Field Trips

Secrets of Succession

Grade Level:
Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
Subject:
Science,Social Studies
State Standards:
Indiana
5.ESS.3, 5.LS.1, 5.LS.2, 6.LS.1, 6.LS.2, 6.LS.3, 6.LS.4, 6.LS.5, 7.ESS.1, 7.ESS.2, 7.ESS.3, 7.ESS.4, 8.ESS.2, 8.LS.5, B.3.1, B.3.2, B.3.3, B.2.3, B.2.4, ES.5.3, ES.5.5, ENV.2.1, ENV.2.3, ENV.2.6, ENV.4.2, ENV.8.1,ENV.8.2
Illinois Standards in plan

Follow the legacy of early dunes’ scientist Henry Chandler Cowles and hike on the beach over foredunes and through forests. By exploring diverse ecosystems, students will discover the forces that shape the dunes and produce this unique succession of plants.

Objectives:

  1. Describe the plant and animal species which characterize each successional stage of the dunes.
  2. Name three ways in which plants and animals in the dunes change the environment, allowing other plants and animals to succeed them.
  3. Explain the affect of human and natural erosion on the process of succession.
  4. Relate the abiotic measurements to trends in biological communities.
  5. Define succession, humus, community, disturbance, adaptation, and glacier.
 

Materials

This is the lesson plan and field trip guide for the West Beach Walk program.

Download Secrets of Succession Lesson Plan

Tags: field field trip school teachers lesson plan lesson hike botany trail class indiana dunes national park national park indiana illinois west beach ranger-led itinerary teacher middle school high school indiana dunes lake michigan

Last updated: August 13, 2020