Key
Concepts: Cycles are a part of nature.
Cycles in nature interact with one another. People are a part of nature
cycles.Goals: To foster an awareness and appreciation of nature, with emphasis on natural, biological and physical cycles; to expose students to the plants and animals found in present lowland Hawaiian forest and stream environments.
Objectives: Students will be able to describe the life cycles of flowering plants and some stream organisms, the water cycle, and the nutrient cycle; identify common decomposers and explain their importance in nature; illustrate the interrelationships between cycles; demonstrate how people are a part of nature through recycling efforts.
Activities:
- Stream Cycles - Students will gather at the edge of
Makiki Stream to review the water cycle. Afterwards, they'll explore
the stream banks and look for hidden stream life.
- Nutrient Cycle - At first glance, this forest is home
to little more than bushes and trees. As investigative scientists,
students search the soil for hidden organisms that break down fallen
branches and leaves, and make it possible for this towering forest to
exist.
- Plant Cycles - Most of us know that seeds sprout
seedlings, but where do the seeds come from? We'll use fallen flowers,
fruits and seeds to demonstrate the process, and then proceed on a
treasure hunt through the forest, looking for various plants and plant
parts.
• Oahu Grade 2 Teacher Resource Guide (PDF)
• Maui Grade 2 Teacher Resource Guide (Word)