Nature Net’s Pre- and Post-Field Trip Materials
Subject: Natural History
Level: Middle School
Introduction
What is natural history? Natural history is a broad term, involving the interest in and study of various aspects of the natural sciences (botany, zoology, geology), historical geography (history, geography), anthropology (human development and history within an ecological framework), and conservation. The study of natural history ranges from scientific studies of plant and animal communities; natural processes affecting the environment and life on earth and human culture and interaction with the environment. Other studies deal with the natural environment on a more artistic level, involving mankind's views and comments on the surrounding world.
Vocabulary
Biology: The science of life, in all its manifestations and the science of the origin, structure, reproduction, growth, and development of living organisms.
Botany: Botany is the study of plants and plant communities; one of the two main divisions of biology.
Zoology: The study of the animal kingdom, with respect to the behavior of individual animals, species, or both; one of the main divisions of biology.
Geography: The science that describes the surface of the earth, and its associated physical and biological characteristics.
History: The branch of knowledge concerned with past events, especially those involved in human affairs
Ecology: The scientific study of the relations of living things to one another, and to their environment.
Conservation: The use of natural resources in a way that ensures their continued available for future generations.
Culture: Culture can be defined as the social adaptations developed by humans to deal with the physical environment. Culture is transmitted as learned behavior between individuals and groups within a human community.
Concepts
-Natural history is a broad topic including many facets of scientific inquiry, as well as human sociocultural comment on scientific inquiry and the natural environment. The study of natural history also serves to foster an appreciation of the natural world.
-Many early natural history writers simply observed things in the environment around them, and commented on the relationships they observed. Often, these early observations led to later experimentation and theoretical critique.
-In recent years, many natural history essays have been concerned with conservation of the natural environment. Industrial and urban development, in conjunction with over-population, has dramatically affected our natural resources.
Suggested Post-Visit Activities
After your visit to some of the Nature Net sites, you can explore natural history further by reading natural history essays from the library, and discuss them in class.
Suggested Readings
For Teachers:
Sharing Nature with Children. Cornell, Joseph. Sharing Nature Series, Volume One. Dawn Publications, Nevada City, California. 1998.
A Sand County Almanac. Leopold, Aldo. Ballantine Books, New York. 1966.
For Students:
A Sand County Almanac. Leopold, Aldo. Ballantine Books, New York. 1966.