Structures of Life
Investigation 4: Meet the Land Snail
Part 2
Comparing Crayfish and Snail
Students observe and record the snail's structures and behaviors. Using the Venn diagram, they compare crayfish and snail structures. The functions of observable structures are discussed.
3. Lesson set up and Management
1.1.P.1 Use properties to sort natural and manufactured materials and objects for example size, weight, color, shape, texture, and hardness.
1.2 Identify the parts of a system, how the parts go together, and how they
depend on each other.
2.1.5 Record and report observations, explanations, and conclusions using oral and written expression.
The structures of animals have particular functions that help them survive.
The shell of the land snail helps protect it during dry conditions.
The structures found on different kinds of organisms exhibit some similarities and differences.
3. Lesson set up and Management
Materials:
1. Make sure student sheets No. 18 and 20 are in student packets.
2. Have student sheet No. 19 on an overhead.
3. If snails are not active, spray them with water.
4. Refer to the FOSS Science Storybook page 25 for a complete list of snail facts.
5. You may want to observe a few crayfish in basins while completing the Venn diagrams.
Student Management:
1. Keep all materials at the station at which the students are working. Let the students go to each workstation and explore.
2. Set rules and guidelines for observing the animals during non-science times.
3. Keep Moving! If you are constantly moving, it will keep everyone on task.
4. Watch for the child who may want to experiment with the snail and hurt it. Do not let the students put a snail in the same basin as the crayfish.
1. You can lengthen or shorten the time on any lesson.
2. Use pages 2 & 3 to help guide further inquiry at the end of every part.
3. If kids are afraid of touching crayfish, then use 2 plastic spoons to scoop them up to place in the basins. If they are afraid of touching the snails, use plastic gloves.
4. Give students time to discuss amongst themselves their observations.
5. Keep word banks and content inquiry charts up so students can see and have more time to copy later, if needed. It's nice if you can keep them up all the time and just add to them as you go.
6. Remember that you are now observing the plants, crayfish and snails. Set up a schedule that won't require a lot of class time.
Writing Support:
1. Have students reflect on the day's lesson in their journal.
2. Start and finish each lesson with a KWLQ chart. ("What do I know?" "What do I want to know?" "What have I learned?" and "Are there any more questions to investigate?")
3. Have students write all word banks and inquiries in their journals.
4. Write a story about a snail that lives on the edge of a creek and meets a crayfish that lives in the creek.
Reading Support:
Read FOSS's Science story Crayfish, Snails and Kids and The Food Web.
Check the Resources section of the teacher's guide for more reading suggestions, or the literature link on this site.