Finding and Using Reliable Information for Research Projects: Third Grade by Espinoza, Jolene

A. Camels: Ships of the Desert

joleneespinoza — 2025-03-09 19:44:10 UTC

Hey students! Let's learn about camels, the ultimate desert survivors! Did you know that camels can drink up to 30 gallons of water in just 13 minutes? Their humps store fat (not water!) which they can use for energy when food is scarce. They also have special adaptations like long eyelashes and closable nostrils to protect them from sandstorms. 🐪

Virtual Desert Ecosystem Tour

joleneespinoza — 2025-03-09 19:44:16 UTC

Take an amazing virtual tour of the Sahara Desert and its inhabitants! This interactive website lets you explore different desert zones and learn about the animals that call each area home. Perfect for our upcoming project! Remember to complete the worksheet while exploring.

Interactive Learning Resources

joleneespinoza — 2025-03-09 19:45:34 UTC

Adventure through these resources and games to enhance your knowledge of desert life.

Click the "thumbs up" like button under the one you chose and be prepared to tell me why in the comments or written into the "Book Tea" box

A Desert Ecosystem Game

joleneespinoza — 2025-03-09 20:09:39 UTC

This game allows players to see how the different species of plants and animals in a desert depend on one another, and to experiment with how changing the amount of one resource affects the whole ecosystem.

Game for K-2 nd; or 3rd Grade can find a K-Buddy to help play

joleneespinoza — 2025-03-09 20:17:13 UTC

This is a simple, yet fun game that helps you learn about desert animals.

C. Ecosystem Video

joleneespinoza — 2025-03-09 21:25:06 UTC

An ecosystem is an outdoor environment. Learn more by watching this 9 minute video, and post a comment/picture of an example of an ecosystem.

C. The Scorpion

joleneespinoza — 2025-03-09 21:33:48 UTC

Are you afraid of scorpions?

B. Ecosystem v. Habitat

joleneespinoza — 2025-03-09 21:48:10 UTC

A. Amazing Ways to Live in the Desert

joleneespinoza — 2025-03-09 22:01:54 UTC

Learn about deserts with this 5 minute video!

joleneespinoza — 2025-03-09 22:08:29 UTC

Add a book that you have found in the library that gives you facts about the desert ecosystem, habitat OR animals or plants found in the desert.

Example of Selfie-Post

joleneespinoza — 2025-03-09 22:12:06 UTC

Use the computer or I-pad's camera feature to save and add a selfie of you holding a non-fiction desert book or magazine onto this padlet section like this lady shown here.

Some Examples and Fun Facts About Desert Animals

joleneespinoza — 2025-03-09 22:15:37 UTC

Not all desert ecosystems are the same, and the animals found in the desert vary from the geographical location. For example, though camels are one of the most well-known desert animals, they originated in North America, but are now mostly found in Asia, the Gobi Desert, the Middle East, and Australia. You probably won't see a camel walking around El Paso! These images and video provide reliable and unreliable information. Which of these is the most credible source of information and why? Comment under the image/video you chose as the most reliable or under here.

Desert Pondering:

joleneespinoza — 2025-03-09 22:21:31 UTC

By the end of this lesson, I will be able to identify reliable sources for my research on desert ecosystems, understand the characteristics of a desert habitat, and use trusted sources to gather accurate information about desert animals and plants.

Example:

joleneespinoza — 2025-03-09 22:26:10 UTC

"I was shocked to find out that the girls can turn into Geckos! I read it in Gecko Girl."

This is an example of an unreliable source. Though it is a book I found in this library, it does NOT provide true and factual information.

Find the Fake Explanation

joleneespinoza — 2025-03-09 23:01:25 UTC

By the end of reviewing the vocabulary word information, choose the one that seems like it may NOT be a good resource or does NOT have information applicable to learning about the desert. Add your name, and comment the letter of the video you chose that reflects it is NOT a credible resource and briefly explain why.

A. Amazing Ways to Live in the Desert

B. Ecosystem v. Habitat

C. Ecosystem Video

D. Desert Animals

joleneespinoza — 2025-03-09 23:05:32 UTC

What is a reliable source?

joleneespinoza — 2025-03-09 23:18:22 UTC

Reliable Source Example: A nonfiction book about the desert, such as one from the library or a trusted site like National Geographic Kids.
What makes a book about the desert a good source?
- It's written by experts (e.g., biologists, ecologists).
- It provides facts with evidence and images from trusted sources.

joleneespinoza — 2025-03-09 23:22:32 UTC

Unreliable Source Example: A random blog post from a website where anyone can post information about the desert, or a website with no author or credentials.

It might be someone's opinion.
The author might not be an expert in desert ecosystems.
It might have information that is not accurate.

B. The Chameleon

joleneespinoza — 2025-03-09 23:32:07 UTC

A chameleon's ability to move each eye independently allows them not only to look in two different directions at once, but also to see into both the past and future.

Post What You Know!

joleneespinoza — 2025-03-09 23:50:16 UTC

Post either a factual or unreliable picture of anything related to the desert and something interesting about it, then tell me why it is a reliable or an unreliable source of information.

joleneespinoza — 2025-03-10 00:20:42 UTC

Jolene M. Espinoza

Non reliable source

This is an image of a cartoon ostrich. It's also called lazy, which is an opinion.

How To Complete the Desert Padlet

joleneespinoza — 2025-03-10 03:37:05 UTC

Directions on how to fully use the Padlet and learn information literacy.