Migration in the Balance
Peabody Museum Field Trip Assignment
Split the class into 4 groups, one group per section to answer the following questions about
their section of the diorama.
The 4 sections are as follows:
#1- Coastal Region Left Section (up to the Hover Fly and Beach Grass- left drawn key section)
#2- Coastal Region Middle Section (from the Spotted Sandpiper to the base of the Osprey tree
and Meadow Vole- middle drawn key section)
#3- Coastal Region Right Section (from the Yellowthroat to the Black duck and ducklings – right
drawn key section)
#4- Forest Margin Full Section
Teacher Notes:
You might ask how the area would look different today than it does in this diorama. Certainly
the beach has no litter/trash on it, but students may notice other differences as well.
Extension – older grades can turn around and consider Native American-related changes too.
Note the Native American shell midden in the bottom right corner of the Coastal Region Right
Section.
Name:______________________________________
Date:_________________
Peabody Museum Assignment:
Diorama Section #____________
1. List 5 biotic factors that you see. Biotic factors are living organisms, including dead
organisms that were once alive.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
2. List 3 abiotic factors that you see. Abiotic factors are non-living parts of an ecosystem,
things that were never alive.
a.
b.
c.
3. Describe one part of the habitat that was changed from its natural state by humans:
4. Pick one animal and discuss how this human-caused change would affect that animal.
5. How could this change affect migratory animals passing through this area?