Field Trip Planner: Armadillo Trail Nature Walk

2. Armadillo Trail Nature Walk.

OBJECTIVE:

(1) Student identification of plants/animals.

(2) Teach respect for environment.

(3) Teach observation skills.

TIME REQUIRED:

Walking the trail and briefly discussing each of the identified stations (with 20/25 students) will take a minimum of 30 minutes. Using the additional activities will increase the time to at least an hour.

CONTENT MATTER:

Use "THE ARMADILLO TRAIL" handout for station leader notes (see The Armadillo Trail (http://bellnet.tamu.edu/res_grid/intermed/science/science/ARMADILO.htm)).

Activities:

(1) Students must sketch and briefly describe in their field notes selected plants and animal activities.

(2) At different locations along the trail, have students conduct a "Diversity" survey. Students are divided into teams of 4/5 with jobs of team captain, recorder, artist and observer. Have students stake out a one meter square area ( Make a square meter by taking four plastic spoons/sticks and four pieces of string , each a meter long. Tie the string to the spoons and then when the strings are stretched tight, stick them in the ground) Students then search the square meter for all plants/animals. Utilize a hand lens to observe. Have students record on a prepared format the numbers/types of plants/insects located. Sketch any that are unknown for later identification. Stress to students that square meter sites should be along and close to the edge of the trail. Do not dig up or disturb the site. Do not pull up plants. Remind students that we want to leave an area as "natural" as possible. Data collected on the Armadillo Trail is then collated and examined/compared by students back in the classroom.

(3) At selected locations students will conduct classification activities (see Lichens of The Miller Springs Nature Center (http://www.vvm.com/~jevans/ilichens.html)). Using plant guides or "Dichotomous Keys" that are purchased or prepared in the classroom, students may take a "hands on" exam or compete with other teams to correctly identify specific plants.

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:

Station Leader requires the Miller Springs Armadillo Trail handout and materials to set up square meter survey sites and hand lens. Students need materials for field notes. One Dichotomous Key per team.