Discoveries at Willow Creek

Food, Water and Shelter in Spring vs Fall shown in Discoveries at Willow Creek

Download the book Discoveries at Willow Creek from GLOBE Elementary  The book is available in several languages and can be viewed online or downloaded and printed.
 
This story contains wonderful examples of students doing science observations and investigations.  In order to specifically address the Content Statements and Elaborations for 1st Grade Life Science, selected pages and paragraphs will be omitted from this particular activity. 
 
While the abbreviated story is being read, students should complete their Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting the types of food, water, and shelter available to plants and animals during the spring visit and the fall visit. Students should be prompted to look for changes in food, water, shelter (cover) and space from fall to spring. 

1. On page 2, skip the last paragraph.
2. Read all of page 4. 
3. Skip ahead and read pages 7 and 8.
4. On page 10, skip the last paragraph. 
5. Skip ahead to pages 21 and 22. Read the first two paragraphs, but not the last one.  End the story here.
6. Allow students time to complete their own Venn diagram, then discuss their results with a partner. If time allows, small groups can also discuss their results.
7. As a whole class, emphasize:

• Increased water in the spring could provide different space for aquatic animals and plants but may displace land plants and animals. 
• The warmer water temperatures in the fall could be too high for some aquatic life.  Additional information and examples can be found in the Teacher’s Notes section of the book on pages 27-29.
• Though winter is not shown in the book, students could discuss what changes they think would occur in food, water, shelter and space as winter approaches.

 
GLOBE offers a very detailed Teacher’s Guide with chapters containing data collection protocols, activities and information on the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, soil, and Earth as a System.  This guide can be used as a reference for teachers if additional information is needed.