School Tours: Habitat Hunters

Habitat Hunters


September 5–November 11, 2011;

April 2–June 8, 2012

Grades K–5

Explore three unique habitats in Minnetrista’s nature area: prairie, woodland, and wetland.  By using scientific tools, playing games, and meeting live animals, your class will discover the importance of each of these habitats and how both plants and animals adapt to them.

 

What will my students do?

K–2:    

Explore the prairie with bug nets

Look for aquatic life with dip nets and viewers

Search high and low for wildlife in the woodland using binoculars

Meet a live animal from each habitat

Create a food chain by role playing plants and animals from all three habitats

Play the adaptation game

 

3–5:   

Explore the prairie with bug nets

Examine wetland specimens, then use dip nets to find aquatic life

Search high and low for wildlife in the woodland using binoculars

Meet a live animal from each habitat and identify their adaptations

Become part of the web of life

Play the adaptation game

 

What will my students learn?

Identify the three dominant habitats in Indiana

Understand that habitats are interconnected

Living organisms include plants AND animals- and that animals range from small (like crickets) to large (like deer)

All living organisms have various adaptations that help them survive in their respective habitat

Tools can help us to better study and understand the world around us

Exploration is a scientific process

 

State Standards

Kindergarten

Language Arts K.7.1, K.7.2, K.7.3

Science K.1.1, K.1.2, K.4.1, K.4.2

 

1st Grade

Language Arts 1.7.1, 1.7.2, 1.7.3, 1.7.4, 1.7.5

Science 1.1.2, 1.1.3, 1.1.4, 1.2.5, 1.4.2, 1.4.3, 1.4.4, 1.6.2

 

2nd Grade                              

Language Arts 2.7.1, 2.7.4, 2.7.14, 2.7.14

Science 2.4.1, 2.4.2, 2.4.3, 2.4.4, 2.6.1, 2.6.3

 

3rd Grade

Language Arts 3.7.3, 3.7.15

Science 3.2.7, 3.4.1, 3.4.2, 3.4.4, 3.4.6

 

4th Grade

Language Arts 4.7.1

Science 4.1.1, 4.1.5, 4.4.2, 4.4.3, 4.4.6

 

5th Grade

Language Arts 5.7.1

Science 5.4.4, 5.4.7