Schoolyard Ecology

GEMSGEMS

This activity incorporates a combination of science and math skills as students compile information and

construct concepts about the environment.

Activity 1Exploring the

Schoolyard Area

What kind of living things have you already seen in this area?

Name parts of the schoolyard that get the warmest and the areas that get the

coolest

Warmest Coolest

What else besides warmth and coldness might be

important to living things?

Environmental Factors

Environmental FactorsSunlightMoistureCoverAir movementTemperatureSoundsHuman activityLeaf litter

Sunny/shadyWet/dryBushy areas/open spacesWindy/calmHot/coldNoisy/quietMost people use/east

people useMost dead leaves/least

dead leaves

Environmental Factors

Most/Least

Why do scientist study these factors?

Environmental Factors(Scientist try to find out how these factors

affect living things)

For shelterHiding placesFood

What are some reasons animals might need cover?

The Challenge!

Search for and study animals and plantsObserve (carefully notice) certain things about

the environmentUse your senses of sight, smell, hearing, and

touchEspecially study three factors:

Sunlight, moisture, and cover

Today you will be scientistsYour jobs:

Study and record a specific environmental factor (sunlight, moisture or cover)

For example, if you are studying sunlight, you must find three of the sunniest places in the study area and three of the shadiest and mark them on your map (“sunny” or “shady”).

Walk quietly Stay with your partnerCarry clipboard with maps

Activity Rules

Example of how to mark 3 sunny and 3 shady places on your maps.

Share interesting discoveries you made about temperature, air movement, sounds, and other factors

Post Observation Discussion and Questions

Record some discoveries about sunlight, moisture, and cover on a large map

How do you think the time of day might affect some of the marks?

What about the time of year?

If we go back to the study area tomorrow, where do you think we’ll find the most insects? The least? Why?

Post Observation Discussion and Questions

Ecologist are scientist who get to study the environment and living things in it. In upcoming days, you will be acting as schoolyard ecologists

Youtube video of Ecologist http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ta34lJ_G54A&feature=related Magic school bus Ants in pants http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ARcFpslC4M&feature=relmfu Magic School Bus Spins a Web Insect song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYawa4piO4k Bug Song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFiknlPfSgU If I were a bug song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPyEdqg7GlQ&feature=related Creepy crawly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9Ej5vT3tcg&feature=related Head, Thorax, & Abdomen" the insect song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW4S4ZnV020

Ecologist