Transcript Science Genie

The Science Genie
and the
2 Liter Bottle
By
Theo Harris and Aline Wilson
Teachers help light the way!
Overview
The Science Genie and
The 2-Liter Bottle Module is an ecology
unit anchored in the Georgia
Performance Standards and practices. It
is aligned and designed to support and
extend the STC Curriculum Unit –
Ecosystems for grades 4 and 5. However
the information in this module also works
as a stand-alone unit.
What Is a Science Genie?
As you know, there are all kinds of Genies:
And your, “I Dream of Jeannie,” Genie!
A Science Genie is someone that…
 helps others feel the Magic of
Science;
 makes Science relevant to
everyday experiences;
 is not afraid to get dirty or get
others dirty;
Makes
Science FUN!
Why are YOU here?
You may not realize it, but you are
here because of your secret desire
to become a “Science Genie” and
master the “Ancient Art of Soda
Bottle Science.”
Science Genie 101
 How do you teach Science?
Bottle Basics – What Every Good
Science Genie Should Know
 Bug Palace – A Simple Ecosystem
 Decomposition Column – Ecology
Breakin’ It Down, For Real
 Kimchee – Breakin’ It Down, For Real,
Then Eating It
 Terra/Aqua Column – The Land Water
Connection, A More Complex Ecosystem
 Hang-em High! Hanging Columns
How do you plan to help students
learn Science?
Learning Cycle
Exploration 1
Activity ABrainstorm (with the members @ your table) how
you would plan for instruction on the science content
topic provided.
Then briefly outline your instructional plan on Post-It
chart paper. (5 minutes)
Activity BEach group will,
display their responses and share out.
(2 minutes per group)
Lets Talk About It!
Term Introduction
How are these plans alike, how are they different?
Activity C
Compare and contrast the instructional methodologies used
(see below) and introduce terms for:
• Traditional model- Inform, verify, practice;
• FERA model- focus, explore, reflect, apply;
• The Learning Cycle- exploration, term introduction,
concept application.
(note: Where is the teacher in each of these models?)
The Learning Cycle is the instructional model that will be
modeled during this workshop. It is simply another instructional
tool to add to your “instructional tool belt” that will assist the
student in constructing new knowledge.
Build It, and They Will Come!
Without folding or bending your
index cards, use the supplies
provided and build a house that
can stand up to air from a blow
dryer set on low speed.
You can’t build a house with just a hammer!
Bottle Basics:
What Every Good Science Genie Should Know
Safety First
 Bottle Anatomy & Dissection
 Don’t reinvent the wheel! Use what
other Genies have provided. Then,
pump it up a notch!

(Many of the projects used in this module can be
found @ www.bottlebiology.org and Soda Bottle
Science, Scholastics.)
Let’s Think Ecosystems … Ummh!
 What was life like Jeannie (in the
bottle) before Major Healey came along?
Describe her Garden Paradise.
 What
did she need to sustain life?
Essential Question 1:
What is necessary for life?
FIELD TRIP!!!
Exploration 2
Activity D- Field Trip
Go to the “zone” that has the same
symbol as your table. Observe,
record & draw the different types of
living and non-living things in that
area. Think about how each thing is
connected to or meets the needs of
the other.
Let’s Talk about it!
Organisms, producers, consumers, decomposers,
ecosystems, population, community, habitat,
herbivore, carnivore,
isopod, elodea, duckweed
Term Introduction
What was your mission?
Let us just focus on the living things
for now.
Activity E: (Whole group) Using the
information gathered from the minifield trip the students will place each
of these items in one of the three
categories: producers, consumers,
and decomposers. Discuss why an
item should or should not be in a
specific category or both.
How are they connected?
Activity F- Create a poem, artwork
or body sculpture that illustrates a
food chain or food web identified in
the ecosystem you observed. Then
share your work with the class.
OR
The Pill Bug Palace:
Essential Question1 (Modified):
What is necessary for “a pill bug’s” life?
S4L1
Describe the roles of organisms and the flow of
energy within an ecosystem
Activity GOption 1:
Create a space in a 2 Liter bottle that pill bugs would love to live in.
Option 2:
Create a drawing in the shape of a 2 Liter bottle of a space that pill
bugs would love to live in.
Think like a Pill Bug:
What would your space look like?
Where would you find energy?
How would you protect yourself?
Where and with whom would you hang out?
AND….
When it’s late and dark up under that rock,
who would you …
The Roles in an Ecosystem
Everybody plays a part (or two).
 Producers
Who makes/creates/produces their own food in
the isopod ecosystem?
 Consumers
Who uses others as food (source of energy) in
the isopod ecosystem?
 Decomposers
Who breaks down matter in the isopod
ecosystem?
Decomposition Column
Ecology Breaking’ It Down, For Real!
 S4L1. a.
Identify the roles of the producers, consumers and
Decomposers in a community
 S4L1.a.
Demonstrate the flow of energy through a food
web/food chain beginning with sunlight and including
producers, consumers and decomposers.
 Essential Question: What do decomposers feed on?
What are some exploration questions or situations you
can set before your class to get them thinking about
the role of decomposers in a ecosystem?
Decomposition
Column
 The U.S. creates 190 million tons of solid waste a
year. What happens to it?
Did You know…
that there is a whole community of large and small
organisms that serve as food for each other. They
clean up waste, control populations and convert materials
(matter) to forms that can be used by others.
The Decomposition Song!
(Sang to the tune of She’ll Be Comin’ Round the Mountain When She Comes)
Levels of Decomposers
 Bacteria and Fungi
 Earthworms, snails, slugs, flies, beetles and mites
 Larger insects and birds
1st Stanza:
Decomposers are cool let’s have some fun! Break it down
Decomposers are cool let’s have some fun! Break it down
Decomposers break down matter,
it looks gross but it really doesn’t matter
Decomposition is cool let’s have some fun! Breaking it down
2nd Stanza:
A maggot is a decomposer lets have some fun! Break it down!
A maggot is a decomposer lets have some fun! Break it down!
A maggot breaks down matter,
it looks gross but it really doesn’t matter
A maggot is really cool let’s have some fun! Breaking it down
You create the other stanzas!
 Question: Does air temperature or moisture speed
up decomposition?
Kimchee – Breakin’ It Down For Real, Then Eating it!
A Fermentation Chamber – How Science Tastes Good!
 How did people keep food from spoiling
before refrigeration?
 How are pickles made? Why does Swiss
cheese have holes in it? How is pizza dough
made?
Fermentation – a process used to preserve food.
Terra/Aqua Column – The Land Water Connection A More
Complex Ecosystem
The Terra/Aqua Column is a 3D land and water model
ecosystem created from 2 liter bottles. This model
allows you and your students to explore the link
between land and water ecosystems.
All of the Essential Questions can be thoroughly explored through
the process of building this column.
Concepts:
• Roles of producers, consumers and decomposers;
• The flow of energy in a food web/food chain
beginning with sunlight;
• Features that allow an organism to survive and
reproduce;
• How changes effect ecosystems and organisms;
• The effects of a population if there is scarcity or
or abundance;
• Factors that lead to extinction of some organisms.
Concept Application 2:
Terra/Aqua Eco-column
(Bottle Biology, www.bottlebiology.org See handout packet)
GRASPS Activity:
Goal: to have students understand the flow of energy within an ecosystem and
the factors that affect survival or extinction of organisms.
Role: Science Investigators
Audience: Visitors to “I Dream of Jeanie National Park”
Scenario: A conservationist has requested assistance in determining whether or
not the new pesticide on the market, “Kill Those Gosh Darn Mosquitoes”, is
having an adverse effect on the Park. Visitors at the park have commented that it
is great not having to swat mosquitoes and the nights are quieter now that the
crickets are gone, but the fishing just is not what it used to be.
Product:
Build a terra/aqua column that:
1. demonstrates how energy flows through a system;
2. demonstrates how the new pesticide may have been transported along the
same pathway in that system;
3. explains, how the new pesticide impacted the food chain/web that has
resulted in a change in the quality of fishing at the park.
Standards: S4L1
Describe the roles of organisms and the flow of energy within an ecosystem
Concept Application 1
A science concept from the ecosystems unit
has been provided to you and your team.
Prepare a lesson using the “Learning Cycle”
to teach this concept. Be as detailed as
possible. Write out all of the direction.
Include a GRASPS activity using 2 liter soda
bottles.
Upon completion of this activity, the lesson
will be compiled and shared with other
participants.
What About the
“Other” Recyclable Goods?
•35 mm film canisters- germinate seeds/star
constellation.
•Yogurt containers and lids-(cut holes in the bottom)
little flower pots.
•Milk containers- growth chamber/ go cart body.
•Leftover raw fruit and vegetables- composting.
•Old CD’s- go carts/ hover craft.
•2 liter bottles- water bottle rockets.
•Junk mail and new papers-making paper.
•Used copy paper- paper airplanes/ student created
journal.
And much, much, more!
GRASPS Activity for Pill Bug Palace:
The Isopod Resort & Spa
Goal: To cultivate student understanding that changes in
environment affect communities of organisms.
Role: Structural Engineer, Architect or Advertising Agent
Audience: Visiting Isopods
Scenario: You are a structural engineer, architect or
advertising agent. You've just been informed by the
Commissioners that the Isopod Olympics will be held in
your community and a large number of isopods are
expected to attend. There will be a great need for isopods
hotels that meet the needs of the new visitors.
Your job as architect or structural engineer is to design and
construct habitats using 2 L soda bottles that will create the
best environment for these organisms.
Your job as an advertising agent is to design a brochure,
flier or commercial that will encourage the new visitors to
live in your hotel.
Product:
1. A pill bug hotel.
2. Advertisement campaign (brochure, flier or
commercial)
Standard: S4L1, S4CS4, S4CS5, ELA4W2.b &
ELALSV2.a
GRASPS Activity for Decomposition
: The Compost Contract
GRASPS Activity
Goal:
The student will be able to identify the various food chains/webs in
and decomposition column.
The student will be able to predict how changes in the temperature,
and or level of moisture in a decomposition column, affects the rate
of decomposition.
Role: Product Development Specialists
Audience: the building contractor and all of the stakeholders in The
Isopod Resort and Spa Hotels.
Scenario:
You have just received e-mail from a building contractor that is in the
process of creating habitats for The Isopod Resort and Spa Hotels.
Their usual supplier of decomposed material is no longer available
to them. They have asked your company to provide decomposed
matter (isopods love this stuff) for them as soon as possible.
You need to figure out a way to speed up the decomposition process
that would allow you to provide the materials needed to secure this
contract and allow completion of the hotels before the Isopod
Olympics.
Product: A research project that shows that one method for
decomposing materials unit 2 L soda bottle is faster than another.
Standards: S4L1, S4L1.a., S4L1.b., S4L1.c., S4CS1.a.,
S4CS4.a., & S4CS5
GRASPS Activity for Kimchee: The Iron Chef
Competition
GRASPS Activity
Goal: to expose students to the fermentation
process.
Role: Chefs
Audience: The Iron Chef Judges
Scenario: you are the youngest participant in the
Iron Chef competition being held in Korea. In honor
of the competition being held there, the Iron Chef
Judges have decided to have you and the other
contestants will prepare Kimchee and write a report
explaining the history and process used to create it.
How will you do this? What ingredients will you use?
How long will it take you? How did this fermentation
business get started anyway?
Product:
1. Kimchee
2. A report on the history and process.
Standards: S4L1, S4L1.a., S4L1.b., S4L1.c.,
S4CS1.a., S4CS4.a., & S4CS5
The End
The Science Genie and the
2 Liter Bottle
(and other recyclable goods)
Has been Presented by
Theo Harris
[email protected]
and Aline Wilson
[email protected]
Teachers help light the way!