park, observe ecosystem interactions, and develop focused, investigable research questions with predictions to guide their upcoming investigation about the proposed data center.

Days 1 - 3

🌊 Ecosystem Exploration Day at Big Falls

Launch 45m

🔍 Dirty Water River Test

Knowledge/Skill Building 45m

📝 My River Research Question & Prediction

Assessment 45m

Design

Students will design a clear, step-by-step investigation plan to answer their ecosystem research question about how a data center near the river might affect plants, animals, or water in Big Falls County Park. They will choose an approach that matches their question, identify variables or materials, create a data collection plan, and revise their method after peer feedback before beginning data collection in Phase 3.

Days 4 - 7

🧪 Testing Questions with Mini Models

Knowledge/Skill Building 45m

📝 Big Falls Investigation Plan

Deliverable 45m

💬 Method Plan Peer Feedback

Deliverable 45m

✅ Investigation Plan Conference

Assessment 45m

Collect

Students will systematically collect and document investigation data about water quality and habitat changes related to a proposed data center near Big Falls County Park. They will record conditions, observations, and anomalies in their River Research Notebooks, check their methods for accuracy, and prepare organized raw data for later analysis.

Days 8 - 11

💧 Mini River Filtration Test Round 1

Project Work 45m

🌊 Habitat Observation Walk Log

Community Experience 45m

🔁 Data Quality Check & Retest

Deliverable 45m

✅ Investigation Method Checkpoint

Assessment 45m

Analyze

Students will interpret their water filtration and habitat investigation data, create visual representations to reveal patterns, discuss multiple interpretations with peers, and develop preliminary findings that connect evidence to their research question about how a data center could affect the Big Falls ecosystem.

Days 12 - 16

📊 Picture Graphs of River Data

Knowledge/Skill Building 45m

🔍 Finding Patterns & Surprises

Knowledge/Skill Building 45m

🗣️ Data Talks with Partners

Project Work 45m

📝 Preliminary Findings Page

Deliverable 45m

✅ Analysis Milestone Conference

Assessment 45m

Conclude

Students will draw evidence-based conclusions about how a data center could affect the ecosystem at Big Falls County Park, clearly explain their methodology and findings, acknowledge limitations, generate new questions, and present their investigation to an authentic audience at the River Guardians Fair.

Days 17 - 20

🧠 Evidence to Claim Anchor Chart

Knowledge/Skill Building 45m

📝 Claim & Limitations Notebook Page

Deliverable 45m

🎤 Diorama Presentation Practice Round

Project Work 45m

🌊 River Guardians Fair Presentation

Assessment 45m

Plan

Question Days 1–3

Day 1

🌊 Ecosystem Exploration Day at Big Falls

Launch 45m

Day 2

🔍 Dirty Water River Test

Knowledge/Skill Building 45m

Day 3

📝 My River Research Question & Prediction

Assessment 45m

Design Days 4–7

Day 4

🧪 Testing Questions with Mini Models

Knowledge/Skill Building 45m

Day 5

📝 Big Falls Investigation Plan

Deliverable 45m

Day 6

💬 Method Plan Peer Feedback

Deliverable 45m

Day 7

✅ Investigation Plan Conference

Assessment 45m

Collect Days 8–11

Day 8

💧 Mini River Filtration Test Round 1

Project Work 45m

Day 9

🌊 Habitat Observation Walk Log

Community Experience 45m

Day 10

🔁 Data Quality Check & Retest

Deliverable 45m

Day 11

✅ Investigation Method Checkpoint

Assessment 45m

Analyze Days 12–16

Day 12

📊 Picture Graphs of River Data

Knowledge/Skill Building 45m

Day 13

🔍 Finding Patterns & Surprises

Knowledge/Skill Building 45m

Day 14

🗣️ Data Talks with Partners

Project Work 45m

Day 15

📝 Preliminary Findings Page

Deliverable 45m

Day 16

✅ Analysis Milestone Conference

Assessment 45m

Conclude Days 17–20

Day 17

🧠 Evidence to Claim Anchor Chart

Knowledge/Skill Building 45m

Day 18

📝 Claim & Limitations Notebook Page

Deliverable 45m

Day 19

🎤 Diorama Presentation Practice Round

Project Work 45m

Day 20

🌊 River Guardians Fair Presentation

Assessment 45m

April 2026

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

6 Day 1

Question

🌊 Ecosystem Exploration Day at Big Falls

7 Day 2

🔍 Dirty Water River Test

8 Day 3

📝 My River Research Question & Prediction

9 Day 4

Design

🧪 Testing Questions with Mini Models

10 Day 5

📝 Big Falls Investigation Plan

13 Day 6

💬 Method Plan Peer Feedback

14 Day 7

✅ Investigation Plan Conference

15 Day 8

Collect

💧 Mini River Filtration Test Round 1

16 Day 9

🌊 Habitat Observation Walk Log

17 Day 10

🔁 Data Quality Check & Retest

20 Day 11

✅ Investigation Method Checkpoint

21 Day 12

Analyze

📊 Picture Graphs of River Data

22 Day 13

🔍 Finding Patterns & Surprises

23 Day 14

🗣️ Data Talks with Partners

24 Day 15

📝 Preliminary Findings Page

27 Day 16

✅ Analysis Milestone Conference

28 Day 17

Conclude

🧠 Evidence to Claim Anchor Chart

29 Day 18

📝 Claim & Limitations Notebook Page

30 Day 19

🎤 Diorama Presentation Practice Round

1 Day 20

🌊 River Guardians Fair Presentation

River Bytes: Big Falls Data Debate!

Purpose

Learning goals

Standards

Competencies

Products

Launch

Exhibition

Edit Phase

Edit Phase

Edit Phase

Edit Phase

Edit Phase

April 2026