First Grade Programs

Essential Questions: What is pollution and how does it affect aquatic animals? How do we keep pollution out of the water? 

Description: “What’s a habitat?” On this outdoor adventure, students learn important ecological vocabulary like “habitat” and “pollution,” along with discovering that there is more to the wetland ecosystem than initially meets their eyes. A hike will take the students to an on-site wetland pier before getting to use scientific tools like magnifying glasses and probes to get up close and hands-on with the surrounding habitat.

Standards:

1-LS3-1: Make observations to construct an evidence-based account that young plants and
animals are like, but not exactly like, their parents.

Essential Questions: What is a life cycle? How do some animals native to Kosciusko County, Indiana, change during their life cycles?

Description: This lesson allows students to explore and define the life cycles of four common Northern Indiana lake-dwellers through interactive activities and an up-close look at our beloved Painted Turtle: Meatball!

Standards:

1-LS3-1: Make observations to construct an evidence-based account that young plants and

animals are like, but not exactly like, their parents.

1-LS1-2: Read texts and use media to determine patterns in the behavior of parents and offspring that help offspring survive. 

Essential Questions: What is a community? What is pollution? How does water move through a community? How can pollution travel through water?

Description: While participating at this station, students are introduced to how communities function and may interact with local waterways. Students are challenged to think like Civil Engineers and construct their own communities with our Augmented Reality Sand Tables before exploring the movement of water through their communities.

Standards:

K-ESS3-3: Communicate solutions that will reduce the impact of humans on the land, water, air, and/or other living things in the local environment.

1.CC.6: Add drawings or other visual displays, such as pictures and objects, when sharing information to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.

Essential Questions: What are the different parts of our fish? How do fish use their body parts to survive?

Description: I like it, Fish-casso! At our 1st Grade Virtual Aquarium station students will get to display their creativity after diving into the fin-tastic features of our native freshwater fish.

Standards:

1-LS1-1: Use materials and models to mimic how plants and/or animals use their external parts to help them survive, grow, and meet their needs. 

SEPS.2: Developing and using models and tools. 

K-2-ETS1-2: Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.