Lesson Plan

OO, OO, OO, Nature

Grade Level:
Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
Subject:
Literacy and Language Arts,Science,Social Studies
Lesson Duration:
90 Minutes

Essential Question

What elements of the natural world are present in our particular city space?

Objective

● Students will predict what natural elements are on the school campus.
● Students will check for predicted elements and observe additional natural elements that engage their curiosity.
● Students will compile data on the campus’s natural elements and create a worksheet for future students at their school to use, to guide those students’ nature observations.

Background

This lesson plan was created by Leah Guenther as part of the Acadia Teacher Fellows (ATF) program. ATFs created lesson plans are created by educators for educators. Any books or links suggested in this curriculum are not an endorsement by the National Park Service.
 

This lesson is part one (the first set of OOs!) in a three-part framework called “OO, OO, OO, Nature!” that teaches students about three types of outdoor observation:
  1. Observing Outside: observe the natural elements at their school
  2. Observing Ourselves: observe our own behavior outdoors
  3. Observing Others: observe others’ behavior outdoors
The repeating “OO” mnemonic is designed to remind burgeoning nature observers of these three different ways of observing when outdoors
.

Preparation

  • Identify an area on the school grounds where students can observe natural elements. This can be as small as a patch of grass, a single tree, or an area around which insects tend to gather.
  • In that area, identify elements of nature that are commonly found. For example: what trees or flowers are on your grounds? Are there certain insects always in the area? What birds have you noticed flying about?
  • After identifying what natural elements are common to your grounds, create slides or handouts with those images, along with other images to choose from. These slides or handouts can be used to push students’ thinking as they brainstorm and predict what they will see outside. They will also be used to teach students about other elements of nature that they may see off school grounds but in their city generally.
  • Prepare students for spending roughly 30 minutes outside.
  • Prepare clipboards and pens/pencils with the worksheet entitled “OO, OO, OO Nature!: Observing Outside” (below) for students to take outside with them.
Copy the worksheet entitled “Finding Nature at our School” for students to complete after their outdoor observations.

Materials

Download Part 1: Observing Outside

Download Part 2: Observing Ourselves

Download Part 3: Observing Others

Procedure

Find 5E lesson plans in materials. 

Vocabulary

Observe: to notice or perceive something and register it as being significant

Natural: existing or caused by nature; not made or caused by humankind

Contact Information

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Last updated: October 12, 2022