Public School Curriculum Matrix
Life Science – Flora
Objective: Students will learn the importance of a classification system and will learn how to classify/identify trees using a simple key. Activities include practice of basic classification and then a nature hike where students will use a dichotomous key and identify trees based upon their leaves.
PA 3.3.7 A
Objective: Students will learn to identify the various roles of organisms within a food chain or web, with a focus on the consumers. Animal behavior will also be discussed. The emphasis will be on animals and will explore some of their behaviors as students learn who eats whom. We will study food chains and webs as well as what makes animals alike and different. Activities will include games, owl pellet dissection, and a look at the animals in our Nature Center.
PA 4.3.7 A
Objective: Students will learn how fossils tell us about the past as they investigate the types and formation of fossils. Activities will include: making fossils and several other hands-on learning experiences.
PA 3.3.7 D
Objective: Students will have an introduction to Linnaeus’ classification system with a focus on the phylum Chordata. Activities include learning about and classifying some of the most unique vertebrates using photographs, live animals, and mounted specimens. This class is primarily taught indoors.
PA 3.3.7 A
Objective: Students will discover the abundance of invertebrates that are here on the earth. They will learn how to and the importance of classifying invertebrates, particularly insects. Activities include insect identification and classification using field guides and a simplified classification chart.
PA 3.3.7 A
Objective: For students to recognize the delicate balance in nature. Discussion will focus on cycles within an ecosystem, specific types of symbiosis between organisms, the different roles organisms have in nature including the living and non-living parts, and our role as care takers. This class includes many activities to reinforce basic ecological concepts.
Objective: During this session, students will explore a few of the primary examples of recycling in nature through the water, soil, and oxygen cycles. Activities include a soil study and a search for other examples of recycling in nature. Students also get to practice recycling while making their own paper.
PA 4.2.7 D
PA 4.6.7 B
Objective: Students will discuss the steps involved in the hydrologic cycle, the unique qualities of water, and the many purposes of this amazing substance. They will learn how to conduct a biotic study to determine water quality. Activities include an exploration of the Octorara Creek to learn how to determine the cleanliness of the water based on the organisms that live there.
PA 4.1.7 C
Objective: Students will learn a little of the history of the Amish church and what a typical day is like for a child their age. Students will have a great time learning about this unique culture as their instructor role-plays an Amish person.
Objective: For students to learn how to read a topographical map, the parts of a compass, and how to use a compass. Activities include making orienteering shapes and “finding the way” on our orienteering course in the forest.
Objective: In this sampler course of outdoor survival skills, students will learn the basics of wilderness survival. They will learn how to pick out an appropriate shelter location and construct a shelter using two tarps and ropes. They will learn to setup a cooking area by laying out a teepee, log cabin, and A-shaped fire using tinder, kindling, and coal producers. And finally, they will have a chance to cook and eat some tasty bannock.
Advanced Survival
Objective: An
in-depth view of wilderness survival provides students an opportunity
to learn and master essential survival skills. Choosing from one of
three concentrations, students will learn comprehensive skills in one
of the following areas:
- Fire: Students will
learn about the science of fire and practice several techniques on
building an efficient fire. Students will also enjoy a tasty campfire
snack.
- Shelter: Students will practice
building shelters out of tarps and available materials, as well as how
to use the landscape around them to find shelter in emergency
situations.
- Cooking: Students will learn how
to prepare food in the wilderness, using either a traditional campfire
or a cooking stove. They will then get to enjoy their culinary
creation.
*When selecting this class, please specify which
concentration you would like (i.e. "Advanced Survival: Fire") on the
class preference sheet. This class may be selected three different
times, once for each concentration.
Objective: For students to learn and to experience what teamwork is and how to better work together with their peers. This class presents various challenges and problems to the group which they must work through. Trust, communication, caring, and commitment are other character traits that are discussed. Each activity is followed up by a debrief discussion reflecting on what happened and how the activity can be related to life.