Helping Hands for Habitat

Along a local creek, students are surveying and planning restoration projects. With a particular animal in mind, and an imaginary budget, they decide what stays, what goes, and what needs to be added.

Later, these plans are actually implemented by community volunteers (including the students) with donated plants. This connects the students to community-oriented service, and is a powerful demonstration that they can make a difference. 
One team heads into the grasslands away from the creek. They have noticed a tree there that belongs in their habitat so they want to make sure it is included within their markers. One of the students takes ten steps forward and pushes one wooden post into the ground. Continuing in this way the students mark their land with four posts. They then set about documenting what already exists in this habitat and what will need to be removed or added. Up and down the creek, teams of students plan their habitats. One student comments to another that it is really cool to think that they will create these habitats that they can return to later and observe.

Teacher: Why are you plotting so close to the creek?
Student 1: Our animal is the muskrat. They build dens in stream banks with entrances underwater.
Student 2: They also eat food that is in the stream.
So we have to plan our habitat close to the water.

 


 

Explore the Helping Hands for Habitat Unit
Learning Objectives and Unit Map Diagram
Detailed Timeline and Credits
Description of Classroom Activities
Description of Field Activities
CA Standards Satisfied by this Unit
Field Site Information and Additional Resources


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Public Service Research Program