Biology

Standard 1: Objective 3

Title: Hair in my Dirt

A Brief Description: Students will review ecology concepts through reading and filling out a worksheet on the book THERE’S A HAIR IN MY DIRT, by Gary Larsen.

Materials Needed: 9 books and student sheet. (Indian Hills has these if you want to borrow them or they can be checked out from the library. The library will collect many copies for you if you give them advance warning.)

Prior to Assessment: Good understanding of Ecology

Time Needed: 50 minute class period

Teacher Procedures:

1.  Read the book aloud as a class or let the kids free read.

2.  You may want to make a disclaimer before they read this book there are a few words that could be considered objectionable. Tell the students not to look at the words in the pictures if they are sensitive.

3.  A student sheet is provided if you wish your students to analyze the story more carefully.


Student Sheet

Activity I Name______

Introduction: In this activity you will read a “story book” which looks like many storybooks you may have read as a child. This storybook is a little different because it is written by a cartoonist that is also a scientist. In fact, to understand much of his humor, you have to know quite a bit about science. To help you understand the story you will need to define some words, listen to the story and see where each concept is portrayed. See if you get the “big” picture also, like many stories, this book has a message.

Directions:

1. Use your textbook to define the terms listed below.

2. Listen to or read There’s a Hair in My Dirt. Write down the page numbers that match the words you have defined.

3. Describe the situation in the book used to illustrate each term.

4. Write a short summary of the book and tell what you think the “big” message is.

THERE’S A HAIR IN MY DIRT By Gary Larsen

Concept / Definition / Page / Situation or example in book
Photosynthesis
Exotic Species
Competition
Deforestation
Adaptations for survival
Matter Cycles
Food Webs
Decomposition

***What is the overall message of this book?***