In this activity, students Students will research an animal native to Alabama that they would like to attract to the school’s outdoor classroom and the habitat resources that animal needs to survive. Then, they will explore the outdoor classroom to determine whether or not the resources needed are available in the school’s wildlife habitat.

• Lesson Plan: Interactive STEPS below or PDF
• Activity Sheets for Students:
  • Version #1: (general animal) Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is"
  • Version #2: (Fowler's Toad) Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is"
• Activity Answer Sheet for Teachers: (Version #2) Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is"
• Materials Needed: Activity Sheets, Clipboards, Pencils & Field Identification Guides
• Duration: Introduction – 45 min. | Outdoor Exploration – 30 min. | Review – 30 min.
• Alabama Course of Study Standards Taught: PDF

STEP 1: Engage through Discussion
The background information, vocabulary, 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 Info: 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
This book can be used to further explore the topic with your students:

• Backyard Habitats by Bobbie Kalman (ISBN: 978-0778729853)

STEP 3: Explain using Technology
These videos can be used to further explain the topic to your students:

• Why Garden for Wildlife? (1:35 min.) @ http://sciencenetlinks.com/videos/why-garden-wildlife/
• Science Trek: Habitat (4:48 min.) @ https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/idptv11.sci.life.eco.d4khab/habitat/#.WvCBw4gvw2w

STEP 4: Investigate through Journaling
The Outdoor Classroom Field Investigation Activity Observation Sheet(s) 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 instructions and your Outdoor Classroom Rules with your students:

• Outdoor Classroom Activity Tip – If possible, split your students into groups of two or three students so that they can work together as a team to research the animal that they want to provide habitat for in the outdoor classroom. Then assign each group of students a class of animals that they can choose from so that you have at least one group researching a bird, amphibian, reptile, mammal, insect, etc. Use the following field identification guides and safe websites for the research:
• Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources' Watchable Wildlife Webpages @ https://www.outdooralabama.com/watchable-wildlife
• UGA's Savannah River Ecology Lab's Reptiles and Amphibians of South Carolina and Georgia Webpage @ https://srelherp.uga.edu/herps.htm
• Alabama Butterfly Atlas @ http://www.alabama.butterflyatlas.usf.edu/
• National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Southeastern States (ISBN: 978-0679446835)
• National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Insects & Spiders of North America (ISBN: 978-1402741531)
• Birds of Alabama Field Guide by Stan Tekiela (ISBN: 978-1591931515)
• Turtles of Alabama (Gosse Nature Guides) by Dr. Craig Guyer Ph.D., Mark A. Bailey, Robert H. Mount (ISBN: 978-0817358068)
• Butterflies of Alabama: Glimpses into Their Lives (Gosse Nature Guides) by Paulette Haywood Ogard and Sara Cunningham Bright (ISBN: 978-0817355951)
• Mammals of Alabama (Gosse Nature Guides) by Dr. Troy L. Best Ph.D. and Dr. Julian L. Dusi Ph.D. (ISBN: 978-0817357498)
• Activity Instructions for Wildlife Habitat Checklist Activity Sheet(s) – Have students use a field identification guide and/or website to research a wildlife species native to Alabama and its habitat needs. The explore your outdoor classroom to determine if your schoolyard wildlife habitat provides habitat for this wildlife species.
  • Version #1: (general animal) Word Doc can be edited | PDF ready "as is"
  • Version #2: (Fowler's Toad) 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 outdoor classroom is not a playground, so do not run and do not climb on anything. Remember that the outdoor classroom provides habitat (a home) for local wildlife, and you should not damage the local wildlife habitat. Therefore, do not pick up wildlife, plants, flowers or rocks. Also, do not feed wildlife.

STEP 5: Review with an Assessment
Review and assess the students’ observations and answers on their observation pages. You can use the second version of the Activity Sheets as an evaluation tool by assigning the students one specific animal species to research.