Field Trip Planner: Curriculum Module

FIELD TRIP PLANNER

MILLER SPRINGS NATURE CENTER

Developed by: Michael Cavanaugh

Summary

This module provides recommended activities in support of middle school visits to the Miller Springs Nature Center (http://bellnet.tamu.edu/millerspring/).

Connection to the Curriculum

The activities listed are designed to support a cross curriculum program enabling all teachers from a specific grade level to participate in their discipline in a full day of meaningful learning programs. The Miller Springs trip may be planned as a unit introduction/data collection trip or culmination of a unit on geology or the environment. Additionally, Miller Springs has potential to support mini-lessons involving environmental diversity and classification systems. Math activities include, working with metrics, measuring height, measuring distance, using formulas and land navigation. English lessons include "nature poetry" and writing nature journal entries. History/Social Studies may focus on the history of the area as depicted on the dam mural. Art activities include sketching fossils and geologic formations.

Time

It is anticipated that a school field trip to Miller Springs will last at least 5 hours on site. Optimum preparation time would include a 3 hour visit to the site by all the teachers involved as well as 4 hours of planning/coordination at the school.

Season

Late fall and early spring are the best time to visit if the main focus is on geology. The majority of trees are without leaves and geological features are much more evident. September and March/April are best when participating in environmental or Land Cover/Biology investigations.

Materials

Required materials for each recommended activity are listed with each "station". For a detailed list of Miller Springs publications see Miller Springs Alliance Publications (http://bellnet.tamu.edu/res_grid/publica.htm).

TEKS

7.1AB 7.2A thru E 7.3 A thru F 7.4AB 7.8A 7.14BC 8.1AB 8.2A thru E 8.3A thru E 8.4A,B 8.12A 8.14A,C

Objectives

The Miller Springs Field Trip is designed to provide students with a collaborative, inquiry based learning experience. Specific objectives are listed with each "station".

Procedures

The field trip is designed around "stations". Each based on a specific academic area. Students visit each station in round robin fashion. Some stations require 1 hour for each group. Others will be about 30 minutes in length. Teachers are certainly encouraged to modify station activities based on student load, available adult supervision and mobility/age of the students.

Resources

Miller Springs Alliance Publications

http://bellnet.tamu.edu/res_grid/msps.htm

Miller Springs Plant Survey

http://bellnet.tamu.edu/res_grid/msps.htm

Miller Springs Rules and Regulations

http://bellnet.tamu.edu/millerspring/rule&reg.htm

Miller Springs Natural Resources

http://bellnet.tamu.edu/millerspring/resources.htm

Resources for Elementary Curriculum

http://bellnet.tamu.edu/res_grid/elementry/rsrcele.htm

Geology of Miller Springs Nature Center