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Early Childhood - Science and Social Studies

Science

The following learning standards/benchmarks can be supported with use of the
Illinois Department of Natural Resources Trading Cards Sets 1
through 7
. Please see suggested standards/benchmarks and basic instructions for use. Feel free to adapt or modify these ideas.
11.A.ECd Collect, describe, compare and record information from observations and investigations.

Assign groups of students a category of organisms (birds, plants, mammals, insects, etc.). Ask them to take cards from the deck that represent that category. Have the students look at the photos of the species in the category and then describe the group. Make a chart for them to record their observations. What makes the species in the group similar? What are differences within the group? Are there more similarities than differences? How do their group differ from other groups?

Have the students sort the cards into the three habitat classifications: prairie; woodland; and aquatic. Use the icon on the card to help you determine the habitat type: butterfly for prairie; pine cone for woodland; and water/fish for aquatic. Ask students to look for similarities within the habitat associations and differences with species in the other habitats. Make a chart for them to record their observations.

12.A.ECa Observe, investigate, describe and categorize living things.

Ask the students to look at the entire set of cards and sort them into categories. Have them explain why they selected the categories and how the organisms/objects fit into each category. Mix up the cards and have them perform the exercise again, looking for different ways to sort the cards into similar groups.

12.B.ECa Describe and compare basic needs of living things.

Have the students sort the cards into the three habitat classifications: prairie; woodland; and aquatic. Use the icon on the card to help you determine the habitat type: butterfly for prairie; pine cone for woodland; and water/fish for aquatic. Ask them to look for similarities in organisms within the habitats. What are they? Are these similarities basic needs of the organisms to live in these habitats? For example, what are some traits that seem to be needed by animals that live in water? Make lists of some features that seem to be needed for survival in each habitat, then compare the three lists. What do these traits tell you about the habitats? Are there species that seem to have traits that would allow them to live in all of the habitats?

Social Studies

14.C.ECa Participate in voting as a way of making choices.

Have a student select up to five cards from the deck. Tell the students that they will be voting for the “Species of the Week.” Vote twice on the same set of five cards. First, vote by secret ballot where no one knows how anyone else votes. After completing voting in secret, vote again so that everyone must state their vote out loud. Are the results the same or different? Have each student explain their vote. Ask them what might make the process fairer.