Field Station Explorers: Racerunner Curriculum
Join Rex Racerunner as we study the following topics:
September: Awakening the Senses
Students will begin the school year by using their senses to explore the habitats around the Field Station. These activities include blindfolded walks, identifying mystery objects using the sense of touch, scavenger hunts, and various teambuilding games.
October: Wildlife Measurements
Children are always asking which animals are the biggest, the smallest, the fastest, and the loudest! This month we will find out as we study all the animal extremes. We will begin with animals of odd lengths. We’ll learn about blue whales and create a life size blue whale in chalk. We’ll also discuss the tallest animal, the giraffe, and create a life-size walkingstick, which is the longest insect. Next we’ll discuss distances and play a game that emphasizes the Arctic tern’s extreme migration. We’ll also experiment with animal sounds and how far they carry through the woods as we imitate the howler monkey, whose calls can carry distances of 3 miles. Finally, we’ll think about speed and learn about the fastest bird, fish, and insects. We’ll conclude the month with an Animal Olympics event with events such as the cheetah 50-yard dash, frog long jump, monarch migration relay, and falcon frisbee toss.
November: Decomposition
This month the students will learn how plants and animals break down and enrich the soil. We will begin the month by learning about nutrient cycling and playing a game called Cycle Says. Similar to Simon Says, the students will act out parts of the nutrient cycle as they learn about different decomposers. Another game they will play is a variation of Duck, Duck, Goose. One student will be the decomposer and will cycle nutrients around the circle, leaving them in the lap of the student that he wishes to decompose. Students will examine a rotten log this month with magnifiers, looking for decomposers and play a game about fungus. They will also attend the NPS Discover program at the Calumet Dune Interpretive Center.
December: National Parks
The National Parks we will study this month are complete opposites. We will begin by looking at a national parks in a very wet place: the Everglades. Then we will focus on two parks in dry environments: Death Valley and Joshua Tree. As we study the Everglades we will learn about unique animals and plants that inhabit these wet places. As we study Joshua Tree and Death Valley we will study cactus and desert life.
January: Water Wonders (Water Photos)
Students will learn all about water in the snowy month of January. We will begin with a lesson about the water cycle. We will do some experiments to create clouds and rain and play a card game similar to rummy to match different types of water with their solid, liquid, or gas form. The students will also play a lively game where they are water molecules moving through the water cycle. By rolling large dice, they will see where to move next and their journey will continue through clouds, rivers, lakes, animals, plants, glaciers, ground water, soil, and the ocean. We will also study storm water run-off and experiment with how different forms of land cover trap nutrients, preventing them from reaching the waterways. Finally, we will focus on snow and ice as we learn about snowflakes, icicles, and how scientists study ice to learn about water cycles around the world. Students will attend a National Park program this month entitled Winter Exploration. They will learn about animal adaptations and go on a snowshoe hike if there is sufficient snow.
February: Animal Lifecycles
Everyone loves to think about how animals are born! This month we will focus on the three main ways: live births, hatching from eggs, and metamorphosis. We will begin learning about mammals and marsupials and how they raise their young. Then we will learn about birds and reptiles and how their egg laying differs. Finally we will focus on amphibians and insects and how they go through life stages before becoming full-grown adults. We will play games and make crafts to depict these stages. We also hope to cross country ski this month if there is sufficient snow.
March: Life Underground
This month we will learn all about the animals, plants, and geology that create the underground world. We will begin with a look at animals that tunnel in the soil. We will set up an ant farm so we can watch the tunnels being created and will learn about earthworms with the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County. Next we will study caves in the bedrock and will make caves and learn how groundwater seeps into the cave environment. We will try to grow some stalactites and will learn all about the animals that live in caves. We will study their adaptations that help them survive in total darkness.
April: Dune Habitats (Dune photos)
How the dunes formed will be the big focus of our study this month. We will begin by learning about the glaciers and how the sand was formed and moved. We will also learn about the pioneer plants that hold the sand in place with their vast root networks. We will attend two national park programs, Mt. Baldy Moves and West Beach Walk to learn about succession and sand dune habitats. We will also do some experiments to see how the changing soil composition affects run-off as you move further from the lake.
May: Explorations
Students will participate in their stewardship project during the first week. Projects are chosen as needed in the area near the school. They will also hike along the Little Calumet River in a long adventure on over 2 miles of trail. The Explorers school year will conclude with the annual Build-a-Boat day where the students create boats from natural objects and race them on the creek near the school.
September: Awakening the Senses
Students will begin the school year by using their senses to explore the habitats around the Field Station. These activities include blindfolded walks, identifying mystery objects using the sense of touch, scavenger hunts, and various teambuilding games.
October: Wildlife Measurements
Children are always asking which animals are the biggest, the smallest, the fastest, and the loudest! This month we will find out as we study all the animal extremes. We will begin with animals of odd lengths. We’ll learn about blue whales and create a life size blue whale in chalk. We’ll also discuss the tallest animal, the giraffe, and create a life-size walkingstick, which is the longest insect. Next we’ll discuss distances and play a game that emphasizes the Arctic tern’s extreme migration. We’ll also experiment with animal sounds and how far they carry through the woods as we imitate the howler monkey, whose calls can carry distances of 3 miles. Finally, we’ll think about speed and learn about the fastest bird, fish, and insects. We’ll conclude the month with an Animal Olympics event with events such as the cheetah 50-yard dash, frog long jump, monarch migration relay, and falcon frisbee toss.
November: Decomposition
This month the students will learn how plants and animals break down and enrich the soil. We will begin the month by learning about nutrient cycling and playing a game called Cycle Says. Similar to Simon Says, the students will act out parts of the nutrient cycle as they learn about different decomposers. Another game they will play is a variation of Duck, Duck, Goose. One student will be the decomposer and will cycle nutrients around the circle, leaving them in the lap of the student that he wishes to decompose. Students will examine a rotten log this month with magnifiers, looking for decomposers and play a game about fungus. They will also attend the NPS Discover program at the Calumet Dune Interpretive Center.
December: National Parks
The National Parks we will study this month are complete opposites. We will begin by looking at a national parks in a very wet place: the Everglades. Then we will focus on two parks in dry environments: Death Valley and Joshua Tree. As we study the Everglades we will learn about unique animals and plants that inhabit these wet places. As we study Joshua Tree and Death Valley we will study cactus and desert life.
January: Water Wonders (Water Photos)
Students will learn all about water in the snowy month of January. We will begin with a lesson about the water cycle. We will do some experiments to create clouds and rain and play a card game similar to rummy to match different types of water with their solid, liquid, or gas form. The students will also play a lively game where they are water molecules moving through the water cycle. By rolling large dice, they will see where to move next and their journey will continue through clouds, rivers, lakes, animals, plants, glaciers, ground water, soil, and the ocean. We will also study storm water run-off and experiment with how different forms of land cover trap nutrients, preventing them from reaching the waterways. Finally, we will focus on snow and ice as we learn about snowflakes, icicles, and how scientists study ice to learn about water cycles around the world. Students will attend a National Park program this month entitled Winter Exploration. They will learn about animal adaptations and go on a snowshoe hike if there is sufficient snow.
February: Animal Lifecycles
Everyone loves to think about how animals are born! This month we will focus on the three main ways: live births, hatching from eggs, and metamorphosis. We will begin learning about mammals and marsupials and how they raise their young. Then we will learn about birds and reptiles and how their egg laying differs. Finally we will focus on amphibians and insects and how they go through life stages before becoming full-grown adults. We will play games and make crafts to depict these stages. We also hope to cross country ski this month if there is sufficient snow.
March: Life Underground
This month we will learn all about the animals, plants, and geology that create the underground world. We will begin with a look at animals that tunnel in the soil. We will set up an ant farm so we can watch the tunnels being created and will learn about earthworms with the Recycling and Waste Reduction District of Porter County. Next we will study caves in the bedrock and will make caves and learn how groundwater seeps into the cave environment. We will try to grow some stalactites and will learn all about the animals that live in caves. We will study their adaptations that help them survive in total darkness.
April: Dune Habitats (Dune photos)
How the dunes formed will be the big focus of our study this month. We will begin by learning about the glaciers and how the sand was formed and moved. We will also learn about the pioneer plants that hold the sand in place with their vast root networks. We will attend two national park programs, Mt. Baldy Moves and West Beach Walk to learn about succession and sand dune habitats. We will also do some experiments to see how the changing soil composition affects run-off as you move further from the lake.
May: Explorations
Students will participate in their stewardship project during the first week. Projects are chosen as needed in the area near the school. They will also hike along the Little Calumet River in a long adventure on over 2 miles of trail. The Explorers school year will conclude with the annual Build-a-Boat day where the students create boats from natural objects and race them on the creek near the school.
