Life Cycles in the Nature Center
skills: observing, predicting, recording data, measuring, graphing
This is the theme for your grade level which can incorporate numerous ideas.
Observe the life cycle of plant material in the compost pile as the materials are turned into dirt. A smaller version of this can be done in the classroom using two liter plastic bottles. Cut off the top four to five inches and place this section like a funnel inside the base of the bottle. Place a small amount of dirt in the bottom and then place plant material on top. Every few weeks add a small amount of water and turn the material over. Make sure the bottle receives sunlight.
Have the class select a specific plant to follow it’s life cycle in a school year. Predict what will occur and record observations. Make measurements as needed.
Find evidence of animals going through various stages of their life cycle. Try to find animals going through the larva, pupa, and adult stages. Bees, ants, frogs, and butterflies will probably be the easiest animals to view their life cycles.
Groups of students will act out the life cycles of animals found in the Nature Center. The students will randomly select an animal and create a short presentation of “The Life and Times of _______________ (animal selected) in the Nature Center.
Observe the cycles of the Nature Center as the seasons change. Have the class divided into groups that will be in charge of observing and collecting data from their section. Using a map of the center, divide it into four sections and assign students to each section. Every month the groups will make detailed observations about their region. Student illustrations and detailed observations will be shared with the class. The class will compare their month-to-month observations This data will show a timeline of the cycles of the center throughout the school year. It would be nice if this chronological data could be displayed in the classroom.
Food Webs in the Nature Center
skills: observation, classifying, recording data
Compile a list of the animals in the center and try and determine the various food webs that are occurring in the center. Draw pictures to illustrate.
Bugs
skills: observation, predicting recording data
This activity is first started with ants because they are so readily available. Always have the students predict what they think will occur. After numerous predicting opportunities the students should easily be able to provide support (reasoning) for their predictions.
Sprinkle a few bread crumbs near some ants and observe. Describe their behavior. See if the ants react the same to different types of food like apple pieces, sugar, or peanut butter. Determine which type of food the Nature Center ants like the best.
Once the ants are moving to collect the food put an obstacle (stick, pile of dirt or leaves) in between them and the food. Observe.
What other insects are in the center and do they behave the same? Create a test to compare ant behavior to __________ (insect selected) behavior.
Scavenger Hunt
skills: observation, classification, recording data
This activity can be used at the beginning of the year to acquaint the students with the center and to improve on their observation skills. This can be done in one session or broken up into many visits. Also, students can work individually or in groups Students might want to draw a map to record where these items are found or they can list their answers.
Record the following data collected.
Find three places where you can find shade.
Find five different locations where you can sit comfortably.
Find the heaviest stone, plant, tree, or flower.
Find the lightest stone, plant, tree, or flower.
Find the thickest and narrowest tree trunk.
Find the oldest and youngest tree.
Find four places that would be safe shelter for four different animals.
Find the largest and smallest leaf.
Find the widest and narrowest leaf.
Find evidence of five animals.
Bees
skills: observing
In your study of bees use the Honey Bee Fact paper included in this packet.
Observe the flight patterns of bees.
Observe the life cycle of bees.
The following are interesting bee trivia questions courtesy of
www.honey.com.
How many flowers must honey bees tap to make one pound of honey? 2 million
How far does a hive of bees fly to bring you one pound of honey? over 55,000 miles
How much honey does the average worker honey bee make in her lifetime? 1/12 teaspoon
How fast does a honey bee fly? 15 m.p.h.
How much honey would it take to fuel a bee’s flight around the world? 1 ounce
Why were honey bees at one time called “white man’s flies”? North American natives (Indians) called honey bees this because they were brought to N. America by European colonists.
How long have honey bees been producing honey from flowering plants? 10 - 20 million years
How many sides does each honeycomb cell have? 6
What is the U.S. per capita consumption of honey? 1.1 pound per year
What state is known as the beehive state? Utah
How many wings does a honey bee have? 4
How many beekeepers are there in the U.S.? estimated 211,000
How many honey producing colonies of bees are in the U.S.? 3 million
How many flowers does a honey bee visit during one collection trip? 50 - 100
How do honey bees “communicate” with one another? “dancing” - Honey bees do a dance which alerts other bees where nectar and pollen is located.
What does “super” man to a beekeeper? It is the hive box where the honey is stored.
The Magic School Bus Inside A Beehive by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen has a lot of interesting bee facts.
I have a video about Africanized bees. Please feel free to borrow.
Nature Center Books
skills: observing
Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell - The song has been illustrated to show the life cycle of a butterfly.
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert - This book beautifully looks at the life cycle of a tree. |
