Jennifer E. Lawson, PhD, is the creator of the Hands-On books published by Portage & Main Press. As senior writer and editor for the series, she has contributed to more than 50 publications for teachers and students. Jennifer provides professional development workshops for educators locally, nationally, and virtually, and is a Workplace Wellness Advisor. Her most recent book is a collective effort called Teacher, Take Care: A Guide to Well-Being and Workplace Wellness for Educators. She is also one of the founders of Mission to Mexico, an organization that supports schools in some of the most impoverished communities in Puerto Vallarta. Throughout her extensive career in education, Jennifer has worked as a classroom teacher, resource and special education teacher, consultant, principal, university instructor, and school trustee. She lives with her family in Winnipeg, Manitoba.Rosalind Poon has been a science teacher and Teacher Consultant for Assessment and Literacy with the Richmond School District for the past 18 years. In her current role, she works with school teams to plan and implement various aspects of the curriculum by collaborating with teams in professional inquiry groups on topics such as descriptive feedback, inquiry, assessment, and differentiation. Her passions include her family, dragon boating, cooking with the Instant Pot and making sure that all students have access to great hands-on science experiences.Deidre Sagert specializes in early years education, and is currently working as the Early Years Support Teacher for the St. James-Assiniboia School Division. She brings 20 years of experience to her current role where she mentors early years teachers in incorporating play-based learning and inquiry into all subject areas. She is passionate about ensuring all students have access to a stimulating environment where they are engaged in hands-on experiences and authentic learning. She enjoys spending time with her family in nature for rejuvenation and inspiration.Melanie Nelson is from the In-SHUCK-ch and Stó:loˉ Nations, and has experience teaching kindergarten through grade 12, as well as adults in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. She has taught in mainstream, adapted, modified, and alternate settings, at the classroom, whole school, and district levels. Trained as an educator in science, Melanie approaches Western science through an Indigenous worldview and with Indigenous ways of knowing. Her Master of Arts thesis explored the experience of Indigenous parents who have a child identified as having special needs in school, and she is currently completing a Doctor of Philosophy in School Psychology at the University of British Columbia.Lisa Schwartz has been a Teacher Consultant for Assessment and Literacy with the Richmond School District for the past six years. As a consultant, Lisa facilitates professional learning with small groups and school staffs on topics such as the redesigned curriculum, Core Competencies, differentiation, inquiry, and assessment. She also works side by side with teachers co-planning, co-teaching and providing demonstration lessons to highlight quality, research-based instruction that supports all learners. Lisa is passionate about engagement, joyful learning, and success for all students.Hetxw'ms Gyetxw, also known as Brett D. Huson (he/him/his), is an award-winning storyteller and artist from the Gitxsan Nation in the Northwest Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Having grown up in this strong matrilineal society, he is passionate about his people's land and way of life. Brett’s vision to share the knowledge, stories, and worlds of the Gitxsan was the inspiration behind his award-winning Mothers of Xsan series. He is also a Research Associate at the Prairie Climate Centre, where he is developing new methods to bridge the gap between Indigenous knowledges and western sciences. With the support of his wife, Jeri, and their children, Warren and Ruby, Brett endeavours to continue sharing stories through writing, art, and photography.

• Introduction to Hands-On Science 5About Hands-On Science 5 Format of Hands-On Science 5 The Multi-Age Approach 6 Inquiry and Science 6 The Goals of Science Education in British Columbia 6 Hands-On Science Principles 7 Cultural Connections 8 Indigenous Perspectives and Knowledge 9 References 12 How to Use Hands-On Science in Your Classroom 13Multi-Age Teaching and Learning 13 Module Overview 13 Talking Circles 16 Multiple Intelligences Learning Centres 17 Icons 18 Makerspaces 19 References 20 Curricular Competencies: How to Infuse Scientific Inquiry Skills and Processes Into Lessons 21Observing 21 Questioning 21 Exploring 21 Classifying 22 Measuring 22 Communicating, Analyzing, and Interpreting 23 Predicting 25 Inferring 25 Inquiry Through Investigation and Experimentation 25 Inquiry Through Research 26 Addressing Students’ Literacy Needs 27 Online Considerations 27 References 28 The Hands-On Science Assessment Plan 29Student Self-Assessment 29 Formative Assessment 31 Summative Assessment 32 Indigenous Perspectives on Assessment 33 Connecting Assessment to Curricular Competencies 33 Module Assessment Summary 34 Important Note to Teachers 34 References 34 Assessment Reproducibles 35 How Do Living Things Survive in Their Environment? 59About This Module 60 Curriculum Learning Framework 65 Curricular Competencies Correlation Chart 67 Resources for Students 69 1 Initiating Event: What Do We Observe, Think, and Wonder About Living Things in Their Environment? 77 2 What Can We Learn About Living Things Through Storytelling? 83 3 What Do We Know About How Living Things Survive in Their Environment? 88 4 What Do We Know About Habitats, Communities, and Ecosystems? 93 5 What Are Some Special Features of Plants? 99 6 What Is a Fungus? 109 7 Why Do Organisms Live in Certain Habitats and Biomes? 114 8 What Are the Characteristics of Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers? 120 9 What Is a Food Chain? 125 10 What Is a Food Web? 130 11 How Do Plants Adapt to Survive in Their Environment? 134 12 How Do Animals Adapt to Survive in Their Environment? 140 13 What Is Biodiversity? 147 14 How Do Humans Sense and Respond to Their Environment? 155 15 How Do Humans Stay Healthy? 164 16 What Happens to Food After We Eat It? 173 17 Why Is Healthy Blood Red? 179 18 How Does Exercise Affect Your Heart and Lungs? 187 19 How Do Healthy Joints, Bones, and Muscles Help You Move? 195 20 Personal Inquiry Project: What More Do We Want to Know About How Living Things Survive in Their Environment? 205 Appendix: Image Banks 209About the Contributors 217

Jennifer E. Lawson, PhD, is the creator of the Hands-On books published by Portage & Main Press. As senior writer and editor for the series, she has contributed to more than 50 publications for teachers and students. Jennifer provides professional development workshops for educators locally, nationally, and virtually, and is a Workplace Wellness Advisor. Her most recent book is a collective effort called Teacher, Take Care: A Guide to Well-Being and Workplace Wellness for Educators. She is also one of the founders of Mission to Mexico, an organization that supports schools in some of the most impoverished communities in Puerto Vallarta. Throughout her extensive career in education, Jennifer has worked as a classroom teacher, resource and special education teacher, consultant, principal, university instructor, and school trustee. She lives with her family in Winnipeg, Manitoba.Rosalind Poon has been a science teacher and Teacher Consultant for Assessment and Literacy with the Richmond School District for the past 18 years. In her current role, she works with school teams to plan and implement various aspects of the curriculum by collaborating with teams in professional inquiry groups on topics such as descriptive feedback, inquiry, assessment, and differentiation. Her passions include her family, dragon boating, cooking with the Instant Pot and making sure that all students have access to great hands-on science experiences.Deidre Sagert specializes in early years education, and is currently working as the Early Years Support Teacher for the St. James-Assiniboia School Division. She brings 20 years of experience to her current role where she mentors early years teachers in incorporating play-based learning and inquiry into all subject areas. She is passionate about ensuring all students have access to a stimulating environment where they are engaged in hands-on experiences and authentic learning. She enjoys spending time with her family in nature for rejuvenation and inspiration.Melanie Nelson is from the In-SHUCK-ch and Stó:loˉ Nations, and has experience teaching kindergarten through grade 12, as well as adults in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. She has taught in mainstream, adapted, modified, and alternate settings, at the classroom, whole school, and district levels. Trained as an educator in science, Melanie approaches Western science through an Indigenous worldview and with Indigenous ways of knowing. Her Master of Arts thesis explored the experience of Indigenous parents who have a child identified as having special needs in school, and she is currently completing a Doctor of Philosophy in School Psychology at the University of British Columbia.Lisa Schwartz has been a Teacher Consultant for Assessment and Literacy with the Richmond School District for the past six years. As a consultant, Lisa facilitates professional learning with small groups and school staffs on topics such as the redesigned curriculum, Core Competencies, differentiation, inquiry, and assessment. She also works side by side with teachers co-planning, co-teaching and providing demonstration lessons to highlight quality, research-based instruction that supports all learners. Lisa is passionate about engagement, joyful learning, and success for all students.Hetxw'ms Gyetxw, also known as Brett D. Huson (he/him/his), is an award-winning storyteller and artist from the Gitxsan Nation in the Northwest Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Having grown up in this strong matrilineal society, he is passionate about his people's land and way of life. Brett’s vision to share the knowledge, stories, and worlds of the Gitxsan was the inspiration behind his award-winning Mothers of Xsan series. He is also a Research Associate at the Prairie Climate Centre, where he is developing new methods to bridge the gap between Indigenous knowledges and western sciences. With the support of his wife, Jeri, and their children, Warren and Ruby, Brett endeavours to continue sharing stories through writing, art, and photography.

• Introduction to Hands-On Science 5About Hands-On Science 5 Format of Hands-On Science 5 The Multi-Age Approach 6 Inquiry and Science 6 The Goals of Science Education in British Columbia 6 Hands-On Science Principles 7 Cultural Connections 8 Indigenous Perspectives and Knowledge 9 References 12 How to Use Hands-On Science in Your Classroom 13Multi-Age Teaching and Learning 13 Module Overview 13 Talking Circles 16 Multiple Intelligences Learning Centres 17 Icons 18 Makerspaces 19 References 20 Curricular Competencies: How to Infuse Scientific Inquiry Skills and Processes Into Lessons 21Observing 21 Questioning 21 Exploring 21 Classifying 22 Measuring 22 Communicating, Analyzing, and Interpreting 23 Predicting 25 Inferring 25 Inquiry Through Investigation and Experimentation 25 Inquiry Through Research 26 Addressing Students’ Literacy Needs 27 Online Considerations 27 References 28 The Hands-On Science Assessment Plan 29Student Self-Assessment 29 Formative Assessment 31 Summative Assessment 32 Indigenous Perspectives on Assessment 33 Connecting Assessment to Curricular Competencies 33 Module Assessment Summary 34 Important Note to Teachers 34 References 34 Assessment Reproducibles 35 How Do Living Things Survive in Their Environment? 59About This Module 60 Curriculum Learning Framework 65 Curricular Competencies Correlation Chart 67 Resources for Students 69 1 Initiating Event: What Do We Observe, Think, and Wonder About Living Things in Their Environment? 77 2 What Can We Learn About Living Things Through Storytelling? 83 3 What Do We Know About How Living Things Survive in Their Environment? 88 4 What Do We Know About Habitats, Communities, and Ecosystems? 93 5 What Are Some Special Features of Plants? 99 6 What Is a Fungus? 109 7 Why Do Organisms Live in Certain Habitats and Biomes? 114 8 What Are the Characteristics of Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers? 120 9 What Is a Food Chain? 125 10 What Is a Food Web? 130 11 How Do Plants Adapt to Survive in Their Environment? 134 12 How Do Animals Adapt to Survive in Their Environment? 140 13 What Is Biodiversity? 147 14 How Do Humans Sense and Respond to Their Environment? 155 15 How Do Humans Stay Healthy? 164 16 What Happens to Food After We Eat It? 173 17 Why Is Healthy Blood Red? 179 18 How Does Exercise Affect Your Heart and Lungs? 187 19 How Do Healthy Joints, Bones, and Muscles Help You Move? 195 20 Personal Inquiry Project: What More Do We Want to Know About How Living Things Survive in Their Environment? 205 Appendix: Image Banks 209About the Contributors 217