OC Field Investigation Activity: Comparing Life Cycles OLD

In this activity, students will compare their life cycle (the life cycle of a human) with the life cycle of an animal that they find in the outdoor classroom.  
  • Lesson Plan:  Interactive STEPS below or PDF
  • Outdoor Classroom Field Investigation Activity Sheets for Students:  
    • Version #1: (general animal)  Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is"  
    • Version #2: (frog)  Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is"  
  • Outdoor Classroom Field Investigation Answer Sheets for Teachers:  (version 2) Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is" 
  • Materials Needed:  Activity Sheets, Clipboards & Pencils   (optional: magnifying glasses and binoculars)
  • Field ID Guide Suggestions: National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Southeastern States, Birds of Alabama, and/or National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Insects and Spiders
  • Duration:  Introduction - 40 min.  |  Outdoor Exploration - 20 min.  |  Research & Review  - 30 min.
  • Alabama Course of Study Standards Taught:  PDF

STEP 1: Engage through Discussion
The background & vocabulary information, interactive powerpoint, and example questions below can be used to help introduce the topic, engage the students, and build a foundation to discuss the topic:
  • Background & Vocabulary:  Word Doc | PDF
  • Interactive PowerPoint:  PPT - Be sure to click "Enable Editing" when you open it, and click "Slide Show" & "From Beginning" to use interactive capability.
  • Example Questions & Answers: Word Doc | PDF 

STEP 2: Explore with Literature
These books can be used to further explore the topic with your students:Caterpillar to Butterfly (National Geographic Readers Series)
  • Caterpillar to Butterfly (National Geographic Kids) by Laura Marsh ISBN: 978-1426315787 Frogs by Gail Gibbons
  • Frogs by Gail Gibbons ISBN: 978-0823411344
  • Monarch Butterfly by Gail Gibbons ISBN: 978-0823409099  Monarch Butterfly by Gail Gibbons

STEP 3:  Explain using Technology
These videos can be used to further explain the topic to your students:
STEP 4: Investigate through Journaling
The Outdoor Classroom Field Investigation activity sheets allow students to apply what they have learned as they investigate and record their real-world observations in their field journals.  Before you go outside, don't forget to review the activity tip and instructions along with your Outdoor Classroom Rules with your students:
  • Activity Tip - Conduct this activity in the warm months of spring or fall to increase the possibility of finding not only adult animals but also their offspring, so that your students can observe the full life cycle of the wildlife in your outdoor classroom.  Animals that you may be able to view at different stages of development include birds and their chicks in a nesting box, caterpillars and adult butterflies in your butterfly or pollinator habitat, or a frog/toad and its tadpoles in a pond.
  • Activity Sheet Instructions - Explore your outdoor classroom to find an animal.  Draw a picture of it and record your observations about it.  Use a field identification guide like the National Audubon’s Field Guide to the Southeastern States or Outdoor Alabama’s Watchable Wildlife webpages to identify the animal and to research its life cycle. (See Safe Websites list below.) Then, record observations about you and a human’s life cycle.  Compare the animal’s life cycle stages to your own life cycle.
    • Version #1: (general animal)  Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is"  
    • Version #2: (frog)  Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is"  
  • Activity Answer Sheets for Teachers - (version 2) Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is" 
  • Example Outdoor Classroom Rules - (PDF) The The outdoor classroom provides habitat (a home) for local wildlife.  It is not a playground, so do not run and do not climb on anything.  Do not step on the rocks or garden pavers.  Do not pick up wildlife, plants, flowers or rocks because we don’t want to damage the habitat.  Do not feed the wildlife.  Please be respectful.  Remember - the quieter you are, the greater your chance of seeing wildlife!
  • Safe Websites for Student Research - These websites can be used by your students for research purposes:
            Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources Watchable Wildlife @ https://www.outdooralabama.com/watchable-wildlife
            Alabama Butterfly Atlas @ http://www.alabama.butterflyatlas.usf.edu/
            The Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds @ https://www.allaboutbirds.org/
            Bug Guide's Insect Identification @ https://bugguide.net/

STEP 5: Review with an Assessment
Review and assess the students’ observations and answers on the activity sheets.  Another extension could be to have students research and draw the different stages of the life cycle of an organism not observed in the outdoor classroom using the assessment page below to help you assess your students’ level of understanding of the topic:
  • Comparing Life Cycles Assessment Sheet:  Version #1: Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is"  |  Version #2A: Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is"  |  Version #2B: Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is"   
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