Urban Ecologist Activity Book
This book features five hands-on activities designed for 8-to
12-year-olds. Each activity includes one 30-to 45-minute project and
extensions. Activities can be used in any order. Also included are objectives
and learning outcomes,assessment questions,ideas for a presentation
or exhibit and topics for further investigation.
Table of Contents
Sound Sense /ACTIVITY ONE
Watch a video about ecologist Carmen Cid and sharpen your observations
of the natural world.
Learning outcomes: Youth develop an understanding of the work of a scientist,
learn to make systematic observations, and develop an understanding
of the abilities needed to do scientific inquiry.
Cool Tool /ACTIVITY TWO
Learn how to test whether or not you have a healthy environment.
Learning outcomes: Youth plan and conduct an investigation, learn to
estimate, measure and interpret data, and develop an understanding of
diversity and ecosystems.
Seedy Travelers /ACTIVITY THREE
Predict and test the traveling strategies of seeds.
Learning outcomes: Youth learn to collect, analyze, interpret and display
data and develop an
understanding that plants have different structures serving different
functions in growth, survival, and reproduction.
Walk on Waterbugs /ACTIVITY FOUR
Make a waterbug and explore the effects of water pollution.
Learning outcomes: Youth learn to conduct simple experiments to answer
questions and develop an understanding of form and function.
Drain Game /ACTIVITY FIVE
Build a watershed and learn about toxic runoff into lakes and streams.
Learning outcomes: Youth develop an understanding of evidence, models
and explanation, and of the effects of environmental changes.
Pulling It All Together
Create a story about a scientist who studies wetlands.
Learning outcomes: Youth draw on what they have learned in the activities
to construct their own understanding of what it means to be a scientist.
Here are some ideas you might like to use for projects or exhibits.
Learning outcomes: Youth develop an understanding of science and technology
in society and of resources and environments.