Activity 1:  Neighborhood Map

Grade Level:  6 - 8 grade

Time:  Several 30 - 60 minutes sessions

Concept:  Students document the existence of habitat need resources in their neighborhood.  (Students often believe that natural areas are “somewhere else,” not right where they live.)

Objectives:  Students will:

            1.  inventory the habitat resources of their neighborhood (Science)

            2.  map green spaces of their neighborhood (Geography)

            3.  suggest ways to improve the habitat for animals, plants, and people (Science)

            4.  determine percentage of neighborhood available to wildlife (Math)

National Standards

            Science

            Geography

            Math

Materials:  map of area to inventory -- students can draw this if small enough area, US Geological Survey has high resolution (you can see each house and tree at the time the photograph was taken) aerial maps of almost everywhere, road maps can be enlarged on a copy machine, and the internet has large scale road maps of almost every neighborhood; colored pencils, crayons, or markers; 

Preparation Needed:

            Decide on the area to be mapped.

            Decide on the type of map to be used and acquire it if necessary.

            Obtain field trip permission slips if area to map is off school property.

Procedure:

            1.  Discuss such concepts as urban, habitat, and mapping.

            2.  Divide students into teams of 2-3.  Explain that they are to mark on the map the following items:  trees, bushes, grass, planters, water of any size, parks, etc.  Use a color scheme to mark each type of item on the map and provide a legend.

            3.  Figure the percentage of area available to wildlife.

            4.  Look at the map.  What components of habitat (food, water, shelter, and space) are missing or in low supply?  Brainstorm lists of ways to improve the habitat.

Evaluation:

            Students can estimate the amount of “green space” in their area.

            Students can list three ways to increase/improve the area for wildlife.

Extension:

            Let students agree on one of their “improvement” ideas and implement it.

Modifications:

Older students

            1.  Increase the size of the area to be inventoried.

            2.  Figure the percentage of the surveyed area suitable for wildlife using actual math calculations of areas and percentages.

            3.  List the species of plants used - the wider the diversity of plant species available, the wider the diversity of animals attracted to the area.

Younger students

            1.  Work on a detailed inventory of just the schoolyard or a nearby park.

            2.  Estimate the area suitable for wildlife in terms such as “a lot,” “not very much,” or “one-fourth,” etc.

ACTIVITY TWO