Unit Overview/Summary - FOCUS: 

Summary

The unit organizes performance expectations with a focus on helping students understand the needs of plants. Instruction developed from this unit should always maintain the three-dimensional nature of the standards and is not limited to the practices and concepts directly linked with any of the bundle performance expectations.

Connections between unit Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs)  

The concept that plants depend on animals for pollination or to move their seeds around (LS2.A as in 2-LS2-2) connects to the concept that plants depend on water and light to grow (LS2.A as in 2-LS2-1), as both ideas are about plant needs. The engineering design idea that designs can be conveyed through sketches, drawings, or physical models (ETS1.B as in K-2-ETS1-2 and 2-LS2-2) can be connected to multiple science concepts, such as that plants depend on animals for pollination or to move their seeds around (LS2.A as in 2-LS2-2) and that plants depend on water and light to grow (LS2.A as in 2-LS2-1).

The first connection could be made through challenging students to draw a design of a way to increase the dispersal of grass seeds that move by sticking to animals’ fur. And the second connection could be made by students designing and then drawing a garden or greenhouse, showing how the needs for water and light are met.

Unit Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs)

Instruction leading to this unit of PEs will help students build toward proficiency in elements of the practices of planning and carrying out investigations (2-LS2-1) and developing and using models (2-LS2-2 and K-2-ETS1-2). Many other practice elements can be used in instruction.

Unit Crosscutting Concepts (CCCs)

Instruction leading to this unit of PEs will help students build toward proficiency in elements of the crosscutting concepts of Cause and Effect (2-PS1-4 and 2-LS2- 1) and Structure and Function (2-LS2-2 and K-2-ETS1-2). Many other crosscutting concepts elements can be used in instruction. All instruction should be three-dimensional.