Environmental Education Center 4th & 5th Grade Student Programs
Fourth Grade
Programs
Forest Ecosystem
Investigation
Our Green World
Animal
Adaptations;
Reptiles &
Amphibians
Water, Water,
Everywhere
Down and Dirty!
Sensing the
Future (Weather
Forecasting)
TEKS
Science
STAAR
4.1(A),
4.2(A),
4.4(A),
4.9(B)
4.1 (A),
4.2
(A,B,C,D),
4.4 (A),
4.5 (A),
4.8 (A, B)
4.8A-SS
4.8B-SS
4.1 (A),
4.2 (A B),
4.4 (A),
4.5 (A),
4.9 (A,B)
4.1(A,B),
4.2(A,B,D),
4.7(B,C),
4.8(B)
4.1(A),
4.2(A,E),
4.3 (A -E),
4.4 (A),
4.7 (A),
4.10(A)
4.11 (A)
4.1(A),
4.3(A),
4.4(A),
4.8(A)
4.8A-SS
4.8B-SS
4.7A-SS
4.8A-SS
4.8B-SS
Program Description
Young naturalists will investigate the ecosystem of the Post
Oak Preserve, observing the adaptations of plants and animals
for survival in this ecosystem and in their niche. Students will
find evidence of the food web in action and trace the flow of
energy through the system, identifying producers, consumers
and decomposers. They will observe how changes in the
system, either seasonal or environmental, affect the food web.
Plants are essential to life on earth. Young botanists will
explore the adaptations of plants to the environment and the
interconnections between plants and animals. They will
explore the needs of plants, the role of plants as producers and
their place in the food web. Field experiences will include
observations with hand magnifiers and microscopes of plants
in the field, including stages in the life cycle of plants.
Students will make a plant collection and learn the techniques
for preserving plant material.
Young herpetologists will meet our scaly, slimy friends and
discover their many fascinating characteristics, behaviors and
adaptations as well as their important roles in various
ecosystems. They will explore the differences in life cycles
and roles in the food web. Field experiences include hands-on
observations as students interact with live animals.
Young hydrologists will observe the watershed of our EEC
ponds, analyze water samples and investigate solutions to
water pollution and water shortage problems. They will use
appropriate material and equipment to analyze water samples
from a pond on site. The concept of the water cycle will be
explored.
This program focuses on the composition of soil and the
process of soil formation through erosion and weathering of
rock and decomposition of organic material. Junior pedologists
will investigate the layers, or horizons, of soil, explore the
types of soils produced in different climates and topographic
regions and discover soil’s connection with animals and plants.
Student will gather soil samples for experimentation and
observation.
Students will explore the science of forecasting the weather.
As young meteorologists they will become familiar with
instruments used in measuring weather factors and their use in
weather forecasting. Students will learn the 3 major prediction
guidelines used by professionals: pressure trends, wind
direction and cloud coverage, along with how to interpret a
weather map and its basic symbols. Students will use a weather
map to make a short term weather forecast.
Environmental Education Center 4th & 5th Grade Student Programs
Fifth
Grade Programs
Animal Adaptations
– Birds and Niche
TEKS
Science
5.1 (A),
5.2 (B,C),
5.4 (A),
5.9 (A,B,C),
STAAR
5.9A-RS
5.9B-RS
5.9C-SS
5.10A-RS
5.10B-RS
Young ornithologists will explore the characteristics of birds and
their adaptations to different habitats and niches. Field
experiences will include a bird watching walk using binoculars
and field guides to observe and identify birds in a natural habitat.
5.8A-SS
5.8B-SS
5.9A-RS
5.9B-RS
5.9C-SS
5.9D-SS
Junior naturalists will observe various habitats and discover signs
of animals along the trail as it winds through the deep forest and
sunny prairie meadows of the Post Oak Preserve. Topics covered
will include biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem, energy
flow through the food web, cycles in nature, structure and
function of species that enable the species to succeed in the
ecosystem, and metamorphosis in insects.
Walking With
Wonder-The Forest
Revealed
5.1 (A),
5.10
(A,B)
5.2 (B,
C),
5.4 (A),
5.8 (A, B),
5.9 (A,B,C,D)
Meet the Critters Predators and
Niche
5.1 (A),
5.2 (B),
5.4 (A),
5.9
(A,B,C,D),
5.10 (A,B)
5.9A-RS
5.9B-RS
5.9C-SS
5.9D-SS
5.10.A-RS
5.10B-RS
5.1 (A),
5.2 (B, C),
5.4 (A),
5.5 (A),
5.9 (A,B,C)
5.5A-RS
5.9A-RS
5.9B-RS
5.9C-SS
Pond Ecology
Program Description
Junior ecologists will discover the important role of predators in
the ecosystem and explore their interesting adaptations and
niches using live animals. Field experiences will include a trail
walk using binoculars and field guides to observe and identify
predators in a natural habitat.
Junior limnologists will observe the pond, collect and identify a
variety of organisms and examine the microscopic life of the
pond using microscopes. Students will use appropriate material
and equipment to collect and prepare samples for viewing under
a microscope. The students will test for pH, temperature, and
turbidity in the pond.
Our Changing
World *
(weathering,
erosion, &
deposition)
5.1 (A),
5.2
5.7A-RS
(A,B,C,D,E),
5.7B-RS
5.3 (A),
5.7 (A,B)
Activities and field experiences are designed to explain the
process of weathering, erosion and deposition. Students will be
involved in hands-on activities designed to illustrate the
constructive and destructive forces affecting the landforms of the
earth.
Fossils, A Clue to
the Past
5.1 (A),
5.3 (D),
5.4 (A,B),
5.7 (A,D)
5.7A-RS
5.7D-SS
Junior geologists will discover how sedimentary rocks and fossils
are formed and how they help us learn about the past. Students
will practice using science tools (rock hammers, safety glasses,
hand lens) to find fossils. They will identify local Texas fossils.
The students will learn about careers in geology.
Weather and Our
Atmosphere
5.1 (A),
5.2 (C),
5.3 (D),
5.4 (A),
5.5 (A),
5.8 (A, B)
5.5A-RS
5.8A-SS
5.8-SS
The junior meteorologists will differentiate between weather and
climate, will examine the 3 states of water as they exist on Earth
(water, water vapor, and ice), and will explain how the Sun and
ocean interact in the water cycle. The students will explore
careers in meteorology and use science tools to measure weather.