First grade – Living Things and Their Needs
Wildlife Puppet Drama – TA1.RE.1, TA1PR.1, ELAGSE1RL3, ELAGSE1RL4, ELAGSE1SL9, S1L1b - Students connect with wildlife through an interactive play set in “The Woods at McDuffie.” Each student uses an assigned animal puppet to act out a narrative which emphasizes animal characteristics and habitat. The lesson integrates reading standards related to drama and comprehension of narratives.
All About Crickets – S1L1 - (Seasonal, depending on availability of crickets.) Students learn about cricket characteristics and then are able to view their own cricket in a magnifying box. There is a focus on needs of crickets and other animals. Following the instructional session, students are allowed to release crickets outdoors and see if theirs can be first to cross the finish line in a cricket race.
Longleaf Pine Trail – MGSE1, NBT.1, MGSE1.NBT2, MGSE1, MD.4, PE1.3, PE1.5 - Following a brief orientation, the instructor lead students through a mature longleaf pine forest habitat where students practice observation, inquiry, data collection and counting skills as they search for hidden plastic “critters” in the foliage along the trail. Students math skills are used as they record their count (data) on a tally. Students are encouraged to ask questions about the seasonally-changing habitat and draw conclusions based on their observations.
Insect Jars – S1L1, VA1.CR.3c - To emphasize habitat, students create a collection/observation jar as a take-home project. Students use stickers to represent the habitat of insects and discuss animals’ needs for food, water, shelter and air with an emphasis that the collection jar is a place to view an insect for a short period of time before returning it to its habitat.
Intro to Orienteering – SS1MG1, SS1MG2 - Students will learn that a compass is a tool used to indicate directions. They will find the four cardinal directions on the compass and will be introduced to compass use for locating intermediate directions.
Habitat Art – S1L1, VA1CR2, VA1CR.3c - Students use knowledge of animal needs to draw habitat where these needs can be met. They use animal stickers to populate the appropriate habitats.
Wheel of Nature – (All levels. Questions are adapted to grade level.) Students participate in a game-style two-team activity. When it is his or her turn, a team-member spins a wheel to determine how much a question is worth. To obtain the points for his side, the student answers the given question. Questions are based on the MEEC curriculum and include habitat features, wildlife adaptations, and identification of animal pictures, pelts, sounds, offspring and tracks. Models and other audio visuals are used to bring questions to life. Team work is encouraged as rules allow students to confer on difficult questions.
Customized sessions - Depending on fish production, a tour of the hatchery building may be available upon request. A Kids Fishing Event may also be arranged as part of the MEEC experience.
*We offer accommodations and Adaptation of Performance Standards for Students with Disabilities based on information provided when reservations are made.
Wildlife Puppet Drama – TA1.RE.1, TA1PR.1, ELAGSE1RL3, ELAGSE1RL4, ELAGSE1SL9, S1L1b - Students connect with wildlife through an interactive play set in “The Woods at McDuffie.” Each student uses an assigned animal puppet to act out a narrative which emphasizes animal characteristics and habitat. The lesson integrates reading standards related to drama and comprehension of narratives.
All About Crickets – S1L1 - (Seasonal, depending on availability of crickets.) Students learn about cricket characteristics and then are able to view their own cricket in a magnifying box. There is a focus on needs of crickets and other animals. Following the instructional session, students are allowed to release crickets outdoors and see if theirs can be first to cross the finish line in a cricket race.
Longleaf Pine Trail – MGSE1, NBT.1, MGSE1.NBT2, MGSE1, MD.4, PE1.3, PE1.5 - Following a brief orientation, the instructor lead students through a mature longleaf pine forest habitat where students practice observation, inquiry, data collection and counting skills as they search for hidden plastic “critters” in the foliage along the trail. Students math skills are used as they record their count (data) on a tally. Students are encouraged to ask questions about the seasonally-changing habitat and draw conclusions based on their observations.
Insect Jars – S1L1, VA1.CR.3c - To emphasize habitat, students create a collection/observation jar as a take-home project. Students use stickers to represent the habitat of insects and discuss animals’ needs for food, water, shelter and air with an emphasis that the collection jar is a place to view an insect for a short period of time before returning it to its habitat.
Intro to Orienteering – SS1MG1, SS1MG2 - Students will learn that a compass is a tool used to indicate directions. They will find the four cardinal directions on the compass and will be introduced to compass use for locating intermediate directions.
Habitat Art – S1L1, VA1CR2, VA1CR.3c - Students use knowledge of animal needs to draw habitat where these needs can be met. They use animal stickers to populate the appropriate habitats.
Wheel of Nature – (All levels. Questions are adapted to grade level.) Students participate in a game-style two-team activity. When it is his or her turn, a team-member spins a wheel to determine how much a question is worth. To obtain the points for his side, the student answers the given question. Questions are based on the MEEC curriculum and include habitat features, wildlife adaptations, and identification of animal pictures, pelts, sounds, offspring and tracks. Models and other audio visuals are used to bring questions to life. Team work is encouraged as rules allow students to confer on difficult questions.
Customized sessions - Depending on fish production, a tour of the hatchery building may be available upon request. A Kids Fishing Event may also be arranged as part of the MEEC experience.
*We offer accommodations and Adaptation of Performance Standards for Students with Disabilities based on information provided when reservations are made.