| First Grade |
| Identifying,
pulling, counting and Sorting Weeds - Uses weeding to practice math
skills of sorting, using tables, tallying, writing numbers. Month - Any |
| Apple Tree
- Uses the apple tree to discuss science topics of sources of food, apples
as a living resource, and seasonal changes of the apple tree. Month - Sept. |
| Spider
Web Hunt - Uses the nature trail to look for spider webs to explain
the characteristics of spiders that help them to live, and practice math
tallying skills while recording the types of webs found. Month - Sept. |
| Identifying
and Tallying Garden Organisms - Uses magnifiers and collection boxes
reinforce math and science skills to identify and tally organisms found
in the gardens and to recognize evidence of plants as food and shelter
sources for organisms. Month - Sept. Oct. |
| Seed
Dispersal and Collection - Uses seed collection to discuss science
topics of plants as food for animals and seasonal changes that affect organisms.
Month
- Oct. |
| Basic
Needs of Living Things - Uses planting seeds to reinforce science topic
of basic needs of living things. Month - Aug. Sept. Mar. Apr. |
|
Weighing and Packaging
Seeds -
Uses seeds to complete an
investigation to compare weights of the same volume.
Month - any, inside |
|
Planting Sunflowers to Celebrate
Earth Day - Uses
planting sunflowers to explain what Earth Day represents,
talk about ways to reduce waste,
and learn about the life cycle of sunflowers. |
|
Living Things Cause Changes - Uses
compost to understand the components of the compost habitat and how organisms
change leaves into compost. |
| Second Grade |
| Comparing
Weed Categories - Uses weeding to practice math and science skills
of collecting, organizing, and summarizing data in charts and comparing
the same kinds of plants. Month - Any |
| Organisms
in the Garden Habitat - Uses plants and organisms in the garden to
explain the concepts of habitat and adaptations. Uses magnifiers and collection
boxes to reinforce math and science skills to observe and collect data
in charts, classify animals, and show respect for living things. Month - Sep |
| Organisms
in the Ground Habitat - Uses organisms in the ground habitat to explain
the concepts of habitat and adaptations and that organisms can survive
only in certain environments that meet their needs. Uses magnifiers
and collection boxes to reinforce math and science skills to observe and
collect data in charts. Month - Sep |
| Seed
Dispersal and Collection - Uses seed collection discuss science topics
of the interdependence of plants and animals, seasonal changes of plants,
and review plant parts. Month - Oct |
| Seed
Parts and Germination - Uses dissection of pre-soaked lima bean seeds
to discuss science topics of plant parts and how plants grow. Month - Aug, Sep,
Mar, Apr, May, inside or outside |
| Flower
Parts and Pollination - Uses dissection of flower parts to discuss
science and math topics of plant parts and making observations to collect
data. Month - Aug, Sep, May, inside or outside |
| Plant Parts
- Uses planting seeds in fall term or harvesting to discuss science topics
of plant parts and their function, basic plant needs, and the interdependence
of plants and animals. Month - Aug, Sep, Oct, May |
|
Plant Parts and their
Functions - Uses weeds to identify plant parts and needs and to discuss why
each part is important to the plant. Month - April, May |
|
Investigating Weight and
Packaging Seeds - Uses seeds to conduct a scientific inquiry and understand the
math concepts of units of weight and the difference between volume and weight.
Month - any, inside |
|
Planting Sunflowers to Celebrate
Earth Day - Uses
planting sunflower seeds to discuss what Earth Day represents and
to identify plant parts and processes. |
| Third Grade |
| Weeding
and Graphing - Uses weeding to practice math and science skills of
collecting, organizing, and summarizing data in charts and bar graphs. Month - any |
| What
Flower Colors Attract the Most Organisms - Uses flower pressing activity
to reinforce the importance of design to conduct an experiment. Month - Sep |
|
Investigating Animal Adaptations - Uses magnifiers and collection boxes to reinforce
science skills of observing and identifying adaptations in animals. Month
- Sep, Apr, May |
| Connecting
Kids to the Community - Uses seed collecting and Granny's Seed Sharing
Project to reinforce the ideas of citizenship and volunteerism in a community.
Month - Oct |
| Soil
Formation - Uses soil samples to reinforce math measurement skills and
science topics of observing and identifying soil formation, composition,
and layering. Month - Nov |
| Mapping
Skills in the Garden - Uses a map template of a garden location
to reinforce social studies topics as students create a map using cardinal
directions and a legend. garden maps: courtyard
playground
hill
Month -any |
| Plants
Need Soil to Live - Uses planting seeds in fall term or spring term
to discuss science topics of soil properties and formation. Month - Aug, Sep,
Mar, Apr, May |
| Soil Texture
- Uses garden soil to reinforce science topics of soil composition and properties.
Month - Nov |
| Organic
Material in Soil - Uses compost to discuss the components of compost,
including the compost pile ecosystem, and the benefit of organic material
in soil. Month - Nov |
| Fossils
- Uses fossils to understand why fossils are
studied, where they are found, and how they are formed. |
|
Packaging Seeds to
Investigate Weight and Volume -
Uses seeds to
conduct an investigation that helps students
understand the difference between weight and volume.
Month - any, inside |
|
Planting Sunflowers to Celebrate
Earth Day -
uses planting sunflowers to discuss what
Earth Day represents
and the history of developing sunflower seeds for consumer products. |
|
Poetry in the Garden - Uses an item in the garden for students to write a
Haiku or Cinquain style poem. |
| Fourth Grade |
| Comparing
Weeds using Venn Diagrams - Uses weeding to practice math and science
skills of collecting, organizing, and summarizing data in charts and a
Venn diagram Month - any |
| Plant
Parts and Their Function - Uses planting seeds in fall term or harvesting
to discuss science topics of plant parts and their function. Month - Aug, Sept,
Oct, May |
| Flower
Parts and Pollination - Uses dissection of flower parts to discuss
science and math topics of plant parts and functions and making observations
to collect data. Month - Aug, Sept, April May Can also be part of indoor activities,
inside or outside |
| What
Happens to a Flower When It Is Pressed? - Uses pressing flowers for
students to design an experiment. Month - Sep |
| Plant
Life Cycle with Seed Dispersal and Seed Collection - Uses seed collection
to discuss science topics of different plant life cycles and interdependence
of plants and animals. Uses seed packaging for Granny's Seed Sharing
Project to reinforce volunteerism in a community. Month - Sep, Oct |
| Plant
Life Cycle with Fungus Experiment - Uses an experiment to grow
fungus to discuss the life cycle of the fungus plant and reinforce the
scientific method. Month - Aug, Sep, April, May, inside |
|
Plant and Animal Interdependence -
Uses insect/organism
observations to describe how plants and animals interact in the garden. Month - Sept, Oct,
Apr, May |
| Tree
Identification using a Dichotomous Key - Uses a dichotomous key to
identify trees by leaves to reinforce science topic of classifying plants
according to characteristics using a dichotomous key. Month - Aug, Sep,
Oct, Apr, May, inside or outside |
| Seed
Parts & Germination - Uses dissection of pre-soaked seeds
to discuss science topics of plant parts and how plants grow. Month - Aug, Sept, April May,
inside |
| Roots,
Stems, and Photosynthesis - Uses lima bean experiment and celery to
observe science topics of roots systems and photosynthesis. Month - Aug, Sept, April May
inside |
| Compost
- Decomposers - ecosystems Month - |
|
Packaging Seeds to Measure
Mass and Volume - Uses
seeds to conduct an investigation to understand the difference between mass and
volume. Month - any, inside |
|
Planting Sunflowers to Celebrate
Earth Day - Uses planting sunflowers to discuss what Earth Day
represents and plant parts and processes.
|
|
Poetry in the Garden - Uses an item in the garden for students to write a
Haiku or Cinquain style poem. |
| Kindergarten |
|
Planting Sunflowers to Celebrate
Earth Day - Uses
planting sunflower seeds to discuss what Earth Day represents,
talk about ways to reduce waste, and learn about the life cycle of
sunflowers. |
|
Animals Cause Changes - Uses
compost to explore how animals slowly change leaves into compost. |
|
Nature Trail
Tools
Nature
Trail Guidelines - Basic rules for using the nature trail.
Nature
Trail Checklist - A checklist to help coordinators with advance preparation
for a trail walk.
Nature
Trail Notes - A listing of items on the trail with background
information and numeric key to locate the item as labeled on the trail.
Nature
Trail Map - A map of labeled points of interest on the nature trail.
The numbers on the map correspond to the numbers on the Nature Trail Notes.
Planning a Walk with a
Theme
Spring on the Trail -
Ideas to relate observation and interaction to signs of spring on the trail.
Habitat and Adaptation -
Background information and interactive ideas to identify characteristics of the
forest habitat and adaptations of plant and animals that live there.
What Did Early Settlers Experience - Background information and discussion
points to lead your class of early settlers through the wilderness.
Forest Ecosystem,
Erosion, and Succession - Background information about processes that shape
a forest and looking for forest growth stages along the nature trail. |
Activities for First Grade
Tic Tac Toe
Nine blocks of items for young students to locate.
The worksheet lists a pond which you can modify to simply be a water feature
like a creek. The pictured nest can be for a bird or a squirrel.
Shape
Walk A variety of shapes for students to
carry or wear on yarn necklaces to match with items observed on the trail. |
Activities for Second Grade
Forest
Habitat A
worksheet of items found in the forest habitat and that can be circled
when observed.
Simple Food Chain
A worksheet for students to list a variety of food chains that can be inferred
from items observed and discussed on the nature trail. |
Activities for Third Grade
NICHO:
A game in a BINGO format to help students
identify different producers,
consumers and decomposers in our environment.
Photos
using NICHO worksheet
Decomposing
Log Study A worksheet for students to record
observations found on a decomposing log that lines the nature trail. |
Activities for Fourth Grade
| Life
in an Old Growth Tree
A worksheet for students to record observations of the micro habitat of an old
growth tree and its role in the forest ecosystem. |
|
More Worksheets
|
For use in the gardens or field environments
Seed Dispersal
A worksheet showing seeds dispersed by wind and gravity.
Seed Dispersal
A worksheet showing seeds dispersed by animals
Insect
Bingo A
worksheet in BINGO format that shows various insects and insect stages and
homes.
Field
Habitat A
worksheet of items found in the field habitat and that can be circled when
observed.
Wildlife track identification
Wildlife Tracks Classifications
A worksheet that shows tracks from various animals gait patterns.
Track
Identification Page one of a worksheet for
students to name the animal track shown.
Track
Identification
Page two of a worksheet for students to name the animal track shown.
Bird observation
Bird Behaviors
A worksheet for students to identify observed bird behaviors. |
|
|
Free
coffee for garden volunteers.
