photo by Michelle Frehsee
Plant and Animal Form
In kindergarten, students learned what an organism needs to survive. Take a deeper dive in First Grade to examine how those needs are met, through an investigation of life cycles, inheritance of traits, as well as structure & function of both plants and animals.
- Plant Life Cycles
Through interactive games and outdoor explorations students learn about the life cycles of different plants and the inheritance and variation of traits. Come explore how plants differ not only from one another, but how seedling and parent plants are both the same and different.
Fall or Spring – Outdoors, Length: 1.5 hours
NGSS: Structure, Function and Information Processing LS1.B, LS3.A, LS3.B - Animal Life Cycles
Through interactive games and outdoor explorations, students learn about the life cycles of different animals and the inheritance and variation of traits. Young animals are similar but not exactly like their parents. Hands-on activities will help students experience the differences between adult and immature animals across a variety of animal families.
Any time of year – Outdoors, Length: 1.5 hours
NGSS: Structure, Function and Information Processing LS1.B, LS3.A, LS3.B
- Phenomenal Plants
Join us for a hike to explore the structures of various plant parts, and discover how they function. Depending on the season we will hike through garden, field and forest to investigate different plant parts and their roles in the plant’s growth and survival. Students will employ scientific skills as they discover the patterns among plant parts.
Fall or Spring – Outdoors / In classroom, Length: 1.5 hours
NGSS: Structure, Function and Information Processing LS1.A - Amazing Animals
In a game-based program students learn about the extraordinary structures of various animals. Together we will investigate how they use their body parts to perform myriad tasks, as well as how they capture and convey information required for their survival.
Any time of year – Outdoors, Length: 1.5 hours
NGSS: Structure, Function and Information Processing LS1.A, LS1.D
Birds of a Feather
Connecting to the First Grade EL units with a focus on birds, students explore structure and function while learning about local birds that can be found outside their schools.
- Bird Stations
Students explore bird structures and how they help them survive by comparing bird bodies through hands-on stations, taking a closer look at physical characteristics, and learning basic bird identification skills.
Any time of year – In classroom, Length: 1 hour
NGSS: Structure, Function and Information Processing LS1.A, LS1.D
EL: Birds Amazing Bodies - Fantastic Flying Machines
On a game-filled hike, students learn about the extraordinary structures of various local birds. With a focus on senses, we investigate how birds use their body parts to perform myriad tasks, as well as how they capture and convey information required for their survival.
Any time of year – Outdoors, Length: 1 hour
NGSS: Structure, Function and Information Processing LS1.A, LS1.D
EL: Birds Amazing Bodies - Birdwatching & Community Science
While on a birdwatching hike, students learn how to use binoculars, practice their bird identification skills by sight and sound, and contribute their observations to community science.
Any time of year – Outdoors, Length: 1 -2 hours
NGSS: Structure, Function and Information Processing LS1.A, LS1.D
EL: Caring about Birds