Grades 6-8
INDOOR LIVE ANIMAL PROGRAMS
Human Impacts on Wildlife | Grades 6-8
Human behavior can have positive or adverse effects on wildlife populations. Through up close encounters with three live animals, students explore examples of negative human impacts and some working and potential solutions to reverse those negative influences. Through a follow-up activity, students design solutions to minimize environmental problems caused by human behavior. Species may include peregrine falcon, bats, or coyote.
Available: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer, at SLNSC or your site
- MS-LS1-4 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes – Use argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support an explanation for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants respectively.
- MS-LS1-5 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes – Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms.
- MS-LS2-4 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics – Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
- MS-LS4-4 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity – Construct an explanation based on evidence that describes how genetic variations of traits in a population increase some individuals’ probability of surviving and reproducing in a specific environment.
Raptors and Food Webs | Grades 6-8
Raptors are birds of prey that use talons to capture food. Using live birds and mounted specimens, we will model the role of raptors in the food web and discuss the adaptations that make them successful predators. Being at the top of the food chain can have its downsides in some cases. We will discuss the concept of bioaccumulation in the food chain and how it negatively affected some species.
Available: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer, at SLNSC or your site
- MS-LS1-4 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes – Use argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support an explanation for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants respectively.
- MS-LS2-2 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics – Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
- MS-LS2-3 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics – Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY-BASED AND LIVE ANIMAL PROGRAMS
Field and Forest Ecology | Grades 6-8
What characteristics make fields and forests such different natural communities? Through hands-on scientific examination, teams of students measure wind speed, temperature, soil pH, humidity, and other characteristics. Students review data and then compare and contrast the results between the two communities.
Available: Fall, Spring, Summer, at SLNSC only
- MS-LS2-1 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics – Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem.
- MS-LS2-3 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics – Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
- MS-LS2-4 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics – Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
Lake Exploration | Grades 6-8
Study Squam Lake aboard a floating classroom. Using hands-on measurements of pH, dissolved oxygen, water hardness, clarity, and temperature, student teams assess the lake’s health. Students also examine lake sediment and collect plankton to observe with a high definition projection microscope. All data are posted on the Science Center’s website for teachers to compare with results from past years.
Available: Fall, Spring, Summer, at SLNSC only
- MS-ESS3-3 Earth and Human Activity – Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
- MS-LS1-6 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes – Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for the role of photosynthesis in the cycling of matter and flow of energy into and out of organisms.
- MS-LS2-1 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics – Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem.
- MS-LS2-3 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics – Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
Understanding Climate Change | Grades 6-8
What is the difference between climate and weather? What evidence do we have that our climate is changing? What is the greenhouse effect? What is the carbon cycle and how is it affected by human activity? Through hands-on activities students will answer these questions and others as we learn about the science of climate change.
Available: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer, at SLNSC or your site
- MS-ESS3-5 Earth and Human Activity – Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
- MS-ESS3-4 Earth and Human Activity – Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth's systems.
