In the library media center, 4th grade students will be engaging in inquiry to build knowledge and understanding, pursue growth, and demonstrate social responsibility through learning about the Hudson River. The unit is cross-curricular and differentiated in a variety of ways.
A variety of fiction and non-fiction literature is embedded into the unit. Legends, folktales, and other fictional age-appropriate stories are supported with non-fiction and narrative non-fiction texts at a variety of reading levels.
Students are given a number of opportunities to choose their paths to learning in this unit toward the goal of understanding the importance of this natural resource. All students will be expected to describe the native peoples living in the area during the time of Henry Hudson's voyage to the area, identify the river geographically on a map of New York State, identify some major cities/towns along the river (including our own community of Beacon, New York), and describe the variety of plant and animal life that the Hudson River supports.
Areas of investigation include:
Science: The Hudson River Estuary, river plants, animals, and environmental concerns
Social Studies: Geography, History (including Native Americans & Henry Hudson), and economics ( ice industry, and tourism).
STEM: Bridges across the Hudson - the engineering process, types of bridges, and the new Tappan Zee
The unit will be differentiated by content, process, and product to assist in meeting the various learning abilities, styles, and preferences of students.
Examples of differentiation within each unit:
* students are given a choice in watching an introductory video, reading a nonfiction passage about the Hudson, or choosing both before taking a short pre-assessment.
* the results of the pre-assessment will determine the level of objectives within the unit
* reading passages are often differentiated by reading level but with similar content - students will have opportunities to "buddy read" or work with me in small groups as well
* Each student will be expected to complete a research project using the mnemonic "WISER". Students will have choice with respect to the content they want to research
* students will be given a choice in how they want to demonstrate and share their learning - they can create a brochure, poster, written essay, PowerPoint or Google Slides presentation, video, skit, or any other product that demonstrates their learning
* students will demonstrate learning throughout the unit through short, formative assessments
* instruction includes a variety of literature at various reading levels, educational videos, eBooks, and interactive activities
*quizlet - provides for extra practice (flashcard option) as well as the option of having text read aloud. The quizlet activity serves as a pre-assessment and a component of a post-assessment.
* WISER graphic organizer is differentiated to include more depth and breadth based on readiness level of the student
****All components of the project are expected to be completed in the library media center with no expectation of work being completed at home unless the child chooses to do so ***
A field trip aboard the Clearwater vessel will give students the opportunity to sail on the Hudson while learning about the various plant and animal life the Hudson supports, the salinity of the water at various points, tides, the economic impact of this resource (shipping, tourism), and the effect of pollution on the health of the river.
- students will be able to activate prior knowledge gained through library media center learning activities and independent research to further appreciate this valuable resource located in our own community.
- Throughout the unit, students will be required to post to the class blog and I will use responses as a form of assessment. Students will be required to respond to a question prompt and/or reflect on content covered within the unit or to promote further investigation.
Other resources/aspects of the unit:
* videos, puzzles, a "Hudson River Creatures" activity book (coloring pages, crossword puzzles) and interactive activities
* opportunities for students to collaborate and discuss their topic of research
* opportunities for students to learn from experts including a Clearwater.org facilitator and a civil engineer ( who actually worked on the Tappan Zee bridge project)
* a unit that is meaningful and relevant to their young lives
A culminating activity of a full day on the river aboard the Clearwater will help students make connections with the hands-on activities aboard the ship.
From the Clearwater website describing the trip:
"Watershed Ecology: (Ecology/Geography/Community) From the Adirondacks to the Atlantic Ocean, the Hudson River is the path by which people, plants, animals, nutrients and pollutants are all linked. Learn about how the watershed you are sailing on works, what makes it so unique and how you are part of this dynamic ecosystem."
(http://www.clearwater.org/education/sailing-classroom/themes/)
From the Clearwater website describing the trip:
"Watershed Ecology: (Ecology/Geography/Community) From the Adirondacks to the Atlantic Ocean, the Hudson River is the path by which people, plants, animals, nutrients and pollutants are all linked. Learn about how the watershed you are sailing on works, what makes it so unique and how you are part of this dynamic ecosystem."
(http://www.clearwater.org/education/sailing-classroom/themes/)
The Hudson River EstuaryWhat is an estuary? Why does the Hudson rise and fall? What plant and animal life is supported in this type of ecosystem? Is the Hudson safe for plants and animals to survive? Can we safely swim in the Hudson?
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History & GeographyWhere does the Hudson begin and end? What peoples lived in this area long ago? Who was Henry Hudson? What are some of the towns along the Hudson? Why did they develop? How did the Hudson help the economy long ago? How does the Hudson impact the economy today?
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Hudson RiverWhat kinds of bridges cross the Hudson? What are truss, beam, suspension, cable-stayed, cantilever, and arch bridges? How is the new Tappan Zee bridge being built?.
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