approved Adirondack Curriculum Project - www.adkcurriculum.org student tested
NYS Content Area Standard

Arts 2: Knowing & Using Resources & Materiasl
ELA 1: Language for Info & Understanding
MST 4: Science
Social Studies 1: History of U.S. & NY

NATIONAL STANDARDS
  • Science: Life Sciences
  • Language Arts: Writing; Reading
  • History: K-4 - History of own region
  • Arts: Understands & Applies Media
  • Life Skills: Working with Others
 Title: Meet the Adirondack Beaver

Grade Level: 4th

Authors: Erin Farley-Davis, Saranac Lake CSD and Allison Smith, Lake Placid CSD

Email: smitha@lakeplacidcsd.net
farleyeri@slcsd.org
 Adirondack Curriculum Content Area
_X_ Natural History
___ Human History
___ Culture & the Arts
___ Government & Civics
___ Economy
___ Health, Recreation & Life Skills

Investigative Question or Issue: What might any kid your age “want to know”
about beavers?

Challenge:  
Create an interesting and informative Illustrated Journal of the Beaver that contains the answers to at least 10 questions that any youngster your age would like to know about this fascinating animal. Provide Student Handout.

Context for this Challenge: Teachers will no doubt want to ensure that an array of research materials regarding the beaver are available sufficient to permit all the students to research this topic all at one time. Teachers will also want to “coach” their students through the processes of brainstorming
questions, researching information about the questions, and then organizing their findings in some
systematic way.

Students should be in well-balanced groups of four (self-selected or teacher-selected).

Option: Students could each produce their own journal.

Quality Standards:  

Student will create an Adirondack Question & Answer Illustrative Journal.

Form:
  • Journal is completed on time
    • <>Journal has a Title Page that identifies the names of the authors. This page is interesting and attractive
  • Journal is typed if possible. Spelling and grammer is correct
    • <>Last page of journal includes a bibliography where references are cited correctly.
Content:
  • Journal contains answers to 10 or more questions about the beaver that any youngster of your age would like to know
  • Information in the journal is accurate and questions answered thoroughly
  • Journal contains multiple visual images to show what the authors’ are talking about
Examples of Student Work: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Adapted for the Adirondack Curriculum Project from the work of Education By Design TM and Leading EDGE, LLC ©ACP 2002

   Product Quality
Checklist
Date: ________                                                                     Class Period: ________
Product Author(s):

 
 Product Title/Name:
Adirondack Beaver Journal
Evaluator Name(s)
 
 Observed Standard/Criteria
Possible
Points
Rating
   Form:
  
  
 
Visually attractive
  10  
 
Neat
 5
  
 
Decorative graphics or illustrations
  5  
 
Completed Journal bound together
  5
  

Content:
    
 
Project completed on time
  5
  

Includes team members name's and roles
 5

Informative thorough questions and answers
 30

Title page is decorative & visually attractive
 30

Spelling and grammar is correct
 5
 
TOTALS
  100  

Comments:nf Northern Forest Partnership. Bibliography and references are sited where necessary