FALL AND SPRING CLASSES
Grade 3

NAME IT
In this activity students will hike the trails to search for plants and animals. The class will record what they find and develop a system to sort their data in a logical order. In addition to hiking, this activity may include games related to classification. This course addresses the following Science Standard: (IV.B4) Know that living things can be sorted into groups in many ways according to their varied characteristics, structures and behaviors.

 
NATURE'S WAY
In this activity students will discover the daily interactions between organisms. They will consider how and why organisms interact, as well as how changes in habitat effect these organisms. Activities may include: hiking, questioning, observing, games and writing. This course will address the following Science Standard: (IV.C3) Understand that an organism's pattern of behavior are related to the nature of its environment.

 
NATURE INVESTIGATORS
This class focuses on the many ways that scientists learn about our world. The students will learn more about nature by using tools to investigate what they find. Activities include: measuring, observing, identifying, collecting, etc. This course will address the following Science Standard: I.A3 Understand the use of science as a tool to examine the natural world, and I.B3 Understand the nature of scientific investigations.

 

FALL AND SPRING CLASSES
Grade 5

ARCHAEOLOGY
Are you interested in discovering hidden mysteries of the past? In this unit you will explore an abandoned homestead, measure the site and record the artifacts found there. A long walk will be necessary to get to the homestead site. Students in this activity eat lunch at the site. Social Studies Standard (5.II.A.1) Students will describe the evidence of the indigenous cultures of Minnesota, and make reasoned inferences from that evidence. (5.IV.A.1) Students will define and use terms for concepts of historical time.


ORIENTEERING
Are you interested in learning how to use a compass? You will be introduced to basic compass use through such activities as mini-scavenger hunts and point-to-point orienteering courses. You will learn how to set and follow a compass bearing, "shoot" a bearing, measure paces, use landmarks to orient yourself, and walk in the wilderness without getting lost.Geography Standard (5.V.A.1.1) Students will locate major Minnesota ecosystems, topographic features, continental divides, river valleys and cities.


FOREST INVESTIGATIONS
Who needs trees? Not just humans. Many animals live in different types of forests. You will investigate the habitats of the oak and red pine forests. How many ways do humans and all other animals depend on trees? What is a tree worth to you? Science Standard (5.I.B.1) The student will perform a controlled experiment using a specific step-by-step procedure and present conclusions supported by the evidence. Math Standard (5.IV.A.4) Find mean, mode, median, and range of a data set.

POND AND STREAM
Water Tigers, Diving Beetles, Larvae galore, and all sorts of creatures you've never seen before. This unit stresses the diversity of life that exists in a healthy pond and how people change a pond's water quality through pollution. You will use pond sampling equipment to collect pond life for study. Science Standard (5.I.B.1.2) The student will observe that when a science experiment is repeated, a similar result is expected. Math Standard (5.IV.A.3) Collect data using measurements, surveys or experiments and represent data with tables and graphs with labeling.


MARSH STUDIES
Great Blue Heron, geese, Red-winged Black Birds, deer and invertebrates all live by or on the marsh. Life in and around the marsh is investigated. Students will use sampling equipment to discover what lives in the marsh.Science Standard (5.I.B.1.2) The student will observe that when a science experiment is repeated, a similar result is expected. Math Standard (5.IV.A.3) Collect data using measurements, surveys or experiments and represent data with tables and graphs with labeling.

PRAIRIE ADVENTURES (FALL ONLY!)
Can you imagine a sea of grass, could you live in a home built of sod? Imagine your neighbors are many miles away. You will investigate animal and plant life as well as the human history of the prairie. Insect nets will be used to catch grass invertebrates. Medicinal uses of prairie wildflowers will be focused on as well. Geography Standard (5.V.A.1) Students will locate major Minnesota ecosystems, topographic features, continental divides, river valleys and cities.


INTERMEDIATE BIRDING
Are you interested in activities that take you outside to observe birds in their natural home, learn about predator-prey relationships, bird migration and more? Field guides, binoculars and taxidermied birds and bird parts will be used. Science Standard (4.IV.B.1) The student will classify plants and animals according to physical characteristics.


RADIO TRACKING
Students will understand the methodology of scientific investigations, specifically, the way that scientists use radio telemetry equipment to aid in their study of animal ranges and behavior. During this lesson students will get to use real radio telemetry equipment to find an animal in our forest! This lesson is best for students with a good understanding of the English language. Science Standard (5.I.C.5.1) Describe different kinds of work done in science and technology.


DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Do you have an eye for a great picture? Spend the day learning techniques for taking a great picture. The outdoors will be your subject! In the afternoon, you will select the best pictures to put on an online photo album made just for your class. See pictures that former students have taken! Art Standard (Visual Arts) Students will understand the following components of visual arts: principles, such as repetition, contrast or balance. Students will create original works of art to express specific artistic ideas.

WINTER CLASSES
Grade 3


NAME IT
In this activity students will hike the trails to search for plants and animals. The class will record what they find and develop a system to sort their data in a logical order. In addition to hiking, this activity may include games related to classification. This course addresses the following Science Standard: (IV.B4) Know that living things can be sorted into groups in many ways according to their varied characteristics, structures and behaviors.
 
NATURE'S WAY
In this activity students will discover the daily interactions between organisms. They will consider how and why organisms interact, as well as how changes in habitat effect these organisms. Activities may include: hiking, questioning, observing, games and writing. This course will address the following Science Standard: (IV.C3) Understand that an organism's pattern of behavior are related to the nature of its environment.

NATURE INVESTIGATORS
This class focuses on the many ways that scientists learn about our world. The students will learn more about nature by using tools to investigate what they find. Activities include: measuring, observing, identifying, collecting, etc. This course will address the following Science Standard: I.A3 Understand the use of science as a tool to examine the natural world, and I.B3 Understand the nature of scientific investigations.

WINTER CLASSES
Grade 5

RADIO TRACKING
Students will understand the methodology of scientific investigations, specifically, the way that scientists use radio telemetry equipment to aid in their study of animal ranges and behavior. During this lesson students will get to use real radio telemetry equipment to find an animal in our forest! This lesson is best for students with a good understanding of the English language. Science Standard (5.I.C.5.1) Describe different kinds of work done in science and technology.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING
You will learn the basics of X-Country Skiing and then spend the day skiing through the woods enjoying nature and looking for animal signs. There are many hills at Valley Branch ELC. Be prepared for a good workout. Dress warmly! Mittens, hat and two pair of socks a must.


ORIENTEERING
Are you interested in learning how to use a compass? You will be introduced to basic compass use through such activities as mini-scavenger hunts and point-to-point orienteering courses. You will learn how to set and follow a compass bearing, "shoot" a bearing, measure paces, use landmarks to orient yourself, and walk in the wilderness without getting lost. Geography Standard (5.V.A.1.1) Students will locate major Minnesota ecosystems, topographic features, continental divides, river valleys and cities.

OUTDOOR SURVIVAL SKILLS
Would you know what to do if you were lost outside in cold weather? You will learn important survival skills. What is most important--FOOD, WATER, or SHELTER? You might be surprised. You will learn how to make a shelter and what to do for frostbite and hypothermia. These are just a few of the skills you will learn.


ADAPTATIONS OF ANIMALS
Have you ever wondered how animals stay warm and find food in our snowy Minnesota winters? This activity invites students to experiment with various types of insulation to see which is warmest, to try their hand at feeding like a bird and play the role of a predator or prey in a game. Science Standard (5.I.B.1) The student will perform a controlled experiment using a specific step-by-step procedure and present conclusions suppported by the evidence. Math Standard (5.IV.A.3) Collect data using measurements, surveys or experiments and represent the data with tables and graphs with labeling.


DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Do you have an eye for a great picture? Spend the day learning techniques for taking a great picture. The outdoors will be your subject! In the afternoon, you will select the best pictures to put on an online photo album made just for your class. See pictures that former students have taken! Art Standard (Visual Arts) Students will understand the following components of visual arts: principles, such as repetition, contrast or balance. Students will create original works of art to express specific artistic ideas.


ANIMAL INVESTIGATIONS
How do we learn about the animals that live around us?  An animal investigator spends time looking for signs animals leave to learn about what animals are around and how they survive.  This class introduces some of the signs animals leave and how we can learn from them.  Science Standard (4.F.5.1) The student will recognize that organisms need energy to stay alive and grow, and that this energy orginates from the sun.  (4.F.5.2) The student will use food webs to describe the relationship among producers, consumers, and decomposers in an ecosystem in Minnesota.