Using the Outdoors to Make Academic Standards Fun!

Homework Assignment

Jessie Ripley -Gompers Elem. -Grade 2

We begin the year with a study of insects. It would be neat to visit "Bella Butterfly" at Olbrich Gardens!

Previsit Activity:

Make a K-W-L chart with the class. Ask them to tell you what they know about insects and list those under the K heading. Also ask them to think of all the ways they can think of that insects depend on or need plants. After listing responses on chart paper, ask class what they would like to know about insects. List their questions under the W heading. After completing the unit, ask class what they have learned and list responses under the L heading.

Standards or Concepts to be Mastered:

-Plants and insects are interdependent, relying on each other in different ways. -Insects depend on plants to provide food, homes, shelter, hiding places. -Plants depend on insects for pollination.

Plan a field trip to Olbrich Gardens to learn about plant and animal (insects, in particular) interdependence.

Post Visit Activities:

-Gompers School has a small prairie area on the school grounds. Take the class to visit the prairie area of the school grounds. Take a clean white sheet, magnifying boxes, magnifying lenses, clipboards, observation worksheet.

1 .Take white sheet and spread it in an area of prairie plants. Shake plants and ask students to observe what things have fallen on to the white sheet. Discuss and enjoy their surprise at insects, leaves, eggs, etc. that may have fallen into the sheet.

2. Assign each student a partner to work with. Give each group of two a clipboard and an observation sheet. Also hand each group a magnifying box and hand lens. The directions are as follows.

-Find a section of prairie to sit in with your partner.

-You will have 10 minutes to sit and observe your little area of prairie. You may collect insects in your magnifying boxes.

-Record observations on worksheet under the headings of "Things We See" and "Things we Hear".

-When I call time, we will meet in a circle to share what you have collected and observed.

After the group has shared, ask the students the question, "How might the plants and insects you observed in Gompers Prairie depend on each other?"

Hopefully, they will be able to tell you that insects need plants for food, homes, shelter, hiding places etc. Then ask, "How might plants depend on insects?" Students should show that they have learned about the concept of pollination as a result of their visit to Olbrich.

Back in the classroom:

-Give each pair of students a large white sheet of drawing paper. Have them work together to draw a picture to show what they observed in Gompers Prairie. Pictures should include both plants and insects in the prairie.

Including the Language Arts:

At a later time, have students choose an insect that they have learned about in our study of insects. The students will write a poem following the pattern below. Poems will be typed and pictures drawn to go with them. Then they are bound together to make a class book entitled "Insect Poems."

                    flying, buzzing, biting         (verb, verb, verb)

Rubric: Criteria

Minimum Achievement:

Student does not follow directions and needs additional guidance to perform tasks. Student has difficulty communicating observations to others. Student unable to listen to observations of others. Student can tell very little about the ways plants and insects depend on each other.

Moderate Achievement:

Student follows directions well but needs extra encouragement and time to complete assigned tasks. Student can share at least 2 observations made during 10-minute work time. Student listens to others share their observations. Student is able to accurately tell about several ways plants and insects depend on each other.

Excellent Achievement:

Student accurately records and describes observations and is able to share at least 5 observations made during their 10-minute work time. Student listens attentively to the observations of others in class and contributes thoughtful ideas and opinions. Student understands the concepts involved in the activity and can accurately relate the interdependence of plants and insects.