Field Trips

Field Trip: Prairie Restoration

Grade Level:
Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
Subject:
Science
Common Core Standards:
6.SL.1, 7.SL.1, 8.SL.1, 6-8.RST.3
State Standards:
North Dakota Science Standards and NGSS: MS-LS1-5; MS-LS2-1; MS-LS2-2; and MS-LS2-5.

Learn how the Hidatsa tribe used the prairie during village life. The park ranger will guide students through a series of interactive presentations and activities. The program can include the 15 minute introductory park film and a tour of the earthlodge if the students haven't seen them yet. The teacher can choose from the following topics and activities.
 

  • Play Prairie Tag. This game and discussion will help students learn the effects of prescribed burns, herbicide, and grazing on native and invasive plants. ANYTIME
  • Hike along the interactive Prairie Trail. The interpretive signs show the importance of the prairie ecosystem, how some prairie plants were used, and prairie terms in the Hidatsa and Plains Indian Sign Languages. FALL ONLY
  • Participate in a ground cover study. This is a citizen science activity to determine how much biodiversity is covered in a random-sampled plot of land. FALL ONLY
  • Reseed a restoration plot. This is a citizen science activity to actively support the park's efforts to bring back the prairie ecosystem. SPRING ONLY

Please note the seasons above. Activities are directly linked to when prescribed burns are scheduled and when the prairie grass is tall enough to mow the trail. Please call a park ranger to discuss options.

Looking for a great follow-up activity? Check out Hidatsa Tribe Use of Prairie Plants lesson. This lesson is done in the classroom using technology.
 

Tags: knri

Lesson Plans

Last updated: August 23, 2019