Interdependence of organisms

Mountains as Biodiversity Hotpsots - Himalayan Expedition Part 1

The Expedition Begins

Mount Makalu in the background. Banana tree in the foreground. Photo: TMIAfter weeks of planning and preparation, your expedition is finally going to begin. First you land in Kathmandu, Nepal. You've planned to spend two days here, gathering together the rest of your gear and paying for a climbing permit. It's a bit disappointing that you are unable to see the mountains from the city. On some days, people can. On other days, like today, they are hidden behind air pollution.

Organic Garden Practices Checklist

Submitted by sarahp on Fri, 06/18/2010 - 00:16

Most people know that organic farmers avoid polluting ecosystems and our food supply with synthetic pesticides, but the underlying philosophy is much broader. Organic farming centers on using methods that strive towards balance in the production fields that mirrors relationships found in natural ecosystem. As a result, the benefits reach much further. Organic farming:

Weed Busters: Students Tackle the Purple Menace

Submitted by sarahp on Thu, 04/22/2010 - 23:33

Studying Purple Loosestrife Helps Students Identify Non-Native Species

"When my third graders asked a local naturalist to help them identify wild plants growing on our school grounds, we never imagined their query would lead to a long-term environmental action project," reports Minneapolis, MN, teacher Sherri Rogers.

Inquiry Flows

Submitted by sarahp on Wed, 04/21/2010 - 00:49

Creating a Classroom River

"Exploring life in the river near our school intrigued my third and fourth graders," reports Waits River, VT, teacher Cheryl Ollman. "But, of course, the time for working outside is limited by our climate. When I discovered that a local educational group was experimenting with an indoor river simulation, I volunteered to test it out in my classroom."

Taste the Flavor Rainbow

Objectives

Students will learn:

Wondrous Wetlands

Exploring and Preserving these Hardworking Ecosystems

Curriculum Connections

Ecosystem Lineup

Invite your students to observe and compare a given area of a wildflower meadow or plot with another type of ecosystem, such as a lawn, garden, or wooded area. Have them use data sheets to inventory and compare the different types and numbers of plants and animals in each and to describe other differences they notice.

Creating a Three Sisters Garden

Submitted by editor on Fri, 03/12/2010 - 14:07

Native peoples from different parts of North America have used a wide range of agricultural techniques. Perhaps the best known is the interplanting of corn, beans, and squash together -- a trio often referred to as the "three sisters."

Cultivating these companions in your school garden, a small patch near the building, a barrel, or even indoors, can inspire studies of Native American customs, nutrition, and folklore. As students dig in, investigations of plant growth and relationships will also flourish.

Curriculum Connections

By:

NGA Staff

Cultivating Keen Observers

If birds grace your schoolyard or neighborhood, invite students to spend some time each day or week observing them. If you don't yet have bird feeders set up, consider enticing feathered friends to visit by spreading seeds on the ground or in a shallow pan. What do students notice and talk about?

Curriculum Connections

Submitted by editor on Thu, 03/11/2010 - 16:21

Perusing Pollination Partners

Have your students spend at least a couple of sessions a week observing flowers and their visitors in the school garden, wildflower meadow, or other context where flowers bloom. You might leave it open-ended and have them write down observations and questions they have or focus the observations with guiding questions.