Lesson Plan: Exploration Of Our School's Backyard

Lesson Plan: Exploration Of Uur School’s Backyard
The reason why I’m doing a lesson on free exploration is because I haven’t given my students time to explore. With this lesson students will be given time to look at plants and other living organisms to bring back to the classroom, and have the opportunity to view their findings under a microscope. It's a structured activity that allows students to explore and find what it is that interests them. Our school's backyard is pretty spacious. There's a trail that leads to a fire-pit that scouts use. The first time I had students explore was last year, but it wasn't planned. One of my students asked me if we will be exploring this year. I decided that I would create a lesson plan to explore the great outdoors.

Grade: 5th

Objective: Students will explore the area around our school to see what type of plants, insects, and other living organisms exist.

Students will record in their journals what they found and where. Was it in a dry area? Was it inside a tree? Was it in a bog?

Suggested Time
Three 1-hour blocks

Multimedia Resources

TD Becoming a mosquito
TD Tree identification
TD People of the Arctic
TD The Spirit of Subsistence Living
ZOOM- counting bugs
How To Use A Microscope Properly

Materials

Plastic container with a lid
Magnifying glass
Journal
Microscope
Pre-made lens of organisms for viewing
Glass jars with punctured lids to let oxygen in
Gummy worms in chocolate cake
Yup'ik Native Nutrition by Mary Gregory


The Lesson

Day 1

On the Promethean, show the web page How To Use A Microscope Properly.
Go over microscope parts, general procedures, and drawing tips. Have the students write down the important information in their journals for future reference.

I will have students view pre-made slides and show them how to use a microscope.

Students will work in pairs taking turns being a recorder and a viewer. The recorder will write down what was seen under the microscope in their journal, while the viewer describes what they see.


Day 2

Watch:
TD Becoming a mosquito
TD Tree Identification

Students go into the backyard of the school to explore. They place objects they want to view under a microscope in a plastic bag. If it’s a living organism, it will be placed in a jar with holes on top, Students are to record in their journals where they found the specimen or plant part.

Day 3

Watch:
Zoom - Counting Bugs
TD People of the Arctic
TD The Spirit of Subsistence Living

Have the students share from their journals their most exciting find. Afterwards, we will celebrate our findings with cake and punch. While the students are having some chocolate cake covered in gummy worms, we will watch TD People of the Arctic, and TD The Spirit of Subsistence Living. Afterward I will read to them Yup'ik Native Nutrition by Mary Gregory, and also share stories with them that my grandparents and parents have told me of how to survive in the wilderness. I"ll ask if they have any stories to share that has been passed down to them.