Ecology Bus Program Descriptions
For more information, call 507-662-5064
or email: [email protected]
AQUATICS
Water Quality
Grades 4-12
Become an aquatic scientist for a day! Find out what “water quality” means and how do we measure it? Does water
quality really affect us? Do we affect water health? Use scientific observation, testing tools, chemical kits and
biological indicators to assess the water quality of a lake or streams in your region. Rubber boots and tools
provided. (Requires a pond, lake or stream with safe student access.)
Stream and Lake Ecology
Grades 4-12
Discover the life in and around your local streams and lakes through mapping, searching for animals and their signs,
using aquatic dip nets, and more! Participants will learn about the food chain and how insects play an important role
in this ecosystem. Rubber boots and tools provided. (Requires a lake or stream with safe student access.)
Wetland Science: Water, Soils & Plants
Grades 4-12
Slosh through a wetland to unearth its many secret roles such as water purifiers, flood preventers, erosion
controllers, pollution busters, and more! Students grasp what makes a wetland a wetland through their unique
combination of water, soils and plants. Rubber boots and tools provided. (Requires a wetland site with safe student
access.)
Wetland Wildlife
Grades K-8
Amazing animals, big and small, call the watery environment of marshes and swamps home. Wetland diversity is
comparable with the richness of tropical ecosystems! Observe and learn how animals are specially suited to these
wild and watery worlds and how they are interconnected to the surrounding environments. Rubber boots and tools
provided. (Requires a wetland site with safe student access.)
Benthic Macros Investigation
Grades 6-12
Benthic (bottom dwelling) macros are excellent indicators of water health. Macros (short for macroinvertebrates) are
those creatures without a backbone such as insect larvae, crayfish, leeches, snails, etc. Students will improve their
skills in the areas of analysis, classification, observation, computation, as well as dexterity and confidence in the use
of water sampling equipment. Students will learn about the adaptations, niches and the life cycles of common
stream insects to find the water quality index and diversity of creeks or streams. Rubber boots and tools provided.
(Requires a pond, lake or stream with safe student access.)
FORESTS
Forest Ecology
Grades K-12
Uncover the mysterious methods plants have for growing and making sugar. Find out just what is really going on
inside a tree. Learn how to read the forest like a book to discover how forest plants and animals are interconnected.
Participants will explore a local wooded area to become familiar with recognizing various tree species. Older
students will be challenged to learn how to estimate tree height and ages without cutting down a tree and using
simple equipment. Who knew trees were so terrific?
Forest Wildlife
Grades K-5
Become a forest detective to discover what animals are living nearby in the trees! Identify animals by the tracks,
trails, scat, bite marks, and homes they leave behind and uncover the stories they tell us. Learn how the smallest of
the forest creatures are connected with the biggest. Participants will explore a nearby forest area using all their
senses as they search for our neighbors in the trees!
PRAIRIES
Prairie Ecology
Grades K-12
Immigrants settling in this region had to cross two oceans. One was of water, the other of six-foot tall prairie
grasses! Participants will explore prairie plants using various senses to better understand their unique adaptations.
Searching for & identifying prairie animals and their signs will help students determine how both plants and animals
have adapted to this hot, dry environment. Studying remnant and restored prairies enables students to better
understand why this region is part of the nation’s “bread basket”. Good walking shoes are a must in this class - no
sandals, please. Long pants are recommended.
** Note: This program is best conducted in the summer or fall as these two seasons are optimal when working with prairie plants.
Prairie Plants
Grades 4-12
Discover the rich world of texture, pattern, size, and smell of the prairie landscape. Prairies can be harsh
environments with recurring fires and hot, dry, windy weather. But through this harshness you'll find beauty and
awe-inspiring life - both big and small. Observe how prairie plants survive and thrive in this landscape. Learn how
their diverse life forms and habits make them well-suited to the prairie environment and how they built the rich soil
we depend upon today!
** Note: This program is best conducted in the summer or fall as these two seasons are optimal when working with prairie plants.
EARTH SCIENCE
Ecosystem Inventory
Grades 4-8
Compare and contrast 2 different habitats using scientific tools such as soil corers, wind meters, thermometers, tape
measures and scientific observation to find the similarities and differences between the two. Learn how differing
environmental factors influence the ecosystems and what that means for the plants and animals that live there.
(Requires a natural area with at least two; preferably three different habitats nearby.)
Soils: The Dirt on Dirt
Grades 3-8
Is all dirt the same? Not at all! “Unearth” differences in soil types and how the soil was formed. Students take part in
a comical soil play, use scientific tools to take core soil samples, set up a soil experiment, investigate living and nonliving components of soil and learn how different soil properties affect water movement and plant growth and what
that means for farmers in SW Minnesota. (Warning: Participants are required to end the program with dirt beneath
their fingernails otherwise they haven't fully participated in the activities!) This program can be adapted for younger
audiences.
OTHER
Insects & Other Things That Bug Us
Grades K-8
Everywhere you go, you'll find the most amazing mini-beasts! Insects are found on every continent and even in the
water! Discover the amazing variety in the insect world and learn what makes an insect an insect. We'll go on an
insect safari to capture these these awesome creatures and learn to classify them to family groups while studying
their unique characteristics. (Note: We practice capture and release. All creatures collected for study will be
released back into their natural home).
Avian Adventure (Bird Ecology)
Grades 3-12
Our feathered friends are as varied as the environments in which they live. Discover what makes the bird such a
unique animal and the adaptations that enable them to live in Minnesota. Participants will learn common bird calls
and what identifying characteristics will help to recognize them in the field. Using binoculars (for older students) and
newly acquired skills, participants will take a bird trek in search of our feathered neighbors.
Introduction to Microscopes
Grades 4-8
Microscopes are truly spectacular tools! They open up a whole new world in front of our eyes! Working in pairs with
their own microscopes, students will learn the basics of the micro-world from the parts of a microscope to studying
prepared slides. Participants will have the opportunity to collect samples from nature for further study and create
their own slide mounts for study and diagramming. Anything is fair game, from bug guts to feathers, soil to plant
parts and more - as long as it can fit under the microscope lens!
Introduction to Cell Biology
Grades 6-8
Cells are the building blocks of life. Participants will take a close-up look at cells of various plants and even of
animals. Students will work in pairs with their own microscopes to observe and document animal and plant cells and
observe how they are alike and different. Through various activities, students will learn what parts make up the cell
and just how complicated these tiny foundations of life can be!
Nature Interpretation Through Art
Grades 3-8
Explore the realms of nature with a different eye–an artists eye! Students learn techniques for both drawing and
observing their surroundings. A focused hike in the outdoors will help participants select their artists tools. Using
what nature provides, students utilize their “tools” collected to create painted works of art. Since we work with paint,
students should wear “paint” clothes and expect to return a bit more colorful!
WINTER SEASON ONLY
Winter Animal Adaptations
Grades 6-12
Winter is an awesome time to explore the outdoors! If you're dressed well and are prepared for colder temperatures,
spending time outside is a terrific experience and rather fun! Students will learn first-hand how animals cope with
sub-zero temperatures and do quite well in winter months. Simulations and experiments will teach students how
animals are physically and behaviorally adapted to Minnesota winters. Students will observe which animals are
active during winter months and learn what clues to look for if the critters aren’t present at the time. If sufficient snow
is on the ground, we'll conduct the class via snowshoes.
Animal Tracking by Snowshoe
Grades K-8
Students are introduced to the ages-old method of traversing the snow on their own snowshoes as we seek to
uncover the mysteries of wildlife in winter! Tracks, burrows, scat and scent marks all tell a story about the animals
that live there and winter is an excellent time to go out and learn what wild animals are our neighbors. Become a
detective and hone up on observation and problem-solving skills! A good base of at least 6" of snow is required for
the snowshoes. If there isn't enough snow for this type of footwear, we'll conduct the class by foot.
(**K-2 students will be on foot as snowshoes tend to be too big for their small feet.)
Winter Birding
Grades 3-12
Not all birds have flown south for the winter! How do birds survive the cold and snow? Where do they hang out and
how can we attract them to our yards and school grounds? Learn how birds make a living during our crisp winters
and how to identify these winter neighbors through hikes and activities. Students will learn how to bird by sight, by
ear and learn what clues we can find that tells us who is in the neighborhood!