Objectives: #
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- Students will Identify species and their characteristics.
- Students will describe connections between species and their habitats.
Background: #
Scavenger hunts always get students excited. During this activity students will take a closer look at the animals and plants that live in the watershed. This activity allows students to connect with nature by exploring the environment where trout live. Students will have the opportunity to work together with their classmate and make interesting observations as they search for the items on their list. For older students, you may want to expand or change the list, but the basic idea can be the same.
Materials: #
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- Scavenger Hunt sheet
- Pencils
- Magnifying glasses.
Procedure: #
Step 1: Gather students and introduce the scavenger hunt activity. Set boundaries-how far can students travel to gather their information? Tell students when conducting a nature scavenger hunt it is important to remember to leave everything where it is.
Step 2: Hand out copies of the scavenger hunt worksheet. Remind students that objects need to be seen but not collected. Send students on their hunt in pairs. They can record answers on their sheet. Parents can assist with this activity.
Step 3: As students hunt assist with clues as to where they can find their objects. For example, you can say, ” I wonder where we could find some ants. I know they dig tunnels, I wonder where they put all the soil they move from their home.”
Step 4: After most items have been found, gather all students in a meeting area. Have students share their findings.
Wrap-up: #
In the following weeks back at your school, you can schedule a trip to a nearby park and complete another scavenger hunt there. Spend time discussing and comparing the two environments. Did they find the same animals and trees? Was it easy to find all they were searching for?
