Discovering our Environment
Activity Description/Rationale
This activity is a warm-up to the goals of the rest of the course. Students describe their community, how they use the open spaces, what they like and what they’d change. By listening to classmates’ they will perhaps learn that they haven’t discovered all the parts of their community yet.
The true goal is to recognize that humans share space with other living things. The environment that we are familiar with provides resources to plants and animals as well. We will be learning about the variety of marine ecosystems in our area.
Estimated Time of Activity:
One 90 min. period
Goals: Process Skills, Content Knowledge, Attitudes: Students will…
- Practice writing
- Talk about their interests
- Learn more about their community
- Understand more about their ecological role in this area
Materials
- Large map encompassing the area where most of the students reside, or the neighborhood surrounding the school.
- Pins, preferably with colored heads.
Pre-activity
Welcome students to the course. Explain that this course will be about investigating the plants and animals that live in this area, and environmental factors that influence them. Ask, “What is the most important animal in this area?” Answers will vary. Remind them that they too are important animals in the environment.
Activity Instructions:
- Brainstorm: What are important things that an animal needs to live in an area? What might an animal like to have in its habitat? Do humans need similar or different things?
- Discuss: What would be a perfect place for you to live? Nudge them to remember play, work, health, etc…
- Show map. Start by showing where school is.
- Allow students to put a pin in the map a) where they live and b) their favorite place to go.
- When complete, look for patterns.
- Call on students to describe the pin pointing out their favorite place.
Assignments:
In preparation for assignments 2, 3, & 4, list the common and scientific names of three plants AND three animals that live in each of the following ecosystems: sandy beach, rocky shore, salt marsh.
Assessment:
Students are successful if they are engaged in the topic.
Instructor’s Notes:
Allow plenty of time for two things:
- describing how the activity pertains to the course. Review 'rationale' at top of page.
- making sure students understand the assignment. It imperative that they successfully complete this in order for the next few classes to progress smoothly.