Activity A: Be a Research Biologist
There are still so many mysteries about nature that scientists need to solve. Imagine YOU
are a biologist. Pick an animal or plant that you think would be interesting to research. Write down five questions you have about this plant or animal. As a biologist, how do you think you would answer these questions if you couldn’t use books or the internet to look up your answers? Explain how would you do your research. For example, would you need to trap and mark an animal? Recapture it? Would you need to sit by a plant to watch and see what kind of bugs drink its flower nectar? Would you need to observe it at night? Would you need to study it for many years or just a few days?
Activity B: Be a Recycling or Energy Detective
The students become recycling or energy detectives. Students must keep data for a whole day. Record time, place, circumstance, etc. when recyclable materials aren't recycled or when energy is wasted (lights left on in an empty classroom, water running, etc.) Have students come up with solutions to some of the problems they observe.
Activity C: The Scrub Scribe
Imagine you are one of the first scientists to visit Florida. Everything you see is new, very different, and exciting! Who knows WHAT you could discover! Write an article for the Scrub Scribe newspaper, describing your adventures and what you saw. Don’t forget the headline! (Send these articles to the Education Office and middle school honor students will choose a few to put in the newsletter they develop for all 4th grade classes that participate in our field trip.)
Activity D: Research Sand-Dwelling Animals
In the Discovering Florida Scrub curriculum, Unit Two offers a variety of activities for students to research three different sand dwelling animals: ants, ant lions and burrowing wolf spiders. All three of these animals are easy to work with and to find. The curriculum supplies background information, worksheets and instructions for class or individual student investigation.
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