Activity 1: Painted Lodges
Grades: 4-6
Methods: Students learn to think about themselves as individuals and members of a social group of animals sharing an environment with other species. Students recognize that traditional American Indian shelter was as much a part of the surrounding environment as a beaver lodge. They will recognize and explain the personal and traditional culture behind the design and decoration of tipis.
Time: 1 hour
Subjects: Visual arts, social studies
Activity 2:
Grades: 4-6
Methods: Students conduct research about animal species living in the International Peace Park. During the course of their research, they will answer the questions provided in the teacher background section of this activity.
Time: Two 1 -hour sessions with research time between
Subjects: Life science, library science
Activity 3:
Grades: 4-6
Methods: Students interpret and identify ecological concepts through use of pantomime.
Time: 1 hour
Subjects: Language arts, life science, physical education
Activity 4:
Grades: 4
Methods: Students identify their own basic needs for food, water shelter and space in a suitable arrangement and generalize that wildlife and people have similar basic needs.
Time: 1 hour
Subjects: Life science, visual arts, social studies, home economics
Activity 5:
Grades: 4-6
Methods: Students discuss the concept of succession, describe beaver pond succession, and apply the concept of succession by drawing a mural of the stages of beaver pond succession.
Time: 1-2 hours
Subjects: Life science, visual arts
Activity 6:
Grades: 4-6
Methods: Students identify different food chains in a forest habitat and recognize that change to a habitat affects the animals living there. They will form food chain pyramids in a forest habitat and observe the effect of a beaver arrival.
Time: 1/2 - 1 hour
Subjects: Life science, physical education
Activity 7:
Grades: 4-6
Methods: Students will explain habitat transitions from a pond to a meadow, identify wildlife in a meadow, and recognize that conditions within habitats are continually changing.
Time: 1/2 hour
Subjects: Life science
Activity 8:
Grades: 4-6
Methods: Students apply the process of succession to human activity. They examine human habitat construction and its effects on the natural environment by building a model of a city and demonstrating their succession theories.
Time: 1-2 hours
Subjects: Social studies, visual arts, ethics, life science