Natural Resources 5E NGSS Science Unit Plan

This Natural Resources 5E Science Unit Plan is an inquiry-based unit where students learn about renewable and nonrenewable resources. The unit includes three parts for each of the 5E’s (Engage, Explore, Explain, Extend, and Evaluate) and more.

KEY CONCEPTS IN THIS NATURAL RESOURCES UNIT INCLUDE

• Renewable and nonrenewable resources
• Effect of natural resources on the environment

Included in this Natural Resources Science Resource

• Teacher Notes that provide an overview of the resource and an explanation of the NGSS standard for Natural Resources
• Common Misconceptions about the Natural Resources
• Teaching Timeline available with four different options, including a correlation with the Fourth Grade Science Stations
• Vocabulary Cards to reinforce key terms throughout the unit. These are similar vocabulary cards available in the Fourth Grade Science Stations
• Big Idea Posters that illustrate the main concepts students will learn
• Exit Tickets in three formats: short answer, fill-in-the-blank, and multiple choice

What is the 5E Instructional Model?

The 5E Model is student-led, with the teacher acting mainly as the facilitator. Through open-ended questions, real-life experiences, guided investigations, and research, the students gain a deep understanding of the scientific topics that are covered in the lessons. Each stage of the model serves as a foundation for the next, creating a coherent model that frames lessons, activities, and units.

Find out more about the 5E Unit Plans in this blog post.

Objectives and Timeline for Each Section of the 5E Natural Resources Unit

ENGAGE

Objectives:

• Students will access their prior knowledge about natural resources.
• Student interest in natural resources will be elicited.
• The teacher will be able to identify student misconceptions about natural resources.

Parts and Duration:

• Part 1 (What Is This?):  10 minutes
• Part 2 (My Experiences):  15 minutes
• Part 3 (Introducing…Natural Resources):  10 minutes

EXPLORE

Objectives:

• Students will work together to investigate natural resources on Earth.  They will do this by making a wind turbine and recycling their own paper.
• Students will gather general information about natural resources.
• Students will begin to think about how natural resources are used by people.
• Students will analyze and interpret data to provide evidence that natural resources can be used and recycled in different ways.

Parts and Duration:

• Part 1 (Check It Out):  15 active minutes
• Part 2 (Read This): 15 minutes
• Part 3 (You Try It):  30 minutes of active time (plus 4-6 hours wait time, overnight drying time)

EXPLAIN

Objectives:

• Students will work collaboratively to observe renewable and nonrenewable resources.
• Students will listen to the teacher’s explanation about natural resources.
• Students will use the new information to revise their explanations about natural resources, including the differences between renewable and nonrenewable resources.

Parts and Duration:

• Part 1 (What Does It Mean?):  20 minutes
• Part 2 (What Are Natural Resources?):  20 minutes
• Part 3 (Putting It All Together):  15 minutes

EXTEND

Objectives:

• Students will apply what they have learned about natural resources to a new situation.
• Students will deepen their understanding of natural resources, gaining a more generalized knowledge of this specific scientific concept.
• The teacher will resolve all persisting student misconceptions about natural resources.

Parts and Duration:

• Part 1 (Where Are Natural Resources?):  20 minutes
• Part 2 (Show What You Know): 15 minutes
• Part 3 (Have Fun With It):  20 minutes

EVALUATE

Objectives:

• Students will evaluate their own understanding of natural resources.
• Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the concepts and vocabulary.
• The teacher will encourage students to ask questions that could lead to future investigations.

Parts and Duration:

• Part 1 (What I Know):  15 minutes
• Part 2 (Showing Natural Resources): 30 minutes
• Part 3 (Going Forward): 15 minutes