Transcript Probe - COSMOS

Probe
From 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
Four Corners 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
Ideas for Modification of This
Formative Assessment
• Use a timer to encourage sharing
• Students can move if they change
their minds after sharing
• Modifications:
http://classtools.net/ed
ucation-gamesphp/timer/
– 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/Ha
Oh Gray Wolf!
Activity
What do gray wolves need to
survive?
• Food (elk)
• Water (Maumee River)
• Shelter (Elm and Ash trees)
Hands over head
Hands on stomach
Fingers to lips
Oh Gray Wolf!
Extension 1
 Graph it!
See Oh Deer! Activity below for examples.
 Or play the “Oh Deer!” game in addition
(see above link).
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?
Video Resource
The Story of the Great Black
Swamp
WBGU created a short film called
“The Story of the Great Black
Swamp.” This VHS be borrowed
from both, or purchased on DVD
from WBGU.
Visit for a
preview:
 Toledo-Lucas County Public
Library also has this available
on VHS.
Fun With
Footprints
Activity
Position One Footprints Example
This activity adapted
from: Fossil Footprints National Academy Press
Positions One and Two
Footprints Example
All Three Positions
Footprints 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