Barbara Bush Elementary Nature Center

Water Study

skills: observing, predicting, measuring, graphing, drawing conclusions, inferencing

Throughout the year the students discover the importance of maintaining the purity of the Earth’s fresh water supply. The following are some of the activities.

The fifth graders work with the local subsidence district and participate in a unit called “Water Wise”. The students discover the amount of water used in their showers, sinks, and toilets and then install water saving devices. The importance of preserving our fresh water supply will be stressed when analyzing the various plants and animals that rely on a fresh water pond for life.

During the study of chemistry, the students learn about and test for the presence of acids and bases in common items. On a fairly regular basis (every two weeks, three weeks, or monthly) the students will test the pH level of the pond water.

Soil Study

kills: observing, predicting, measuring, graphing, drawing conclusions, inferencing

The chemical nature of the center is the fifth grade theme and will largely involve testing the pH levels of the center.

The students will test the acidity of the soil in various locations throughout the center. This information will help to determine if the soil is healthy and if the district’s landscaping services need to apply any necessary substances.

First, students will predict what lives in a six inch by six inch plot of dirt. In their area the students will dig up the ground and observe what lives in that dirt. The students will record their observations and compare with their predictions and other plot areas in the Nature Center.

Field Guide to the Nature Center

skills: observing, predicting, measuring, communicating, graphing, drawing conclusions, inferencing

The fifth graders will be responsible for creating a field guide of the plants and animals in the Nature Center. Numerous observation sessions will occur with the students recording their findings in their journals. This massive undertaking will require the assistance of every fifth grader in order to comply the data, research, and create the book.

For every animal that can be found in the center the following information will be included: size, weight, color, life span, food, behavior, occurrence (when is it visible in the center), lifestyle (does it live on it’s own or in groups), common and scientific name, and a color picture.

Every plant page will contain (if appropriate) the color(s), height, bloom time, leaf description, bark description, common and scientific name, and a color picture.

Nature Books

Just a Dream by Chris Van Allsburg - This wonderful story illustrates why a tree is a great present.

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss - By reading the book and watching the video the students will examine the environmental issues presented by the characters.

Math in the Nature Center

skills: observing, predicting, measuring

The following concepts are a part of the fifth grade math curriculum and the center can be used as an application lab.

Predict and then figure out the area and perimeter of the center.

Find examples of geometric shapes (cone, sphere, rhombus) in the center.

Quickly sketch a scene in the center and have another student draw either the reflection, rotation, or translation.

Quadrants

The first quadrant contains the waterfall and the majority of the pond, the living fence, and wildflower meadow. Pond, flower, tree, and dirt studies will take place in this area.

The second quadrant contains half of the smaller pond, stream, weather station, podium, amphitheater seating, and compost pile. Weather and compost studies will be the predominant studies in this area along with the flora and fauna study.

The third quadrant contains a small portion of the pond, the student donation area, bird houses and feeders, and a bird bath. Obviously, the main theme will be the study of birds and their behavior.

The fourth quadrant contains the outdoor laboratory tables, a bird bath, rock and brush pile, and part of the smaller pond. The study of animal behavior will be closely monitored in this region.