School and Group Programs
Ecology: Sample Day
We offer K-12 programs, including your choice of evening activities. This outline represents common activities. Students' actual days may include different activities.
Theme of the Day
Diversity is our strength
Objectives
By the end of the day, students should be able to understand, describe and identify:
- A variety of macro-invertebrates
- Indicators of water quality
- Cedar, black oak, ponderosa pine, live oak, and white fir trees
- Value of diversity in resilient ecosystems
- 4 essential components of a functional habitat
- Factors that influence carrying capacity
- Factors that limit the ecosystem.
- Value of divergent individual views in a group or society
Assessment Strategies
The theme is introduced first thing in the morning. Student understanding of the theme and specific concepts is assessed throughout the day. Each activity requires student participation and articulation of key ideas. Each activity requires student participation and articulation of key ideas. During the late afternoon journal sharing, educators assess each student's level of understanding and address any misconceptions.
Teaching Day Itinerary
Morning activities:
- Stream monitoring:
Students collect and examine macro-invertebrates from Yosemite watersheds. Instructors lead discussions regarding adaptations and biodiversity as they relate to water quality. - Be a tree:
Students act out characteristics of specific Sierra Nevada trees. They play a game that demonstrates the relatioship between diversity of forest species and its health. Students use what they've learned to identify living examples of the various tree species.
Afternoon activities:
- Oh deer
Students play a game modeling population fluctuations in relation to habitat resources. They graph the results and discuss the implications. - The Lorax debate
Students put on a mock trail based on Dr. Seuss' The Lorax. They play the parts of attorneys and jurors to determine which character is most responsible for the events that unfold in the book. - Journal time
Students reflect on the theme "diversity is our strength" in their journals. Students site specific examples from the day to support their thoughts.
