Habitats: Biodiversity and Humans – Second Grade Science Stations

In this Habitats set of science stations, students learn about how animals and plants make their homes in a variety of habitats across the globe, including arctic, temperate forest, intertidal, pond, desert, land and water habitats. It includes 8 different science stations where students deepen their understanding of a variety of habitats. All stations in this set meet the DCI 2-LS4.D and incorporate ETS1.A, asking questions, making observations and gathering information. See below for details on how these stations meet the standards and specific DCIs.

Habitats Stations Include

► Big Idea Posters that explain the core ideas of the stations.

► Vocabulary Cards in two formats with and without pictures.

► Watch – Students watch a video in order to learn about animal homes or kelp forests.  They answer questions in order to reinforce what they have learned.

► Play – Students play a game in order to learn about the Rocky Mountains, or matching an animal with a habitat.  They answer questions in order to reinforce what they have learned.

► Investigate – Students read about the Arctic habitat. They look at pictures of Arctic plants and animals in order to investigate this habitat.

They answer questions in order to reinforce what they have learned.

► Diagram – Students read about the temperate forest habitat. They create a diagram of the habitat and answer questions in order to reinforce what they have learned.

► Read a Passage – Students read about the habitats of the intertidal zone. They answer questions in order to reinforce what they have learned.

► Model – Students read about a pond habitat and construct a model of a pond food web.

They answer questions in order to reinforce what they have learned.

► Explore Students read about the desert habitat and explore what they’ve learned with an activity. They answer questions in order to reinforce what they have learned.

► Sort – Students read about land habitats and water habitats. They sort organisms into the two categories of habitats. They then answer questions in order to reinforce what they have learned.

Differentiated Responses

Each station includes four different ways to respond to the experience at the station: short answer questions, fill-in the blank questions, task cards with short answers, task cards with multiple choice. All the variations are similar to one another. Choose the format that best fits your classroom and students. Students are encouraged to use their science journal, but worksheets are included as well.

Each station is designed to last about 15-20 minutes. Students may do one a day for 8 days, 2 a day for four days, or any format that works for your classroom. Because there are additional activities for the Watch and Play stations, you can offer those as a choice within that station or offer them as an early finisher station, as well.

NGSS Standards

In Second Grade, students are expected to demonstrate understanding in the following area:

• 2-LS4-1. Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats.

This correlates with the DCI 2-LS4.D, which states:

• There are many different kinds of living things in any area, and they exist in different places on land and in water. (2-LS4-1)

The Investigate, Diagram, and Explore stations correlate with the Engineering Design DCI ETS1.A, which states:

• Asking questions, making observations, and gathering information are helpful in thinking about problems. (K-2-ETS1-1)

The Investigate, Diagram, Model, and Explore stations meet the Science and Engineering Practices:

• Planning and Carrying Out Investigations: Make observations (firsthand or from media) to collect data which can be used to make comparisons. (2-LS4-1)