We've been keeping track of all the pieces of evidence we've gathered over time to answer our Driving Question: Why are dogs getting sick? We feel really successful in that we figured out not only how these dogs in Pooch Province are getting sick, but also how we can help inform a community about minimizing the spread of the disease that is making them sick in the first place. We're certainly heartworm experts now!
After intense research regarding the ins and outs of heartworm spreading, along with understanding what each of seven sites had available for a dog park in Pooch Province, student groups put all their ideas into action, recommending a site for a future dog park, along with an alternate and obvious NO for a choice!
It was really neat to see students combine ideas from all their subject areas into a science-based project, including skills they've been picking up from their focus on various digital literacy projects we work on during homeroom. We had students share out their findings in small groups as the class completed a gallery walk! Check out all their work!
We hit the ground running organizing all the data from our potential dog park sites! We are looking at maps, photos, and mosquito monitoring data, all while hoping to choose an ideal site, a back-up site, and a site that we'd NEVER recommend. Be on the lookout for presentations near the end of the week!
After all our research and consensus building, students wanted to revisit the DQB to see what questions we could answer. Boy could we answer a lot!
This prompted us into starting our Dog Park Project per the request of Pooch Province. Since our students are experts on heartworm, they're going to put all their new found knowledge about the spread and prevention of heartworm into action. Using maps, photos, and mosquito mapping evidence, students will recommend various sites for a dog park in a community seemingly hit hard by the effects of heartworm. Be on the lookout for their proposals to Pooch Province's City Council! |
Mrs. BrinzaThis unit, with the driving question, "Why are dogs getting sick?" is currently under development with the guidance and support of Processing through the Ages: Global change, Evolution, and Societal well-being (PAGES). PAGES is an ambitious Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)-aligned curriculum development and K–12 teacher education program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Archives
February 2019
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