Schoolyard Studies: Teacher's Guide and Student Activity Sheet for Learning Experience 8

TEACHER’S MANUAL

Materials:

For each pair of students:

2 Student Activity Sheets for Learning Experience 8

Big mac container

Hand trowel

Pencils*

Crayons*

Metric rulers*

For the class:

Scotch tape*

*provided by teacher or student

Preparation:

Demonstration of how the trowels are used may be necessary. An area of the room will need to be designated for terrarium storage. Once the surface has been removed, moving to Learning Experience 11 that discusses reseeding the area maybe appropriate.

Basic Skills Development:

Measuring

Comparing

Classifying

Describing

Discussing

Evaluation Strategy:

Student will classify things found under the Earth’s surface and compare the plot at the surface vs. underground and how they may effect one another.

Vocabulary:

surface

underground

compare

classify

Objective: Students will remove the top layer of their study plot and classify and relate the importance of what’s below the surface to what’s above the surface and vise versa.

What can be observed under the ground’s surface in your study plot?

Direct each pair of students to carefully measure a small area of the study plot. It should be 15 cm. square.

Direct the students to carefully remove the top layer of grass or weeds in the 15 cm. square area and 3-4 cm. of soil depth. Students are to place the top layer removed in a plastic “Big Mac” container, seal with tape, and set aside for later observation. Have students draw what they observed underneath the surface. Students are to list five things they observe after the top layer is removed. Students are to then classify the objects as living, non-living, plants, or animals. Have students complete the Student Activity Sheet for Learning Experience 8.

Discussion Questions:

What living things were found above the earth’s surface? Non-living things?

What living things were found below the earth’s surface? Non-living?

What did you observe underground?

How was it different than what you observed on the surface? How was it the same?

What do you think you would see if you dug even deeper? Why do you think you would see those things?

STUDENT ACTIVITY SHEET for Learning Experience 8

Name______________________

What’s Underneath

1. Carefully measure a small area of your study plot, measuring 15 cm x 15 cm.

2. Carefully remove the top layer of grass or weeds using the trowel provided.

3. Draw what you saw below the earth’s surface. Be as detailed as possible!

4. List five things or more that you see after the top layer has been removed.

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5. Classify the objects you listed in #4 as living or non-living things:

Living Non- Living
 

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5. Classify the objects listed in #4 as plants, animals, or neither:

Plants Animals Neither

______________________ ________________________ ________________________

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