Earth and Its Inhabitants - Grades 3-5

Objective: The objective of this activity is to explore the importance of living things and how they impact the Earth by recognizing what they do for the Earth and basic classifications.

Materials (provided by CSM): Outdoor scavenger hunt worksheet (3-5 Nature Scavenger Hunt)

Discussion:

• Why is it important to understand the relationship between the earth and its inhabitants?
  • Living organisms are all around us. There are animals, insects, plants, and much more! All of these organisms contribute to our environment.
  • How do they contribute to the environment? Why is it important to respect and help ALL of Earth’s Inhabitants?
  • Describe the impact a bee has on: pollination/fertilization of plants which helps them grow and diversify. (Crops for livestock food, etc.)
    • Why is biodiversity important? Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play. For example, A larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops. Greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms.
  • What do trees do? Take in Carbon Dioxide, provide Oxygen. Keep soil in place, provide homes for living things.
    • What is deforestation? Why is this bad? Explore the loss of habitats, soil erosion and impact on global climate change (carbon emissions trap heat-- results is NOT just a 70 degree day in February...what is the true impact on a global scale? Ex: Glaciers melt, disrupts ocean currents, causes tsunamis and other severe weather patterns)
• Why is it important to classify living things?
  • Classification make it easier to study and understand the behaviors, lives and evolutionary progression of millions of life forms.
  • What is taxonomy? System used to classify living things into large categories (kingdoms) all the way down to very specific names for each living thing. Allows us to group living things in various ways so they are easier to study
    • Kingdom: Plantae
      • Flowering - has seeds
        • Ex: Pine tree, sunflower
      • Non Flowering - does not have seeds
        • Ex: algae, moss, ferns
    • Kingdom: Animalia
      • Vertebrate - has backbone
        • Ex: Birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish
      • Invertebrate - does not have backbone
        • Insects, worms, arachnids, myriapods, etc.

Activity Description:
This activity is designed for students to explore the outdoor environment surrounding their school. To complete this nature treasure hunt, students are asked to find living things and classify them.CSM student volunteers will guide the students in their exploration, answer questions and encourage them to be creative and curious.