How Do Living Things Stay Safe and Grow?
How Do Living Things Stay Safe and Grow? is part of Smithsonian Science for the Classroom, a new curriculum series by the Smithsonian Science Education Center. It is designed to address a bundle of grade 1 life science and engineering standards. In this module, students:
- Record and use observations of adult plants and animals as evidence that offspring are very similar to, but not exactly like, their parents.
- Obtain information from text, images, video, and a simulation to determine how patterns of behavior help offspring survive.
- Explore how external parts of plants and animals help them survive, grow, and meet their needs.
- Mimic external parts of plants and animals in designing a solution to a human problem.
- Apply their skills and knowledge using data as evidence to construct an argument and participate in argumentation with peers.
- Apply their knowledge and skills of animal behaviors and plant and animal external parts to design solutions to real-world human problems.
Below are digital resources that support teaching of this module.
Family Letter
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Before starting How Do Animals Stay Safe and Grow? share the Family Letter with students’ caregivers. Indicate how they should submit responses to the letter.
Ada Asks Introduction (1:29)
Ada introduces students to the phenomenon driving Lessons 1–3. Closed captioning is available in the YouTube version by clicking the “CC” icon.
Watch on YouTube
Two Penguins
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This file shows the introductory phenomenon of two types of penguins that look alike but different.
Bald Eagle
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These photos show bald eagles at different life cycle stages.
Odd Bird Out
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This file shows three penguins, Gentoo, King, and Macaroni.
Ada Asks Plant Babies (01:01 )
Ada asks students to help her learn how to recognize young plants based on the characteristics of adults. Closed captioning is available in the YouTube version by clicking the “CC” icon.
Watch on YouTube
Penguin Behavior (0:10)
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This video shows a young chinstrap penguin chasing an adult.
Discussion Rules
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This file has simplified rules for engaging in argument from evidence.
Penguin Protection
https://ssec.si.edu/penguin-protection
The Penguin Protection simulation can be viewed with a Web browser on a computer or can be downloaded as an application for use on tablets or mobile devices.
Penguin Behavior Part Two (0:10)
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In this extended version the video from Lesson 5 continues to show the adult penguin feeding its chick.
Albatross Nesting (0:14)
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This file shows the steep cliff along which the Black-browed Albatross nest in the Malvinas/Falkland Islands.
Albatross Nesting Site Fact Sheet
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This file contains information and resources about the nesting sites of Black-browed Albatross.
Ada Asks Science Challenge (01:55)
Ada introduces students to the module science challenge. Closed captioning is available in the YouTube version by clicking the “CC” icon.
Watch on YouTube
Lost Penguins
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This file shows the two lost penguins shown in the Ada Asks Science Challenge video.
King Penguin (0:13)
Download Video This file shows the steep cliff along which the Black-browed Albatross nest in the Malvinas/Falkland Islands.
Gentoo Penguin (0:22)
Download Video This video shows the gentoo penguin colony.
Rockhopper Penguin (0:18)
Download Video This video shows rockhopper penguins jumping onto rocks.
Survival Game Rules
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This file contains simple rules to guide students in playing the Survival Game.
