YoungEcologists

Young Ecologists

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Overview: On the road to becoming ecologists, students investigate our replica skull collection to explore how specific traits influence individual and population behaviors. Using critical thinking, they assess the biotic and abiotic factors of a wetland environment, determine an organism’s role in a watershed system, and if that ecosystem can support particular organisms. By the end of the program, your young ecologists will have a meaningful understanding of habitat, diversity, and biological interdependence.

http://www.virginia.edu/blandy/blandy_web/education/Pictures/20101105_YoungEco%20(2).jpg

Grade: 7

Virginia SOL covered with this program

Science:

LS.1, LS.6, LS.7, LS.8, LS.9, LS.10, LS.11, LS.13

Math: 7.1

Fee: $6 per student

Field investigations are more meaningful to students when they are integrated into their curriculum. This integrated curricular module embeds outdoor learning in the school classroom and can be used to: introduce ecological concepts, increase depth of knowledge by synthesizing a variety of components in a systems approach, and review and reflect on concepts.

Copy of ClusterDrawing

Before: Ecological Relationships	During: Field Investigations	After: Humans and the Environment
Before-visit activities increase student awareness of the process of science, understanding of ecological systems, and create literacy connections with historical conservation figures.	insert description of during A sample schedule is available in the during PDF	Back at school, students synthesize data and concepts learned /gathered in the field to explain phenomena in ecological systems concepts.

Citizen Science Opportunities related to this program

Garlic Mustard Survey

Saving Salamanders with Citizen Science

Literacy Connections