Ecology+Activity

= = Activity: Exploring the Schoolyard Study Area from LHS GEMS //Schoolyard Ecology// (pp. 7-19)

Lesson Duration:
Approximately 60 minutes

Lesson Summary:
This lesson from U.C. Berkeley combines mathematics and science skills and is aligned with national science standards. The students will use a map grid (created by the teacher or media specialist) and observe the plants, animals, and the environmental conditions within a designated area of the school grounds. The scientists (students) are grouped into observation teams of two or more and use a clipboard, map, and journal to record their observations. At the end of a lesson, the scientists share their observations and the teacher records the information on an enlarged map. (Note: The media specialist will need to adjust the lesson for each grade level's content standards.)

Second Grade Math Standards:
11.) Describe the route from one location to another by applying concepts of direction and distance. Examples: direction--left, right, north, south, east, west - nonstandard distance--twenty-five steps from the library - standard distance--ten feet from the walkway -Following multistep directions to locate objects -Using grids for determining movement between points

Second Grade Science Standards:
5.) Identify the relationship of structure to function in plants, including roots, stems, leaves, and flowers. 6.) Identify characteristics of animals, including behavior, size, and body covering

Third Grade Math Standards:
11.) Specify locations on a coordinate grid by using horizontal and vertical movements.

Third Grade Science Standards:
7.) Describe the life cycle of plants, including seed, seed germination, growth, and reproduction. • Describing the role of plants in a food chain • Identifying plant and animal cells • Describing how plants occupy space and use light, nutrients, water, and air • Classifying plants according to their features Examples: evergreen or deciduous, flowering or nonflowering • Identifying helpful and harmful effects of plants Examples: - helpful-provide food, control erosion; - harmful-cause allergic reactions, produce poisons • Identifying how bees pollinate flowers • Identifying photosynthesis as the method used by plants to produce food 8.) Identify how organisms are classified in the Animalia and Plantae kingdoms.

Preparation:
The teacher needs to select an area of the schoolyard and speak with any teacher's that may utilize the area about what the class will be doing. The teacher will also want to check ahead of time for any harmful organisms (e.g., wasps).

Materials:
For each student:
 * 4 wide-tipped felt markers, in black, blue, and two other colors
 * an overhead projector or document camera
 * several blank overhead transparencies
 * overhead transparency pens in several colors
 * 1 large (about 3 x 4) piece of white butcher or chart paper
 * an 8 1/2" by 11" piece of cardboard or manila folder
 * 2 small binder clips or large paper clips
 * pencil
 * an 8 1/2" by 11" student map of study site (made by teacher)
 * a journal or lined paper to become a part of a journal

Optional Technology:
Scientists can check out digital cameras (if available) to take pictures of the subjects being observed. The teacher can also opt to have the scientists create a website or a blog detailing their findings.

Introduction/Motivator:
Introduce the lesson to the students by reading (or playing the DVD) Doreen Cronin's //Diary of a Worm// or //Diary of a Spider//.

**Extension** Activities:
The teacher and/or media specialist can complete the other four GEMS activities which focus on spiders, ants, and animal communities. If reading //Diary of a Worm//, the teacher can have students create a compost pile. This activity would allow the teacher to address how plants obtain some their nutrients.

**Recommended Literature for Independent Reading:**

 * //Tell me why, tell me how.// (Series) by Melissa Stewart. DDC# 590-599**
 * //Rainbow of animals.// (Series) by Melissa Stewart. DDC# 590-599**
 * //Camouflaged creatures.// by Marie Racanelli. DDC# 591.47**
 * //How animals work.// DK Publishing. DDC# 591.4**
 * //Thea's tree//. by Allison Allison Jackson. Easy**
 * //Pick, pull, snap!// by Lola Schaefer. DDC# 582**
 * Roses garden. by Peter Reynolds. Easy**
 * //Flowers//. by Elaine Pascoe. DDC# 582.13**
 * //Flowers bloom!// by Mary Wade Dodson. DDC# 582.13**
 * //Nature's cycles: plants.// by Dana Meachan Rau. DDC# 580**