Ecology!

We will be studying ecology (the study of the environment) until Thanksgiving.
Some highlights of this unit:

Creature Feature Stations: (9/11/17-9/15/17) Students, if able, will bring in amphibians, reptiles, freshwater fish, and insects native to Massachusetts.  Creatures should be in secure containers with ability to breathe in habitats similar to how they were found.  Students can also bring in or send pictures of birds and mammals native to Massachusetts.  Students will sketch and study basic structures characteristic to each group and adaptations of particular species in station format.

Creature Feature Project: Due Wed Oct 4
Students will research, write and build a representation of an adaptation of an animal in Massachusetts.  The model should not focus on the appearance of the animal, but rather the functionality of the adaptation.

Site Study
Students, in groups, will be going outside for a week to identify and quantify life in the forest in the front of the school and communicate their findings to the public.  Students should dress appropriately for the weather.  We will be going out unless there is a downpour or lightning.  

EcoMUVE
Students will work cooperatively in groups to solve a mystery at a virtual Massachusetts pond.  Students will gather population and observational data to create concept maps to present to their classmate about their claims.

Symbiosis
Students will learn about unique relationships using hand signals.