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How can you protect a farm from the next Dust Bowl?
Watery Planet Unit | Performance Task
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How can you protect a farm from the next Dust Bowl?

Watery Planet Unit | Performance Task
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# Unit Review: Anchor Phenomenon
  • How do land, air, water, and living things interact with one another as a system?
  • How did changes in their interactions cause the Dust Bowl?
# Unit Review: Key Concepts
  • Land, air, water, and living things interact as a system.
  • All living things need water to survive.
  • There is much less fresh water on earth than salt water.
  • Communities settle near aquifers to access underground water.
  • Plants with long, dense roots survive best in dry areas.
  • Water cycles from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back again.
  • Warmer than average temperatures over the ocean can lead to heavy rains.
  • Cooler than average temperatures over the ocean can lead to dry weather.
# Unit Review: Dust Bowl Causes Model

If you haven't completed your final Dust Bowl Causes Model, now is the time to do so.

Your teacher will review how changes in the interactions between the land, air, water, and living things caused the Dust Bowl.

In today's activity, you will use your Causes of the Dust Bowl model to protect your farm in the Midwest from the next Dust Bowl.

We'll walk you through it, step by step.

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Featured Reviews

“Kids imagining how to pool their resources to survive a drought!”
· Shaanti · Teacher
“This was a great way to culminate the unit. I loved how students had to incorporate opinion writing, with a claim and supporting evidence. It was an excellent cross-curricular activity.”
· Tracie · Teacher
“I loved how this lesson combined earth science standards and the engineering design process. It was very engaging and relevant.”
· Tracie · Teacher
“I LOVED this performance task. It got my kids thinking and I felt was good practice for SBAC”
· Haylee · Teacher
“Reading the students' connections. It was great to see that they really understand how systems interact.”
· Sandra · Teacher
“I loved that this mystery includes the "Claim & Evidence" portion. That is such a great link to NGSS!!”
· Jessica · Teacher
“Students loved learning about the Dust Bowl and really mastered the material.”
· Denise · Teacher

Grade 5

Water Cycle & Earth's Systems

Interaction of Earth's Spheres & Argumentation

5-ESS2-1, 5-ESS3-1

Activity Prep

Print Prep
In the Performance Task, students inherit a farm in the Midwest. They use their Dust Bowl model to evaluate four Drought Protection kits and select which one they think is the best choice. Students write an argument to defend their kit selection, using evidence from the unit.
Preview activity
B&W Drought Protection Posters worksheet 1 copy
Color Drought Protection Posters worksheet 1 copy
Drought Protection Kits Answer Key teacher-only resource Print 1 copy
Drought Protection Kits Argument worksheet 30 copies
Drought Protection Kits Argument Rubric teacher-only resource 30 copies
My Kansas Farm worksheet 30 copies
My Kansas Farm Answer Key teacher-only resource Print 1 copy
Prep Instructions

In this performance task, students inherit a farm in the Midwest that they must protect from an extreme drought - they don't want to end up in another Dust Bowl. They are offered a choice of four Drought Protection kits and evaluate the pros and cons of each. Next, students write an argument, using evidence from the unit, in support of the Drought Protection kit they selected.

Step 1: Plan ahead

Choose 4 separate spots in your classroom to hang the Drought Protection Kits (B&W or Color ) posters. We recommend using the 4 corners!

Students will need their completed Causes of the Dust Bowl Model that they have been adding to after each Mystery.

Step 2: Print out worksheets

Each student will need:

Answer Keys for reference: * My Kansas Farm Answer Key * Drought Protection Kits Answer Key

Unit Review

20 mins

Hands-On Activity

120 mins

Grade 5

Water Cycle & Earth's Systems

Interaction of Earth's Spheres & Argumentation

5-ESS2-1, 5-ESS3-1

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Assessments

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Earth Performance Task: How can you protect a farm from the next Dust Bowl?

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