Environmental Education Center Kindergarten – 3rd Grade Programs
Kindergarten
Programs
TEKS
Science
Program Description
Students will learn about animals from the traditional children’s song
“Over in the Meadow”, using counting, observation, classification and
identification skills. The characteristics of different classes of animals,
stages of growth and development, ways of caring for the young,
homes and food will be explored. Students will meet many of the
animals from the song as live or preserved specimens. Field
experiences will include a walk along the pond and prairie trail using
hand magnifiers for observations and/or a visit to the domestic animals
at the barn.
A great diversity of earth and life science discoveries await the
curiosity of young naturalists as they explore the Pond and Prairie
Trail. Birds, reptiles and invertebrates are especially easy to observe
along this trail. The edge of the pond always offers an array of tracks,
feathers, shells and other fascinating discoveries. Field experiences
will include measurement of wind and temperature, observation of
clouds and identification of signs of the season in plant and animal life.
Students will use a hand lens to make observations and the teacher
may make a collection of natural objects to take back to the classroom
for further study.
All About
Animals
K.1 (A),
K.2 (A, C),
K.3 (C),
K.4 (A,B)
K.7(C),
K.8(A),
K.9 (A, B),
K.10 (A,B)
Discover Water,
Weather and
Wildlife
K.1 (A),
K.2 (A, C),
K.3 (C),
K.4 (A,B),
K.7(C),
K.8(A),
K.9 (A, B),
K.10 (A,B)
Trees from
Tiny to Gigantic
K.1 (A),
K.2 (A, C),
K.3 (C),
K.4 (A,B),
K.7(C),
K.8(A),
K.9 (A, B),
K.10
(A,B,C,D)
Young naturalists will explore the lives of trees, from tiny seedling to
tall maturity to fallen giant, as they walk the trails of the Post Oak
Preserve. Students will observe the parts of the tree and trees at
different stages of growth and decay. They will compare trees to other
kinds of plant and discover the many animals that depend on trees for
food and shelter. Field experiences will include observation,
classification and identification skills. Students will use hand lenses to
make observations and the teacher may make a collection of natural
objects to take back to the classroom for further study.
Secrets of the
Woods and
Meadows
K.1 (A),
K.2 (A, C),
K.3 (C),
K.4 (A,B),
K.7(C),
K.8(A),
K.9 (A, B),
K.10 (A,B)
Many exciting discoveries await students as they explore the deep
forest and sunny prairie meadows along the Woods and Meadows
Trail. Young naturalists will search for burrows, tracks, nests and other
clues that reveal the secret life of the largely nocturnal animals that
call these habitats home. Field experiences will include observation,
classification and identification skills. Students will use hands lenses
to make observations and the teacher may make a collection of natural
objects to take back to the classroom for further study.
Environmental Education Center Kindergarten – 3rd Grade Programs
First Grade
Programs
Mammals
and More
Signs of the
Seasons
Forest Food
Chain
Sensational
Seeds
TEKS
Science
1.1 (A),
1.2 (A),
1.3(C),
1.4 (A),
1.9 (A, C),
1.10(A,C)
1.1 (A),
1.2 (A),
1.3(C),
1.4 (A),
1.7(B),
1.8(A,C),
1.9 (A, C),
1.10(A,B)
1.1 (A),
1.2 (A),
1.3(C),
1.4 (A),
1.7(B),
1.8(A,C),
1.9 (A, C),
1.10(A,B)
1.1 (A),
1.2 (A),
1.3(C),
1.4 (A),
1.8(C),
1.9 (A, C),
1.10(B)
Program Description
Mammals are the animals most familiar to young children, and of
course, humans are mammals too. Students will learn the
defining characteristics of our fellow mammals and compare
them to other common animals such as birds and reptiles.
Students will explore the adaptations of different kinds of
animals to various habitats and niches. Field experiences will
include a trail walk using hand lenses to search for signs of
animals and/or a visit to the domestic animals at the barn.
This program focuses of the changes that the different seasons
bring to the land, water, sky, animals and plants. Students will
look for signs of the seasons as they observe plants and animals
on a trail walk along the Pond and Prairie Trail. Field
experiences will include observation and identification skills.
Students will use hand lenses to make observations and the
teacher may make a small collection of natural objects to take
back to the classroom for further study.
Young naturalists will explore the shady forest and sunny prairie
meadows of the Post Oak Preserve to find evidence of the food
chain in action. Students will search for chewed leaves and nuts,
burrows, scat and other clues that reveal the secret life of the
largely nocturnal animals that call these habitats home. Field
experiences will include observation and identification skills.
Students will use hand lenses to make observations and the
teacher may make a collection of natural objects to take back to
the classroom for further study.
Seeds are nature’s surprise packages. Inside each seed is the
future plant, so seeds are crucial to the survival of most plants.
Many animals, including humans, depend on the high energy
food found in seeds. This program will focus on understanding
the importance of seeds for plants and animals, observation of the
life cycle of plants, and exploration of various seed dispersal
strategies. Students will use hand lenses for outdoor observations
and make a collection of seeds for further study.
Environmental Education Center Kindergarten – 3rd Grade Programs
Second Grade
Programs
Amazing
Arthropods
TEKS
Science
2.1(A),
2.2 (A, C),
2.3 (C),
2.4 (A),
2.9 (A, B,C),
2.10(A,C)
How’s the
Weather?
2.1(A),
2.2 (A, C),
2.3 (C),
2.4 (A),
2.8(A,B,C),
2.9(B)
Our Green
World
2.1(A,C),
2.2 (A, C),
2.3 (C)
2.4 (A),
2.9 (A, B,C),
2.10(A,B,C)
Web of Life
Discovery
Walk
2.1(A),
2.2 (A, C),
2.3 (C),
2.4 (A),
2.9 (A, B,C),
2.10(A,B,C)
Program Description
Young entomologists will explore the fascinating world of the
arthropods, using live and preserved specimens to discover the
similarities and differences between spiders, insects and other
arthropods. Students will discover connections between plants,
arthropods and other animals. Students will practice classification and
interpretation skills using live and preserved specimens. Field
experiences will include collection and observation of arthropods in
the gardens and natural areas using insect nets and hand magnifiers.
Explore the science of meteorology and the relationship of weather
and climate to the environment. Learn about the roles of the water
cycle, wind and sun in the ever-changing Texas weather. During the
field experience, young meteorologists will learn to use various
instruments related to observing, measuring, recording and predicting
the weather. Outdoor investigations will explore the effects of
seasonal and weather changes on the lives of plants and animals.
Plants make life on earth possible. Young botanists will discover the
many ways animals, including humans, depend on plants, as well as
the ways plants sometimes depend on animals. Field experiences will
include observation, classification and identification of plants in the
gardens and natural areas using hand magnifiers. Students will make a
collection of plant material, observe that collection with a microscope
and preserve the collection for further study and classroom projects.
Many exciting discoveries await students as they explore the deep
forest and sunny prairie meadows along the Woods and Meadows
Trail. Young naturalists will search for burrows, tracks, nests and
other clues that reveal the secret life of the largely nocturnal animals
that call these habitats home. Field experiences will include
observation, identification and classification skills. Students will use
hand magnifiers to make observations and the teacher may make a
collection of natural objects to take back to the classroom for further
study.
Environmental Education Center Kindergarten – 3rd Grade Programs
Third Grade
Programs
TEKS
Science
STAAR
Leaf Litter
Detectives
3.1(A),
3.2(A, C, D),
3.4(A),
3.9(A)
3.9A-SS
Water, Wind
And Wildlife
3.1(A),
3.2(A-F),
3.3 (A,B),
3.4(A),
3.9(A-C)
3.9A-SS
3.10C-SS
Discover the
Woods &
Meadows
Ecosystems
3.1(A),
3.2(A-D),
3.3 (A),
3.4 (A),
3.8 (A),
3.9 (A-C),
3.10(A-C)
3.9A-SS
3.10C-SS
Feathered
Friends
3.1(A),
3.4(C),
3.9 (A,B),
3.9A-SS
Discovering
Our Solar
System
3.1(A),
3.2(B,C),
3.4(A),
3.8 (B,C,D)
3.8D-SS
Program Description
Students will explore the fascinating, but often ignored,
world of the forest floor, where fungi, termites and others
are busy recycling the nutrients that keep the forest alive.
Students will discover the importance of decomposition in
the cycle of life and observe the organisms involved in this
process. Field experiences will include hands-on
investigation of the layers of the forest floor and the
observation of samples using hand lenses and microscopes.
Young naturalists will participate in the study of the pond
ecosystem. Students will investigate relationships between
the ponds populations and the environment in which they
live. Students will explore the concepts of niche, habitat,
and adaptations. Students will also investigate how
components of day to day weather changes affect the pond
ecosystem.
Many exciting discoveries await students as they explore
the deep forest and sunny prairie meadows along the
Woods and Meadows Trail. Young naturalist will search
for burrows, tracks, nests and other clues that reveal the
secret life of the largely nocturnal animals that call these
ecosystems home. Field experiences will include
observation and identification skills. Students will use
hand magnifiers to make observation and the teacher may
make a collection of natural objects to take back to the
classroom for further study. Students will visit a weather
data site where they will record current weather data that
may have an effect on these ecosystems.
Birds are one of the easiest and most rewarding animals to
observe. Young ornithologist will discover the fascinating
adaptations that distinguish birds from other animals and
explore the important role of birds in the ecosystem. Beaks,
feet and feathers will be examined for clues to each bird’s
particular niche and behavior. Food, homes and stages of
development will be explored. Field experiences will
include a trail walk using binoculars and field guides to
observe and identify birds.
Comprehending the distance, arrangement &complexities of
the celestial bodies in our vast solar system is a challenging
& exciting journey of learning. This program focuses on
helping students to understand the differences between the
planets, inner/outer planets, their distances from the sun, &
characteristics of the sun itself. Some activities will be
conducted outside in order to allow students to understand
Environmental Education Center Kindergarten – 3rd Grade Programs
the relative distances involved in the size of our solar
system.
Exploring
Earth
Systems
3.1(A),
3.2(A),
3.4(A),
3.7 (A,B,D)
3.7B-SS
This program focuses on the importance of soil as a natural
resource and the process of soil formation. Students will
understand the differences between rock types and the
reasons sedimentary rock is found in north Texas. They will
explore the components of soil and the process of soil
formation through mechanical and chemical weathering of
rock and decomposition of plants and animals. Lab and field
activities will include collection, observation and
comparison of soil samples from different sites at the EEC.