CECsci.196


TITLE:    School Yard Park/Ecosystem

AUTHOR:   Linda Smith, Shedeck Elementary School;
          Yukon, OK

GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT:  Used at 5th grade Science level.
(Can be adapted to any level), measurement can apply to
math.

OVERVIEW:  I am extremely fortunate to teach in a
school directly across from a city park complete with a
spring fed pond.  We have used this setting to expand
the Life Science Unit of our 5th grade Addison-Wesley
Series, the Small Friends Community Unit and Ecosystems
Unit from Gr. 5, HOES.  You can also use your own
school yard for variation.

PURPOSE:  To acquaint students with a better
appreciation for nature.

OBJECTIVE(s):
1.  To be able to classify animals in their
    different families
2.  To be able to classify plants according to their
    different families
3.  To learn the complex interactions that take
    place in nature
4.  To observe changes that occur in nature

RESOURCES/MATERIALS:
Insect nets (made from pantyhose and clothes
    hangers)
Egg cartons for collecting (items)
Hand Lens
Collection jars
Plant and Animal Field Guides

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:  These units are started at
the beginning of the school year.

1.   Begin unit with a mapping session where students
     plot the park/school yard placing in all necessary
     details.
2.   Next conduct a classifying session.  This can be
     done by doing bark and leaf rubbings.  (Stress
     importance of not disturbing/destroying nature).
3.   We then personalize the activity by assigning each
     student/study group their own "plot of land" (size
     to be determined by teacher)
4.   Because this unit is taught at the beginning of
     school, we continue our observations throughout
     the year (making a "visit" every two weeks) noting
     any changes such as plant growth, different animal
     sightings, temperature, moisture etc.

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:  Culminating activity is the
completion of each student/study group's "diary"
notebook.