1. The Final Scoop:
ENVIRONMENTS

2. Ask students to describe what they see happening in the picture.
Ask students to think about the seagulls and how they catch prey. Ask them which of their senses do you think they would use to help them get food? (sight) Discuss why this was the best choice.
You know that oceans, seas, lakes, etc. are a big part of the water cycle. The energy that causes these big bodies of water to form water vapor comes from _________________... (the sun)
(Spring, 2004, #12)

3. At the beginning of the week, there were three snails and 12 plants in an aquarium. This picture shows the aquarium at the end of the week. What most likely happened during the week?
Allow students to discuss this question.
Accept all reasonable answers.
Ask students to defend their answers.
Answer: The snails ate many of the plants. (Spring 2009 #35)

4. Have students look at the rain gauges and explain they show data collected before and after a rainstorm. Ask the following:
About how much rain in centimeters fell in the rain gauge during the storm?
If this is a typical amount of rain fall for a region, what type of region do you think it is?
From this limited amount of information could you really know what kind of region this is? Discuss.
Answer: 2cm
(Spring 2003, #20)

5. Before a field trip to a cave, a science class studied this picture
Before a field trip to a cave, a science class studied this picture. Which two features of this cave system were most likely formed by the slow buildup of minerals from water drops?
Answer: stalagmite and stalactite (Spring, 2006, #22)

6. Ask students to evaluate the two charts
Ask students to evaluate the two charts. As a group discuss how the two charts are related. Ask them to think about which habitat a black bear most likely be found.
Discuss and ask if both charts are needed to answer the question.
Discuss the information that was given that was not needed to answer the question about the bear.
Answer: Habitat S
(Spring 2006, #11)

7. The picture shows the leaf and fruit of a sycamore tree
The picture shows the leaf and fruit of a sycamore tree. A tree like the sycamore would have the hardest time growing in an environment that is mostly________.
cold and dark
warm and rainy
cool and wet
hot and cloudy
Show students the slide and ask them to choose a answer. Have students meet in groups based on their answer choice. As a group let them discuss their answer choice and be prepared to share out with the other groups. Ask them to think about how they would have answered if the picture was a different tree such as a palm tree.
Answer: F cold and dark
(Spring 2004, #30)

8. Explain that the pictures show a Texas community and an African community then ask them to compare and contrast what they see. Next ask the following question:
What African animal occupies a niche in its community most like the niche the fox occupies in the Texas community?
Discuss what a niche is then ask for a final answer and discuss.
Answer: Lion
(Summer, 2010)