Carolina Curriculum: GEMS > Kits for Grades K-5

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Expanded view of the Environmental Detectives Kit

GEMS^® Environmental Detectives (Grades 5–8)

Who does not enjoy solving a mystery? Scientific investigation is about gathering evidence toward the solution of the mysteries of the natural world. GEMS Environmental Detectives challenges students to solve an environmental mystery involving a watershed that includes forests, a city and town, a coast, three rivers, a lake, and a pond. The “crime” is a fish die-off that began five years ago.

As students learn more about the possible causes of the fish dying, their investigations introduce them to the complexity in pinpointing the exact cause of an environmental problem. They become aware of the interconnectedness of the natural world and of environmental problems. Students learn how science and society are inextricably linked and that most solutions require compromise. The eight activities in the unit are rich with complex, interdisciplinary scientific investigation. Students study and discuss various clues and evidence, integrating them with their own test results and discussing them with their peers to process information and apply concepts. Each activity concludes with an opportunity for students to reflect, write in their Environmental Detectives Notebooks, and make predictions or adjust previous predictions on the class Suspect Chart.

Benefits of using this kit:
	Introduces foundational science concepts that lead to student success
	Strongly aligned with multiple state standards and the National Science Education Standards and Bench Marks for Science Literacy
	Provides clear step-by-step instruction, assessment suggestions, literature connections, and ideas for further instruction

Goals Standards In the Kit Pilot this Kit Support

Goals of Environmental Detectives
	Students increase their content knowledge about the causes and effects of water pollution—including chlorine, erosion/sediment, acid rain, predator/prey relationships, phosphate pollution/algal blooms, and oil pollution.
	Students improve in their ability to conduct research and develop other inquiry and literacy skills through conducting simulated tests and investigating files of written/pictorial materials and data. They are able to summarize their findings and determine which results and files are most relevant to the problem at hand.
	Students are able to distinguish between evidence and inference, defend conclusions by citing evidence, and refrain from jumping to conclusions until sufficient data is analyzed.
	Students deepen their understanding of the complex interactive nature of many environmental problems and recognize that there are many “gray areas.” They are able to discuss a range of possible solutions, and through group debate, compromise, and problem solving, select their own solutions and explain their reasoning.

National Standards addressed by Environmental Detectives:

	Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, 5–8: Risks and benefits; Science and technology in society.
	History and Nature of Science, 5–8: Nature of Science.
	Inquiry Standard, 5–8: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry.
	Science and Technology Standard, 5–8: Science and technology in society.
	Unifying Concepts and Principles: Constancy, change, and measurement; evidence, models, and explanation.

In the Kit:
The unit kit comes with a Teacher's Guide, a Teacher's Pack containing: copy masters, MSDS sheets, matrix of provided materials where used and materials needed but not supplied, and materials needed for a class of 32 students.

Try the Carolina Curriculum Pilot Program
What’s the best way to learn about STC Program®, Building Blocks of Science™, Math Out of the Box®, or GEMS Kits®? Pilot a unit in your school or district!

Here's how it works:

	Complete the pilot information request form.
	You choose a lead teacher(s) to pilot the units.
	Carolina ships the selected unit kit(s) to your school/district.
	At the end of the pilot, you can purchase one of the unit kits for 10% off the catalog price!

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	Environmental Detectives Kit This Kit comes with a Teacher's Guide, an information packet, and the materials needed for a class of 30.

	Environmental Detectives Kit Teacher's Guide Additional Teacher's Guides are available if you need them.

	Environmental Detectives Kit Refill Pack This set replenishes the consumable materials in the Kit.