Probe

From Understanding Student Ideas in Science by Page Keeley – NSTAFrom Understanding Student Ideas in Science by Page Keeley – NSTA

Q: What do you think happened to most of the divos living on the island after their habitat changed?

A. The divos’ fur grew longer and thicker.

B. The divos switched to eating seeds.

C. The divos hibernated through the cold

period until the habitat was warm again.

D. The divos died.

Strategy

1. Write down your answer, and why you

think so…

2. Go to the corner that matches your

response

3. You have 5 minutes to discuss with your

group why you think your corner is correct

From Science Formative Assessment: 75 Practical Strategies… - Keeley

Four Corners Strategy

• Use a timer to encourage sharing• Students can move if they change their minds after sharing• Modifications:

– Debate from seats or in mixed groups– Eliminate the written answers– More or fewer corners (choices)

A copy of the probe can be found at: http://srt3.atlantapublicschools.us/cms/lib/GA01000924/Centricity/ModuleInstance/22012/

Habitat%20Change.pdf

A copy of the probe can be found at: http://srt3.atlantapublicschools.us/cms/lib/GA01000924/Centricity/ModuleInstance/22012/

Habitat%20Change.pdf

Ideas for Modification of This Formative Assessment

Oh Gray Wolf! Activity

• Food (elk) • Water (Maumee River)• Shelter (Elm and Ash trees)

Hands on stomach

Fingers to lips

Hands over head

What do gray wolves need to survive?

Oh Gray Wolf!

Extension 1

Oh, Gray Wolf!

Extension 2 Discuss how this

relates to the Black Swamp and the many organisms that were native to northwest Ohio and how that changed once it was drained… Why?

Fun With Footprints

Activity

This activity adapted from: Fossil Footprints - National Academy Press

Position One Footprints Example

Positions One and Two Footprints Example

All Three PositionsFootprints Example

The idea is to use these as an example to create your own scenario for students to creatively problem solve with.

Questions To Encourage

Student Thinking

Footprint Activity–Can you tell anything about the size, nature or kind of animals who made the tracks? –Were all the tracks made at the same time? –How many animals were involved? –Can you reconstruct a series of events represented by this set of tracks?

See Animal Tracks Activity on the pi r2 website at nwocenter.org/pir2