FIELD TRIPS

Students will use their senses to explore Bluff Lake as an animal does, through sight, sounds, smell, and touch! Expert environmental educators and interactive games will help the natural world come alive. Students will be introduced to some of the many animals, plants, and habitats of Bluff Lake.

NGSS: K-LS1-1.; K-2-ETS1-2.

In-Person Field Trip Worksheet: None

Worksheets and Activities (free to use or modify): Sensory Scavenger Hunt

Spanish Materials? NO

Students will learn about 9+ different animals, their characteristics, habitats and signs. Our environmental educators will lead students on a hike around Bluff Lake where we will look for signs of animals. This includes prairie dog holes and scats, beaver teeth markings on trees, animal prints on the ground, and much more. We will also talk about challenges each animal faces and human’s impact.

NGSS: K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, K-ESS3-3, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS4-2, 3-LS4-3

In-Person Field Trip Worksheet: Animal Worksheet

Presentation For Virtual Field Trips: All About Animals

Worksheets and Activities (free to use or modify): Animal Video and Activity Series

Spanish Materials? NO

Students will discover what makes a good habitat, the different habitats of Bluff Lake, and the many types of living things in each. Our environmental educators will guide students in making their own observations of the plants and animals in each habitat, and students will look for ways these species can find what they need to survive.

NGSS: K-LS1-1; K-ESS2-2; K-ESS3-1; K-ESS3-3; 1-LS1-1; 1-LS3-1; 2-LS4-1; K-2-ETS1-2.

In-Person Field Trip Worksheet: Habitat Comparison Worksheet

Presentation For Virtual Field Trips: Pre-Field Trip Habitats Intro

Habitats (K-3)

Habitats (4-6)

Worksheets and Activities (free to use or modify): Habitats Question Sheet (K-3)

Habitats Question Sheet (4-6)

Spanish Materials? YES

Take a walk around Bluff Lake while learning about all different types of nature’s cycles. Some of the life cycles students may learn about are frogs, Monarch butterflies, cicadas and plants. Students will also have the opportunity to learn about the water cycle along with the prairie and wetland food webs. They will be given time to explore, make observations and ask plenty of questions.

NGSS: K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS1-1, L-LS4-3, 5-PS3-1, 5-LS2-1

In-Person Field Trip Worksheet: Wetland Food Web Activity

Presentation For Virtual Field Trips: Habitats and Food Webs

Worksheets and Activities (free to use or modify): Habitats & Food Webs Question Sheet (4-6)

Wetland Food Web Activity

Spanish Materials? YES

In addition to enjoying a hike around the many beautiful areas of Bluff Lake, students will also learn and practice some skills they can use to enjoy nature more responsibly. We will provide field equipment such as maps, compasses, and binoculars for students to practice with, and will also discuss what to do if you are lost or encounter a wild animal. Students will also have the chance to practice building their own emergency shelter.

NGSS: NGSS: K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-2, 2-PS1-1, 3-LS4-2, 3-LS4-3, 4-ESS2-2, 5-PS1-3, MS-LS2-4, MS-ESS3-3

In-Person Field Trip Worksheet: Field equipment lending, no worksheet

Presentation For Virtual Field Trips: Coming Soon

Worksheets and Activities (free to use or modify): Coming Soon

Spanish Materials? NO

Students will investigate the question, “Which of the prairie dog colonies at Bluff Lake has the healthiest population?” They will visit the colonies and take their own census, looking for clues such as sightings of adult and young prairie dogs, number and placement of holes, amount of scat, nearby food sources, other animals in the area, and human influences. After the exploration hike, students will draw their own conclusions and discuss the different ways that people and prairie dogs can coexist.

NGSS: 3-LS1; 3-LS2; 3-LS3; 3-LS4; 3-ESS3; 3-5-ETS1; 4-LS1; 4-ESS3; 4-ESS2; 5-PS3; 5-LS1; 5-PS1; 5-LS2; 5-ESS3; MS-PS3; MS-LS1; MS-LS2; MS-ESS2; MS-ESS3; MS-ETS1

In-Person Field Trip Worksheet: Prairie Dog Worksheet

Presentation For Virtual Field Trips: Coming Soon

Spanish Materials? YES

Students will investigate the question, “Which part of the leaves’ appearance (size, shape, or edges) changes the most between different habitats?” They will use a map to guide them to different habitats around Bluff Lake, then find leaves to examine, measure, draw, and label with the help of flora field guides. After the exploration hike, they will draw their own conclusions and discuss the different ways that people can create the best conditions for a variety of plant life.

NGSS: 3-LS1; 3-LS2; 3-LS3; 3-LS4; 3-ESS3; 3-5-ETS1; 4-LS1; 4-ESS3; 4-ESS2; 5-PS3; 5-LS1; 5-PS1; 5-LS2; 5-ESS3; MS-PS3; MS-LS1; MS-LS2; MS-ESS2; MS-ESS3; MS-ETS1

In-Person Field Trip Worksheet: Leaf Mission Worksheet

Presentation For Virtual Field Trips: Coming Soon

Spanish Materials? YES

Bluff Lake Educators will lead the students on a short hike around Bluff Lake, examining the different soil types. Students will be able to participate in a soil separation experiment to discover different soil types within each layer. We will also determine why soil is important and the challenges to healthy soils. Students will discuss several human impacts on soil, and how we can mitigate those effects.

NGSS: K-ESS3-3, 2-PS1-1, 2-ESS2-1, 4-ESS2-1, 4-ESS3-2, 5-PS1-3

In-Person Field Trip Worksheet: Coming Soon

Presentation For Virtual Field Trips: Soils

Worksheets and Activities (free to use or modify): Coming Soon

Spanish Included? NO

Students will investigate the question, “Which water source at Bluff Lake is the healthiest for aquatic animals?” They will look for signs of wildlife and human influence at Bluff Lake, Sand Creek, and our storm-water outfalls, then use a water monitoring kit to run their own tests of pH, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity. After the exploration hike, they will draw their own conclusions and discuss the different ways that people can protect the health of water systems.

NGSS: 3-LS1; 3-LS2; 3-LS3; 3-LS4; 3-ESS3; 3-5-ETS1; 4-LS1; 4-ESS3; 4-ESS2; 5-PS3; 5-LS1; 5-PS1; 5-LS2; 5-ESS3; MS-PS3; MS-LS1; MS-LS2; MS-ESS2; MS-ESS3; MS-ETS1

In-Person Field Trip Worksheet: Water Worksheet

Presentation For Virtual Field Trips: Water Mission

Worksheets and Activities (free to use or modify): Water Question Sheet (1-3)

Water Question Sheet 4-6

Spanish Materials? YES

Students will investigate the question, “Which ecosystem at Bluff Lake has the most biodiversity (different species of plants and animals)?” They will use binoculars and magnifying glasses to examine different species in the prairie, wetland, and riparian habitats, then record their observations and use field guides to identify the species. After the exploration hike, they will draw their own conclusions and discuss the different ways that people can protect the biodiversity of natural ecosystems.

NGSS: 3-LS1; 3-LS2; 3-LS3; 3-LS4; 3-ESS3; 3-5-ETS1; 4-LS1; 4-ESS3; 4-ESS2; 5-PS3; 5-LS1; 5-PS1; 5-LS2; 5-ESS3; MS-PS3; MS-LS1; MS-LS2; MS-ESS2; MS-ESS3; MS-ETS1

In-Person Field Trip Worksheet: Ecosystem Worksheet

Presentation For Virtual Field Trips: Coming Soon

Worksheets and Activities (free to use or modify): Coming Soon

Spanish Materilas? YES

Bluff Lake's unique location as a wildlife refuge surrounded by urban development makes it a great place to study how humans and the natural world interact, either successfully or unsuccessfully. In this program students will record their observations about human/environment interactions, identify potential areas of improvement, choose a problem, and start the process of developing a solution (to be continued back at the classroom). Students gain ownership over the problem and a chance to take action on an environmental issue they care about.

Bluff Lake Staff can work with you to design a program that targets your desired learning outcomes and the needs of your students, such as a more specific topic, multiple-visit series, service project, or field work. Please contact wyatt@blufflake.org to discuss what you are looking for.