Earth Exploration Lab
April 2–June 8
CreepyGrades 3–8
4-hour experience, $6 per student (lunch time included)
Earth Science Lab, a new educational experience at Minnetrista, combines many elements of environmental science with fun and hands-on activities for your students. You’ll spend the day learning about the complexities of the natural world while digging into geology, becoming botanists, exploring energy, and more!
What will my students do?
3–5
Examine the pH and aquatic life of our pond to determine its health
Meet live animals and determine what their needs are in the natural world
Make kites out of recycled materials
Mine for chocolate chips in our geology game
Test alternative energy models
Explore eco-friendly garden options on the grounds of Minnetrista, including our green roof and our work along the bank of White River
6–8
Examine chemical and mineral properties of our pond to determine its health
Venture into our nature area, a reclaimed rock quarry
Make mineral toothpaste
Test alternative energy models
Play games to see how personal decisions can impact the environment
Explore eco-friendly garden options on the grounds of Minnetrista, including our green roof and rain gardens
What will my students learn?
Decipher the role clean water has in our ecosystems and our homes
Understand that habitats, and their inhabitants (both plant and animal), are interconnected and serve a vital role in a healthy ecosystem
Understand how we can each make personal decisions that impact the environment, ourselves and others in our community
Using and examining models can help us understand how the “real things” work
Examine the role rocks and minerals play in our daily lives
Understand the principle of and importance surrounding reclamation
State Standards
3rd grade
Language Arts 3.1.2, 3.7.1, 3.7.2, 3.7.3, 3.7.12 3.7.15, 3.7.16
Mathematics 3.2.1
Science 3.1.2, 3.1.2, 3.1.4, 3.1.5, 3.1.6, 3.1.8, 3.2.1, 3.2.4, 3.3.1,
3.3.5, 3.3.6, 3.3.7, 3.3.8, 3.4.1, 3.4.4, 3.5.1, 3.5.5, 3.6.3
Social Studies 3.3.6, 3.3.7, 3.3.10, 3.3.11
4th Grade
Language Arts 4.1.1, 4.7.1, 4.7.2, 4.7.4, 4.7.6, 4.7.7, 4.7.15
Mathematics 4.1.1
Science 4.1.5, 4.1.7, 4.1.8, 4.2.4, 4.2.6, 4.2.7, 4.3.2, 4.3.11,
4.3.14, 4.4.2, 4.4.3, 4.4.6, 4.4.7, 4.4.9,
4.5.5, 4.6.2, 4.6.4
Social Studies 4.3.7, 4.2.4, 4.4.9
5th Grade
Language Arts 5.7.1, 5.7.4
Science 5.1.1, 5.1.2, 5.1.5, 5.1.7, 5.2.8, 5.1.4, 5.1.3, 5.1.4, 5.1.7
5.3.11, 5.4.4, 5.4.5, 5.4.7
Social Studies 5.2.10, 5.3.6, 5.4.9
6th Grade
Language Arts 6.7.3, 6.7.15
Science 6.1.5, 6.4.1, 6.4.3, 6.4.8, 6.4.96.4.10, 6.7.2
Social Studies 6.3.14, 6.3.15, 6.7.3, 6.7.15
7th Grade
Science 7.2.3, 7.1.4, 7.1.8, 7.4.6, 7.4.7
8th Grade
Science 8.1.4, 8.1.7, 8.1.8, 8.2.7, 8.3.15, 8.4.5, 8.4.6, 8.4.8, 8.7.7
