Preface ix
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction xiii
Chapter One: The Wonder of the Place 1
Books to Use 3
Activities 8
Taking a Nature Walk 8
Just Explore 10
Nature Art 10
Alphabet Books and Counting Books 10
Running Lists 10
Place Maps 11
Maps 11
Where Are We? 11
Area Maps 11
Trip Maps 11
Other Maps 11
Giving Directions 11
Create a Walk 12
How Much Do You Know? 12
Secret Places/Favorite Places/Special Places 12
Scavenger Hunts 13
Start a Collection 14
Math 14
Measuring 14
Patterns 14
Geographic Features 15
Our Climate 15
Nature Survey 15
One Square Plot 16
Mystery Photos 16
Top 10 16
Nature Journals 16
Free Writing 17
Suggested Entries 17
Assigned Entries 18
Chapter Two: Sensing Our Place 19
Introduction 20
Books to Use 20
Activities 23
General Observation Activities 23
Touch Activities 25
Listening Activities 26
Smelling Activities 27
Sketching 27
Poetry29
Chapter Three: Adapting to the Place 33
Introduction 34
Books to Use 34
Activities 38
Habitat 38
Adaptations 43
Chapter Four: How Does the Place Work? 49
Introduction 50
Books to Use 50
Activities 52
Big Picture 52
Resources 52
One Thing Leads to Another 53
Food Cycle 53
Predator/Prey 54
There Is a Limit 54
Food Webs 54
Energy in a Bucket 55
Candy Energy 55
The Food Pyramid 55
Biodiversity Blocks 56
Measuring Insect Diversity 56
Populations 56
Life Cycles 57
Population Growth 57
Carbon Cycle 58
Nitrogen Cycle 58
Water Cycle Juggling 59
Where Does the Water Go? 59
Succession 59
Flip Books 60
Ecological Magic 60
Chapter Five: Animals of the Place 63
Introduction 64
Books to Use 64
Activities 68
Finding a Totem Animal 68
Animal Watch 69
Charades and Twenty Questions 69
Animal Needs 69
Classifying 70
Finding Animals and Identifying Animals 70
Bird Identification 71
Animal Signs 71
Observing Animals 72
Animal Experiments 73
Animal Research 74
Animal Art 76
Puppet Shows 77
Chapter Six: Plants of the Place 79
Introduction 80
Books to Use 80
Activities 83
Hug a Tree 83
Personal Tree 83
Tree Size 83
Other Measurements 84
Tree Age 84
Bark Rubbings 85
Dissect a Bud 85
Tree Seeds 85
Leaf Classification 85
Find My Plant 85
Tree Identification 85
Tree Book 86
Tree Tag 86
Tic Tac Tree 86
Tree Research 86
Tree Population 86
Tree Map 87
Plant Art 87
Plant Basics 87
Plant Life Cycle 88
Photosynthesis 89
Plant Stories 89
Plant Guide 90
Invent a Plant 90
Chapter Seven: A Place in History 91
Introduction 92
Books to Use 93
Activities 98
General Activities 98
Activities Related to Native Americans 102
Activities Related to Colonial Times 108
Chapter Eight: Protecting the Place 111
Introduction 112
Books to Use 112
Activities 117
Cooperative Physical Challenges 117
Enough Space 118
River Game 118
Put It Back Together 119
Resource Game 119
Environmental Impact Statement 119
Town Meeting 120
Local Action 121
Chapter Eight: Protecting the Place (cont.)
Persuasive Essay 122
Education 123
Unsung Hero Projects 123
School Ground Projects 125
Personal Contract 127
Field Guides for Children 129
Bibliography 131
Index 133
About the Author 145
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