Research Scenario

As more and more homes, shopping malls, and other businesses are built in Maryland, the natural habitat that sustains native plants, insects, birds, and small animals is disappearing. Native plants are mowed down to create lawns. As a result, small mammals, like rabbits, have nowhere to hide from predators. Birds are losing spaces to build their nests and the food they need to feed their babies. Squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, foxes, wood ducks, mallards, quail, blue jays and woodpeckers can not find the acorns they need to survive the winter.

To remedy the problem the Office of Science has challenged every elementary school to create a plan for a schoolyard habitat. A schoolyard habitat is an environment that provides food, water, space, cover and a place to raise young for the wildlife that live in and around your school.

This is where you come in! The Office of Science is asking you to collect and analyze data about your school's grounds. Then, you will research what living, non-living, and once-living factors are needed to support many different species. After you have collected and evaluated data about your schoolyard and researched information about habitats, you will create a Schoolyard Habitat Action Plan. Finally, you will submit your plan for creating a refuge for wildlife to your principal for approval.

Essential Question: How can a schoolyard provide the living, non-living, and once-living factors necessary for the survival of a variety of native species?

Task and Product

Step 1: First, your teacher will assign you to a team and a section of the schoolyard to survey; then, you and your team will complete a general habitat survey of the school's grounds. As you conduct your survey, be sure to

• make careful observations and take accurate measurements so that you can draw a map of your area.
• determine the sunlight, soil mixture, and soil texture.

Step 2: Next, you will conduct a wildlife inventory. Simply count the number of species you see, hear, or find evidence of. Click here to see how to use animal tracks and scat to discover which animals live in your school's yard. Be sure to note the data and time of your observation as seasonal and diurnal changes will affect the number of species you see. Your initial wildlife survey will serve as your baseline so you can measure to see if changes in the habitat improve the number and diversity of species.

Step 3: Your teacher will assign you to a team of three. Each team member will be responsible for gathering information about one of the habitats listed below:

Be sure to do your best work! Your team members are depending on you for information about your assigned habitat.

Step 4: Based on the presentations of your team members, you will decide which type of habitat is most suitable for your site. Working individually, you will develop a proposal to create a schoolyard habitat.

Products

• Habitat survey, including a map drawn to scale of school grounds (Completed in Step 1)
• Wildlife Survey (Completed in Step 2)
• Schoolyard Habitat Proposal (Completed in Step 4)
  • a map of your proposed site; click here to see a model
  • the assessment you completed of the light, soil mixture, and soil texture
  • the number and types of plants necessary to attract and sustain a diverse population of native birds, small mammals, and insects; click here for directions on calculating the number of plants
  • the once-living habitat features, like rotting logs and brush piles, you plan to include to provide cover and nesting areas
  • any water features, like a birdbath or water trough
• Video Quiz Show
• Persuasive letter to your principal

Assessments

The following scoring tools may be used or adapted by your teacher to evaluate your research process and your final product and presentation

Questions

Essential Question: How can a schoolyard provide the living, non-living, and once-living factors necessary for the survival of a variety of native species?

• How many and what type of native plants are necessary to attract and sustain a diverse population of insects, birds, and small mammals?
• What living factors are needed to sustain insects? Birds? Small mammals?
• What once-living factors are needed to sustain insects? Birds? Small mammals?
• What non-living factors are needed to sustain insects? Birds? Small mammals?
• What soil conditions are necessary to support a wetland? Meadow? Forest?
• How much sunlight is needed to support a wetland? Meadow? Forest?
• What would we need to do to create and enhance our school's grounds in order to support native plants, birds, insects and small mammals?

Use this Question Worksheet to brainstorm questions you would like to research.

Gather and Sort

Use a variety of resources to gather information about forests, meadows, or wetlands.

Sort and organize your research findings using the research organizer for the habitat you were assigned.

• Forest - html; Word
• Meadow - html; Word
• Wetland - html; Word

Be sure to avoid plagiarism and keep track of your resources for a bibliography.  Need help documenting your resources?  Use the interactive tools at NoodleBib Starter .

Organize

Analyze your research notes to determine if you have adequate information to choose which type of habitat is best suited to your school's grounds. Ask yourself:

• Do I know which plants will grow best in our school's soil?
• Is there sufficient light and moisture for the plants to grow?
• What insects, birds, and small mammals will be attracted to the habitat?
• What living, once-living, and non-living factors will I need to include in my habitat plan?

Combine your research with your knowledge from your schoolyard survey and wildlife inventory. Synthesize your findings by creating the Schoolyard Habitat Action Plan.

Evaluateyour finished product by using the rubric for the Schoolyard Habitat Action Plan as a checklist. Revise your work as needed.

Conclusion

Presentation:

Write a persuasive letter to your principal that:

• describes your Schoolyard Habitat Action Plan.
• includes at least three reasons why the principal should think about adopting your plan to create a Schoolyard Habitat on your school's grounds.

Reflection:

Think about everything you have done and learned while planning your Schoolyard Habitat and then answer the following question in a BCR: What are the benefits to humans of creating and maintaining habitats which attract and sustain native plant, insect, bird, and small animal populations?

Extension Activity:

Use the following resources to plan a habitat for your house or apartment:

• Keep a Nature Journal to record the number and types of plants, insects, birds, and small animals living in your neighborhood
• Read More on Creating Wildlife Habitats
• How to create a Mini Garden
• Bayscapes for Wildlife Habitats