Search

This instructional packet is one of 14 school environmental education programs developed for use in the classroom and at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center (DEEC) of the Jackson Community College (Michigan). Provided in the packet are pre-trip activities, field trip activities, and post-trip activities which focus on water in the built and natural environments. Strategies for using these activities with fifth grade students are also provided. The pre-trip activities focus on the variety and significance of water resources, the water cycle, and animals at a pond. These areas are reinforced during indoor and outdoor activities conducted during a field trip at the DEEC. These activities (and lists of formal and non-formal field trip objectives) are provided in a separate field trip guide. The post-trip activities include studies of pollution, pollution problems, and pond pollution. A simulation of a river commission and an activity designed to allow students to express their feelings for ponds are included. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the topic, the activities can be used in science, social studies, mathematics, and language arts curricula. (JN)

This instructional packet is one of 14 school environmental education programs developed for use in the classroom and at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center (DEEC) of the Jackson Community College (Michigan). Provided in the packet are pre-trip activities, field trip activities, and post-trip activities which focus on the natural history of Michigan. Strategies for using these activities with fourth grade students are also provided. The pre-trip activities focus on Michigan's prehistory, changing populations (including endangered species), glaciers, and plants and animals in Michigan today. These areas are reinforced during indoor and outdoor activities conducted during a field trip at the DEEC. These activities (and lists of formal and non-formal field trip objectives) are provided in a separate field trip guide. The post-trip activities include a valuing exercise, exercises focusing on land use decisions, and exercises related to human ecology. Most of the activities (and corresponding student activity sheets) are highly interdisciplinary and will enhance mathematics, language arts, and social studies as well as science lessons. In addition, students are given opportunities to express their feelings and opinions and develop skills needed to communicate with others and solve problems. (JN)

This instructional packet is one of 14 school environmental education programs developed for use in the classroom and at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center (DEEC) of the Jackson Community College (Michigan). Provided in the packet are pre-trip activities, field trip activities, and post-trip activities which focus on the characteristics of spring birds. Strategies for using these activities with first grade students are also provided. The pre-trip activities include a role playing exercise, investigations of chicken eggs and bird adaptations, and methods to sharpen the sense of hearing. Activity sheets and a letter to parents explaining the purpose of the program are included. Activities at the DEEC involve watching birds, looking for bird nests/holes, and listening to bird songs. (These and other activities and lists of formal and non-formal field trip objectives are provided in a separate field trip guide.) The post-trip activities (with related activity sheets) include studying birds at school and at home, making birdfeeders, and making drawings of birds. Additional bird-related art activities are suggested. The activities provide opportunities for students to practice skills in classifying, comparing, cooperating, and communicating during science, language arts, and art lessons. (JN)

This instructional packet is one of 14 school environmental education programs developed for use in the classroom and at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center (DEEC) of the Jackson Community College (Michigan). Provided in the packet are pre-trip activities, field trip activities, and post-trip activities which focus on the characteristics and behavior of frogs and toads. Strategies for using these activities with second grade students are also provided. The pre-trip activities include differentiating between amphibians and other animals, identifying frogs and toads, investigating the frog's life cycle, and examining food chains. The indoor and outdoor field trip activities conducted at the DEEC are designed to reinforce the concepts examined in school. These activities (and lists of formal and non-formal field trip objectives) are provided in a separate field trip guide. The post-trip activities include raising tadpoles, investigating amphibian behavior, looking for amphibians near school and home, and completing art exercises. The activities (together with the related activity sheets) provide opportunities for students to practice such skills as sequencing, comparing, classifying, and working cooperatively during science, art, language arts, and social studies lessons. (JN)

This instructional packet is one of 14 school environmental education programs developed for use in the classroom and at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center (DEEC) of the Jackson Community College (Michigan). Provided in the packet are pre-trip activities, field trip activities, and post-trip activities which focus on plants and decomposition in the built and natural environments. Strategies for using these activities with third grade students are also provided. The pre-trip activities focus on the characteristics and parts of plants, the nature and use of a classification key, and food chains. These concepts are reinforced during indoor and outdoor activities conducted during a field trip at the DEEC. These activities (and lists of formal and non-formal field trip objectives) are provided in a separate field trip guide. The post-trip activities include information to determine which factors are necessary for plants to grow, investigating urban trees, examining wood and wood products, and examining various aspects of garbage. Many of the ideas presented are useful in creating an interdisciplinary unit on plants and ecology. In addition, students completing this survey of the plant kingdom gain awareness and knowledge about the environment and practice problem-solving skills they will use throughout their lives. (JN)

This instructional packet is one of 14 school environmental education programs developed for use in the classroom and at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center (DEEC) of the Jackson Community College (Michigan). Provided in the packet are pre-trip activities, field trip activities, and post-trip activities which focus on the importance of homes to animals and people. Strategies for using these activities with kindergarten children are also provided. The pre-trip activities examine differences between living and nonliving things, plant and animal home needs, and animal homes. Three activity sheets and a letter to parents explaining the purpose of the program are included. Field trip activities include finding animal homes at the DEEC and exploring the environment at each site. (These and other activities and lists of formal and non-formal field trip objectives are provided in a separate field trip guide.) The post-trip activities include studying animals in school, exploring the relationship between people and animals, and making animal homes from such objects as pebbles, broom sticks, and popsicle sticks. All activities provide opportunities for students to practice skills in classifying, comparing, and cooperating. Although the activities are based on science, they will also enhance other disciplines as well. (JN)

This instructional packet is one of 14 school environmental education programs developed for use in the classroom and at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center (DEEC) of the Jackson Community College (Michigan). Provided in the packet are pre-trip activities, field trip activities, and post-trip activities which focus on the characteristics of spring. Strategies for using these activities with preschool children are also provided. The pre-trip activities are used to introduce the concept of seasonal change and to sharpen students' senses of hearing, seeing, smelling, touching, tasting, and moving. An activity sheet and a letter to parents explaining the purpose of the program are included. The field trip involves both indoor and outdoor activities during which children explore spring phenomena. (These activities and lists of formal and non-formal field trip objectives are provided in a separate field trip guide.) Post-trip activities are designed to extend students' exploration of spring into the home and school environments. (JN)

This instructional packet is one of 14 school environmental education programs developed for use in the classroom and at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center (DEEC) of the Jackson Community College (Michigan). Provided in the packet are pre-trip activities, field trip activities, and post-trip activities which focus on various geological concepts. Strategies for using these activities with fifth grade students are also provided. The pre-trip activities focus on: (1) igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks; (2) the rock cycle; and (3) weathering and erosion. These and other geological concepts are then reinforced during the indoor and outdoor activities conducted at the DEEC. Instructions and objectives for these activities are provided in a separate field trip guide. The post-trip activities include exploring geology at the school site and examining the effects of Mount St. Helens, and looking for geology in the news. (JN)

This instructional packet is one of 14 school environmental education programs developed for use in the classroom and at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center (DEEC) of the Jackson Community College (Michigan). Provided in the packet are pre-trip activities, field trip activities, and post-trip activities which focus on the characteristics of seeds. Strategies for using these activities with second grade students are also provided. The pre-trip activities focus on the nature of seeds, student's dependence on seeds and plants, the requirements for seed growth, and methods of seed dispersal. Five activity sheets and a letter to parents explaining the purpose of the program are included. The post-trip activities provide students with opportunities to investigate seed germination and plant growth. A list of formal and non-formal objectives for both indoor and outdoor field trip activities at the DEEC are presented in a separate field trip guide. Most of the activities are interdisciplinary and can enhance student skills in mathematics, reading, and spelling as well as science. In addition, the activities are designed to sharpen such skills as observing, classifying, measuring, and interpreting. (JN)

This instructional packet is one of 14 school environmental education programs developed for use in the classroom and at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center (DEEC) of the Jackson Community College (Michigan). Provided in the packet are pre-trip activities, field trip activities, and post-trip activities which focus on energy uses, energy sources, and issues associated with energy. Strategies for using these activities with fourth grade students are also provided. During the pre-trip activities, students identify the variety of ways they can use energy and the sources of that energy. On the field trip, they learn how plants and animals use energy and complete some wind, water, and solar experiments. The post-trip activities extend this information by examining the advantages and disadvantages of various energy sources. In addition, students complete a valuing exercise and conduct an energy conservation project. A list of formal and non-formal objectives for the indoor and outdoor field trip activities at the DEEC are presented in a separate field trip guide. All activities are interdisciplinary (science, mathematics, language arts, social studies, and art) and foster the development of such skills as classification, problem-solving, interdependence, and global awareness. (JN)

This instructional packet is one of 14 school environmental education programs developed for use in the classroom and at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center (DEEC) of the Jackson Community College (Michigan). Provided in the packet are pre-trip activities, field trip activities, and post-trip activities which focus on animal populations and their habitats. Strategies for using these activities with third grade students are also provided. The pre-trip activities introduce three major topics: (1) habitats and communities; (2) Michigan communities; and (3) food chains and webs. Six activity sheets and a letter to parents explaining the purpose of the program are included. The post-trip activities are designed to help students identify and think about their values and to lead them to develop responsible attitudes toward the environment. Topics explored in these activities include wildlife management, endangered species, and the question of hunting. A list of formal and non-formal objectives for both indoor and outdoor field trip activities at the DEEC are presented in a separate field trip guide. Most of the activities are interdisciplinary and can enhance student skills in mathematics, reading, and spelling as well as in science. (JN)

This instructional packet is one of 14 school environmental education programs developed for use in the classroom and at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center (DEEC) of the Jackson Community College (Michigan). Provided in the packet are pre-trip activities, field trip activities, and post-trip activities which focus on the characteristics and behavior of insects. Strategies for using these activities with first grade students are also provided. The four pre-trip activities focus on insect anatomy, insect life cycles, and the roles insects play. Four activity sheets and a letter to parents explaining the purpose of the program are included. The eight post-trip activities provide students with such experiences as making an insect net, using a classification key, and making insect "motels." Additional activities are also suggested. A list of formal and non-formal objectives and instructions for both indoor and outdoor field trip activities at the DEEC are provided in a separate field trip guide. (JN)

This instructional packet is one of 14 school environmental education programs developed for use in the classroom and at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center (DEEC) of the Jackson Community College (Michigan). Provided in the packet are pre-trip activities, field trip activities, and post-trip activities which focus on preparations for winter in built and natural environments. Strategies for using these activities with kindergarten children are also provided. The pre-trip activities focus on differences between living and non-living things and on how plants, animals, and people prepare for winter. Two activity sheets and a letter to parents explaining the purpose of the program are included. The post-trip activities include exploring the school grounds for signs of winter preparation, creating art objects from natural objects, and making bird feeders. A list of formal and non-formal objectives and instructions for indoor and outdoor field trip activities at the DEEC are provided in a separate field trip guide. (JN)

This instructional packet is one of 14 school environmental education programs developed for use in the classroom and at the Dahlem Environmental Education Center (DEEC) of the Jackson Community College (Michigan). Provided in the packet are pre-trip activities, field trip activities, and post-trip activities which focus on the characteristics of the fall season. Strategies for using these activities with preschool children are also provided. The pre-trip activities focus on exploring with the senses (touching, smelling/tasting, seeing, and hearing) and exploring colors, sizes, shapes, and the seasons. Four activity sheets and a letter to parents explaining the purpose of the program are included. The post-trip activities provide children with experiences related to seriation, counting, matching, and thinking about future seasons. A list of formal and non-formal objectives and instructions for both indoor and outdoor field trip activities at the DEEC are provided in a separate field trip guide. (JN)