Monday is spent in the woods and streams. Students collect leaves of certain trees and discover which animals depend on these trees for survival. After lunch students collect macroinvertebretes from the stream and discover how important these creatures are to the maintainance of a clean and healthy stream. Wednesday students explore the meadows learning about the butterflies and insects depending on the wildflowers. After lunch they discover the frogs and dragonflies living close to the pond.
Students keep a journal recording their findings and art projects throughout the week.
These journals are essential as students learn to use their new knowledge to create a habitat garden at Indian Pipe Outdoor Technical School. Friday they create a habitat garden at their own school, planting a lasting memory and seeding the possibilities of becoming a future ecologist. At the end of the week after the habitat garden is complete, students receive a certificate and patch as well as a lasting journal of their time as a junior ecologist. Processes Students investigate and understand that behavioral and physical adaptations allow animals to respond to life s needs. 7.4 Life Processes Students investigate and understand basic plant anatomy and life processes.