Nature's Guardians: Landform Adventure Quest

4th Grade

Project
4 weeks

Nature's Guardians: Landform Adventure Quest

Marina Utegenova

3-5.AG.1.1

3-5.AG.1.2

3-5.AG.1.3

3-5.AG.2.1

3-5.AG.3.1

+ 25 more

Purpose

This project aims to engage fourth-grade students in exploring the dynamic processes that shape our planet, with a focus on understanding landform formations, erosion, and desertification. Through hands-on activities and collaborations with community partners, students will investigate the impact of natural processes and human activities on the environment. The project culminates in students designing and presenting innovative solutions to mitigate desertification, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Learning goals

Students will explore the processes of erosion and weathering, and understand how these natural phenomena shape landforms. They will investigate the causes and effects of desertification, with a focus on human activities and sustainable resource use. Through hands-on model creation and experimentation, students will develop solutions to mitigate the impact of desertification on human communities. They will engage with community partners to gain real-world insights and refine their designs, culminating in a presentation of their innovative solutions.

Standards

3-5.AG.1.1 - Similarities and differences in patterns can be used to sort, classify, communicate and analyze simple rates of change for natural phenomena and designed products.
3-5.AG.1.2 - Patterns of change can be used to make predictions.
3-5.AG.1.3 - Patterns can be used as evidence to support an explanation.
3-5.AG.2.1 - Cause and effect relationships are routinely identified, tested, and used to explain change.
3-5.AG.3.1 - Natural objects and/or observable phenomena exist from the very small to the immensely large or from very short to very long time periods.
3-5.AG.4.1 - A system is a group of related parts that make up a whole and can carry out functions its individual parts cannot.
3-5.AG.4.2 - A system can be described in terms of its components and their interactions.
3-5.AG.7.2 - Some systems appear stable, but over long periods of time will eventually change.
ESS.1.C - The History of Planet Earth
ESS.2.C - The Roles of Water in Earth’s Surface Processes
ESS.2.B - Plate Tectonics and Large-Scale System Interactions
ESS.3.A - Natural Resources
ESS.3.B - Natural Hazards
ESS.3.C - Human Impacts on Earth Systems
ESS.3.D - Global Climate Change
ETS.1.A - Defining and Delimiting an Engineering Problem
ETS.1.B - Developing Possible Solutions
ETS.1.C - Optimizing the Design Solution
LS.1.D - Information Processing
4-ESS1-1 - Identify evidence from patterns in rock formations and fossils in rock layers to support an explanation for changes in a landscape over time.
4-ESS2-1 - Make observations and/or measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation.
4-ESS3-2 - Generate and compare multiple solutions to reduce the impacts of natural Earth processes on humans.
3-5.AF.1.1 - Ask questions about what would happen if a variable is changed.
3-5.AF.1.2 - Identify scientific (testable) and non-scientific (non-testable) questions.
3-5.AF.1.3 - Ask questions that can be investigated and predict reasonable outcomes based on patterns such as cause and effect relationships.
3-5.AF.1.5 - Define a simple design problem that can be solved through the development of an object, tool, process, or system and includes several criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
3-5.AF.2.1 - Identify limitations of models.
3-5.AF.2.3 - Develop a model using an analogy, example, or abstract representation to describe a scientific principle or design solution.
3-5.AF.2.6 - Use a model to test cause and effect relationships or interactions concerning the functioning of a natural or designed system.
3-5.AF.3.2 - Evaluate appropriate methods and/or tools for collecting data.

Products

Students will collaboratively create a large mural that illustrates various landforms and the effects of desertification, integrating their own solutions to mitigate these impacts. They will develop interactive dioramas that depict erosion and weathering processes, showcasing sustainable practices through student-designed models. Additionally, students will design a hands-on exhibit allowing visitors to manipulate models simulating natural processes and observe the outcomes of human interventions. Finally, a 'Desertification Solutions Gallery' will be curated, featuring student prototypes and models with informational panels and interactive elements for exploration.

Launch

Begin the project with a "Landform Exploration Day," where students rotate through interactive stations simulating different landform processes such as erosion and weathering. Use materials like sand, water, and small rocks to create hands-on experiences that demonstrate these natural phenomena. Encourage students to make observations and predictions, setting the stage for deeper inquiry and exploration throughout the project.

Exhibition

Host a "Desertification Solutions Fair" where students present their models and prototypes in an interactive gallery setting. Invite family members, community partners, and local experts to explore the exhibits, engage with students, and participate in hands-on demonstrations. Incorporate digital presentations and student-led discussions to highlight the research and design processes behind each solution, fostering a collaborative atmosphere for sharing insights and feedback.

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Landform Exploration Day: Set up interactive stations where students can explore different landform formations using materials like sand, water, and small rocks to simulate erosion and weathering.	Natural Resources Scavenger Hunt: Guide students to explore the school grounds to find examples of natural resources and discuss their importance and sustainable use.	Introduction to Desertification: Use multimedia resources to introduce students to the concept of desertification, its causes, and its effects on the environment and human communities.	Collaborative Mural Brainstorming: Facilitate a brainstorming session where students share ideas for the collaborative mural, focusing on depicting landforms and the effects of desertification.	Observation and Reflection Journals: Have students start a reflection journal to document their observations, questions, and insights about landform processes and desertification.
Deliverables	1. Completed Natural Resources Scavenger Hunt worksheet, highlighting examples of natural resources found and their potential sustainable uses. 2. Initial sketches and ideas for the collaborative mural, based on the brainstorming session.
Preparation	1. Prepare and organize materials for the Landform Exploration Day, including sand, water, small rocks, trays, and other relevant supplies. 2. Create and distribute the Natural Resources Scavenger Hunt worksheet with clear instructions for students. 3. Gather multimedia resources (videos, articles, images) to introduce and explain the concept of desertification. 4. Set up a brainstorming space with large paper and markers for the collaborative mural session. 5. Provide students with journals or notebooks for recording observations and reflections throughout the project.

Week 2	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Erosion and Weathering Experiment: Conduct hands-on experiments where students simulate erosion using sand, water, and wind. Students will observe how these elements change landforms over time.	Data Collection and Analysis: Guide students to document their observations from the erosion and weathering experiments in their journals, focusing on patterns and cause-effect relationships.	Desertification Case Study: Facilitate small group research on real-world examples of desertification. Each group will focus on a specific region, examining causes, effects, and human interventions.	Interactive Diorama Design: Begin the design process for interactive dioramas that showcase the effects of erosion and weathering. Students will brainstorm sustainable practices to incorporate into their models.	Peer Feedback Session: Organize a session where students present their diorama designs to peers for constructive feedback, focusing on creativity and feasibility.
Deliverables	1. Documented observations and data from erosion and weathering experiments in student journals. 2. Research summary on a desertification case study, highlighting causes, effects, and interventions. 3. Initial design sketches and concepts for the interactive dioramas, including feedback notes from peers.
Preparation	1. Prepare materials for the erosion and weathering experiments, including sand, water, wind sources (fans), and trays. 2. Design a template for students to record observations and data during experiments. 3. Compile resources for desertification case studies, such as articles, videos, and infographics. 4. Set up a collaborative space for diorama design, providing paper, art supplies, and modeling materials. 5. Develop a peer feedback rubric to guide students in providing constructive and meaningful feedback.

Week 3	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Activities	Prototype Testing: Facilitate a session where students test their diorama models in a simulated environment to observe the effects of their proposed solutions to erosion and desertification.	Model Refinement Workshop: Guide students in refining their diorama models based on observations from the testing phase, incorporating feedback and making adjustments for improved functionality.	Expert Consultation: Organize a virtual or in-person meeting with community partners from the Institution of Geology and Water Resources for students to present their refined models and receive expert advice.	Reflection and Revision: Facilitate a reflection session where students discuss what they learned from the expert consultation and how they plan to implement the feedback in their final models.
Deliverables	1. Revised diorama models with documented changes and improvements based on testing and feedback. 2. Reflection journal entries summarizing insights gained from the expert consultation and planned revisions.
Preparation	1. Set up a testing area with materials that simulate environmental conditions for diorama model testing. 2. Coordinate with community partners to schedule expert consultation sessions, ensuring technology is available for virtual meetings if necessary. 3. Prepare reflection prompts to guide students in their reflection and revision process. 4. Organize materials and tools for students to make adjustments and refinements to their diorama models.

Week 4	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4
Activities	Solution Showcase Preparation: Guide students in preparing their final presentations for their diorama models and mural contributions, focusing on clear communication of their design solutions and the rationale behind them.	Solution Showcase Event: Host a 'Solution Showcase' event where students present their refined models and mural sections to family members, peers, and community partners, engaging in a Q&A session to discuss their solutions and receive feedback.	Reflection Circle: Conduct a 'Reflection Circle' where students share their overall project experience, key learnings about landforms, desertification, and human impact on the environment, and how their understanding has evolved.	Gallery Walk: Facilitate a 'Gallery Walk' where students explore each other's work, providing positive feedback and noting innovative ideas to incorporate into future projects.
Deliverables	1. Final diorama models and mural sections with a presentation plan detailing how students will explain their design solutions. 2. Reflection journal entries summarizing students' learning journey throughout the project and personal insights gained.
Preparation	1. Organize the physical space for the Solution Showcase, ensuring presentation areas are set up for each group, and invite family members and community partners. 2. Prepare guidelines and a checklist for students to ensure they cover all necessary points in their presentations. 3. Arrange materials for the Reflection Circle, such as chart paper and markers, to document students' thoughts and insights. 4. Set up the classroom for the Gallery Walk, arranging student projects for easy viewing and interaction.