As practice for field work, bags of items are classified or keyed out, depending on the age of the students. In the field, the skills are reinforced with several selected activities. Older students may use a dichotomous key to identify plants along the trail, while younger students may study a rotting log to identify the roles and interrelationships oforganisms within that habitat. Quadrat analysis is sometimes incorporated into this lesson. Older students may use an all math dichotomous key to identify treeson the trail.
Most students already know quite a few birds by sight or sound.
In this lesson, which varies in depth with student knowledge levels, a variety of observation and survey techniques are taught using real stuffed birds and other media. Outdoor activities include recording sounds for identification, using binoculars, checking different habitat types for suitability for birds, and a migration game. Students use the GIS system, compasses, and hand held maps to predict and record compass directions and distances on their data sheets. Then their predictions are verified with field work. Given an orienteering map, students practice their navigation skills by locating a hidden message on the backs of trees.