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Discuss differing animal needs and habitat. Each student chooses an animal that might live on the schoolyard. Students search for the needs of their specific animals (water, food, shelter). Draw and describe what they find. Wrap-up: is the schoolyard a good habitat for your animal? Where else would be a good home?
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Discuss the term community and the breadth of meaning surrounding the term. This document can provide examples and solidify ideas discussed in class for students.
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Discuss water. Explain worksheet. Outside students find things that need water, places where water collects on the schoolground, the states of water, etc. Wrap-up: share worksheet answers and discuss water importance, finite quantity and conservation.
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Send the students on different wildflower hunts around the school’s natural area. Wrap up: Discuss each item and where it was found. Was it difficult or easy to find the objects? Why?
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Discuss plant parts (twigs, buds, bud scars, bark, leaves, seeds, etc.) and species identification. Explain alternate and opposite branching. Students choose a plant and complete the worksheet by drawing, measuring and recording information about the plant. Use pictures and guide books to try to identify the plant. Wrap-up: what characteristics of plants can we use to identify them during winter?
