Mystery MaraudersBy Alexandria Resch

PBA: PBL Unit Project and Micro-TeachingAccompanying Powerpoint

George Mason UniversityEDCI 553.A01: Science Methods

Help!

Help!

Dear Ms. Resch’s 3rd grade class,

We need your help! Residents living near the Shenandoah National Park have been having some trouble. Some creatures have been causing damage to bird feeders and getting into trash cans in residential areas, well away from the park. Garbage was scattered all over people’s driveways.

By the time I got there, there were no animals, only the evidence. I am having trouble identifying these mystery marauders, but I took pictures of the messy crime scenes. Could you help me out by using your powers of observation and inference to decipher these clues?

The people are angry about the damage and scared because they do not know what animals could have done it. What animals live in Virginia? Which ones would be able to cause this kind of damage? I need your help right away! If you help, I will make you junior rangers, too.

Sincerely,

The Bear Went Over the Mountain

The bear went over the mountain,The bear went over the mountain,The bear went over the mountain,To see what he could eat To see what he could eat,To see what he could eat! On the other side of the mountain,On the other side of the mountain,On the other side of the mountain,He found a lot to eat He found a lot to eat,He found a lot to eat,On the other side of the mountain,He found a lot to eat!

Help!

Help!

Dear junior rangers,

Thank you! This list of animals and which ones may have done the damage is very helpful. I, however, see that you have concluded that bears are the mystery marauders.

Bears, really? Who would have thought that they would like birdseed and garbage? Why do you think they would be eating garbage? What food chain are the bears a part of? What is their role in the food chain?

I will let the residents know your findings.

We may need your help more, so I will send you an email tomorrow.

Thank you!

Help!

Help!

Dear junior rangers,

Thank you for your help so far. All the information you have provided is very useful.

I see that you have concluded that bears are a part of a terrestrial food chain. That is interesting that you observed that bears are consumers, omnivores, AND predators!

To help solve our bear problem, I now need you all to investigate habitats and how animals have adapted to the their habitats. I am sure your teacher can help you out.

I look forward to your response!

Thank You,

Help!

Help!

Dear junior rangers,

Wow! This great information on habitats and the physical and behavioral adaptations of animals! You are a very observant, talented , and creative class! It sounds like your activity yesterday was a lot of fun.

I have a final task for you all to help me with. The citizens would like to continue to feed their birds. However, as you have seen, bears LOVE bird seed. Can you design a bird feeder that can outsmart a bear? Based on all your observations so far, I know that you can work together to apply your creativeness to this problem and can come up with some designs for a solution. That is the nature of science, isn’t it?

I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Thank You,

Take Birdfeeders down:Bears Out of Backyard

Help!

Help!

Colonel Dabney Watts dwatts@dgif.virginia.gov

Dear junior rangers,

Ms. Resch sent me your designs. All I can say is, “SPECTACULAR!” Your ingenious solutions in your plans look like they will thwart these marauders. I can’t wait to see how the testing of your designs go and your results.

Keep up the hard work!

Sincerely,Colonel Watts

Help!

Help!

Dear junior rangers,

Thank you so much for all your great designs and assistance in finding some solutions to our bear problem. The testing and evaluation that you did will help us teach citizens about how to protect wildlife and themselves by discouraging bears to come into our backyard.

It was wonderful to work with such a great group of students! Maybe you will choose jobs like a scientist or a wildlife protector, just like me.

STUDY HARD AND CONTINUE TO HAVE FUN WITH SCIENCE!

Warm Regards,