Oh Deer Predator and Prey Relationships: Students make natural connections through the integration o

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Oh Deer!Predator and Prey RelationshipsStudents
make natural connections through the integration
of mathematics and science

• Kelly Rueda
• ELED 415

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Why integrate Math and Science

• Allows natural connections between multiple
  content areas
• Aids in student concept comprehension
• Middle schoolers should be involved in activities
  that use MS skills

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Science/Math Process Skills

• Predicting
• Testing hypothesis
• Tabulating data
• Analyzing data
• Constructing Graphs

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How to integrate Math and Science?

• Choose activities wisely!!
• Should be natural
• Can involve other subjects like P.E. and Social
  Studies

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Five Es Framework

• 1. Engagement attention getter
• 2. Exploration hands on activity
• 3. Explanation organize data ideas
• 4. Extension apply concepts to new situation
• 5. Evaluation throughout duration of activity

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Prior Knowledge

• Carrying capacity availability of resources vs
  population
• Components of habitat food, water, shelter,
  space
• Limiting factors disease, predators, other
  things that affect reproduction/population

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Engagement
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Exploration

• Students create a simulation (count off by 4)
• Roles include deer, shelter, food, water,
  space
• Successful deer seek out needs and reproduce
• Unsuccessful deer die and become part of the
  habitat

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Simulation
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Explanation

• After 15 rounds students discuss activity
• Note after each round of deer left is recorded
  

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Explanation

• Groups create population graph for 15 yrs
• Share information and complete 1 together
• Reasons for decreasing/increasing pops

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Data Sheets
Students decide in groups type of graph to use
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Extension

• Add a new role predator
• Predator needs to eat 2 deer each round or
  die and join the habitat
• Create new graphs

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Extension

• Discussion idea Hudson Bay Trappers
• Look at the cycle (7-9 yrs) of lynx, hare, and
  willow populations.
• What are these patterns telling us about balance?
• Make connections

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Goals of activity

• Reinforce concepts between different content
  areas
• How do graphs tell a story?
• Motivate students by using physical
  movement/games

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Evaluation (ongoing)

• Participation?
• Graphs?
• Extension Activity?
• Was their original prediction right?

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Evaluation

• What limiting factors cause the population
  changes in the following graph

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Reeder, S Moseley, C. (2006) Oh deer! Predator
and prey relationships Students make natural
connections through the integration of
mathematics and science. Science Activities, 43,
3.