Curriculum Materials

Students explore how matter moves through the Earth’s ecosystems, by focusing on carbon. In the classroom, they role play how carbon moves through Earth’s systems. On the field trip, they simulate food chains and photosynthesis. They examine decomposers and test the properties of soil crusts.

This in-class presentation explores the tools a student needs to hike safely in the desert ecosystem. Students learn their directions, things to bring with them, and what to do if they get lost.

Students first play a board game to learn about resources bighorn sheep need and the threats they face. Outside, students investigate why bighorn sheep are no longer seen along a local trail. Students collect data on other animals by examining tracks. They learn about plants bighorns eat and collect data on food availability. Students also play a bighorn trivia game. Back in the classroom, students put clues together to make a claim about the cause of a population decline.

In the classroom students learn about inherited traits. In the field, students examine the traits of juniper trees and play a game to model how the environment can act on traits and affect how trees appear. Students also examine kit fox traits and play a game to discover what happens when a trait provides an advantage for survival.

Students learn the difference between physical and chemical changes in matter, and go for a hike to observe both in nature. At stations, students explore how rocks are weathered by both physical and chemical changes. Students then observe the mechanisms scientists use to measure ozone in the lower atmosphere and act out the chemical changes that destroy ozone in the upper atmosphere.