Eco-Kits

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Eco-Kit?Descriptions

Worm Wonders -?By observing and handling live earthworms students will learn worm structure, behavior, life cycles, and how worms compost waste into topsoil, a process called vermiculture.? From simple worm experiments to detailed dissection (4th – 6th), learn the secrets of soil ?recyclers.?

Native Birds -?Learn about the characteristics and habits of birds from North Texas. ?This Eco-Kit includes nine real bird?s nests from the local area, a variety of eggs, feathers to inspect, and full color photos of the nests? inhabitants.

Wild Side of the City -?Discover where and how animals live in our urban environment.? Students will learn about the behaviors, adaptations, habitat requirements, and characteristics of urban wildlife.

Universal?Knowledge?- Learn about the planets in the solar system and their relation to the sun and to each other through a variety of hands-on activities. Students will also learn the phases of the moon and the difference between a lunar month and a calendar month.

Wetlands and Wildlife -?Students will learn the formal?definition of ?wetland,? but also why swamps, bogs and marshes are habitats we must protect.?Filtration and percolation activities emphasize wetland components and functions.

Nocturnal Animals -?Explore nature?s night life.? Discover the adaptations animals develop for nocturnal living.? Students will explore the varied senses used by nocturnal animals and insects to live, hunt, and defend themselves.

Introduction to Butterflies -?Explore the amazing world of butterflies in your classroom.? Investigate a butterflies five senses through hands-on activities.? Learn about the butterfly life cycle and their natural defenses.?? See preserved life cycles of the butterfly from egg to adult.

Inspecta Insecta – Using microscopes and live specimens, students will observe the anatomy, life cycle, senses, and defenses of a variety of insects along with amazing facts of the animal world?s hidden majority.

Earth Rocks -?Explore the building blocks of our earth! Students will learn the difference between igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. They will also gain an understanding of the factors that affect them including temperature, erosion, and acid rain.

Plants Everywhere?- Students will look at plant structure, examine plant parts with digital scope, view pollen and discuss pollination,?plant a seed, consider seed diversity and methods of dispersal, and play a game to learn the equation for photosynthesis.

We All Need Trees?- ?Students will view and analyze tree slice, learn to identify native trees, make a bracelet with tree slices and beads to represent different layers of tree, sing?a tree chant, measure the diameter of a tree, make clinometers to measure the height, and make?bark rubbings.

Weather Watcher?- Students will use tools to measure temperature of air, soil, and water, humidity, rainfall, wind direction and speed. They will also look for weather signs outdoors, view weather maps, and will make mini weather station.

Recycling?- Students will evaluate personal choice with regard to consumption, example: plastic vs. paper vs. reusable. They will make paper, play the?Bennie the Turtle and Recycle Sorting games, and make a craft out of recycled materials.

Renewable Energy?- Students will learn the difference between renewable and nonrenewable energy. They will discuss the Law of the Conservation of Energy, look at and model the process of coal and oil formation, create a model of a windmill, and look at and reconfigure various renewable energy models.

Dig Into the Past?- Students will view a fossil exhibit that represents fossils in North Texas. They will learn about the geological time scale, look for fossils, make a cast and mold replica of a fossil, and view and make a model of petrified wood.