The information and activities in this resource book enhance children s knowledge and awareness of the components of tundra environments, including physical and biological characteristics. Students will discover where the tundras are located on our planet. They will find out what characteristics tundra environments have in common, what lives there, and how living things survive there. As they explore tundra organism adaptations, students will discover similarities and differences between living things in the tundra and those in other ecosystems. Engaging in activities that emphasize the ecology of plants and animals, food chains and food webs, and survival, students will begin to relate the structure of living things to their roles in the ecosystem. The material in this book follows a learning cycle that includes: a) free exploration and discovery by students; b) guided expansion of explorations through activities that allow students to test, integrate, and sort out their discoveries; and c) application of concepts, accomplished through individual and group projects that give students opportunities to consolidate learning and to share their learning with others. Emphasis is placed on the curricular areas of science, math, social studies, and language arts. Activities promote skills such as observing, classifying, measuring, recording, inferring, predicting, writing, brainstorming, constructing, comparing, contrasting, describing, organizing, and sharing. A To the Parent reproducible page provides a brief explanation of the unit and suggests ways parents can share in or enhance their children s activities and discoveries. Four reproducible pages are included to involve students actively in recording individual observations and discoveries. They are referred to as R within the text. Four transparencies engage students in discussion and understanding of the number, size, and geographical location of oceans and seas, as well as the characteristics of the living things that inhabit them. They also stimulate discussion about the physical characteristics of oceans and seas, reinforce the concept of interdependence among living things, and serve as introductions to several activities. The transparencies are referred to as T within the text. Transparency instructions are printed on the inside front and back covers. A bibliography includes books and other resources for children and teachers.

Grades: 2-3

Pages: 32-Reproducible , 4-Transparencies

ISBN # 0-7877-0347-8 , MP-4798