Enrichment Lesson: Be a Field Guide

Overview
Students might not have thought there was anything remarkable about the area surrounding or adjacent to the river, lake, stream, or pond where the water sample was taken, but this activity will allow them to look at the site from a different perspective. Students will prepare a Visitors' Field Guide for the area that will enhance others' understanding and appreciation of the natural features of the area.

Objectives
Students will:

create a Visitors' Field Guide for the sampling site be able to describe several features of the water sampling area

Time
One or two 45 minute class periods.

Materials

computers with internet access reference materials paper pencils, crayons, markers samples of Visitors' Field Guide

Teacher Preparation

eNature Online Field Guides North Woods Field Guides Centers for Nature Education National Register for Historic Places

Procedure

Have students choose at least five features of the area to point out to their audience. Perhaps they might include such things as trees, wildlife habitats, wildflowers, rock formations and organisms encountered while sampling.   Break the students into small working groups. Have the students use reference materials to address the information about the five features of interest.   Have the students continue their research to find: How could the organisms found during sampling best be described to a "visitor"? How could a visitor best observe the organisms that would least impact the environment? How could you get a visitor interested in the sampling area? Who were the first settlers in your area? Native Americans? Colonists? How have people, both recently and long ago, used the water for food, entertainment, economic gain, housing, and transportation? Check whether or not there are any historic or archeological sites nearby. Is there a relationship between them and the water source?   Once all the information has been collected by the various groups, have the students create Visitors' Field Guide, brochures or posters.

Assessment Suggestions
Students can design Visitors' Field Guides

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