Field Trip to
PATUXENT
REFUGE
THE THIRD GRADE STUDENTS OF MRS. QUINZIO
K.W. BARRETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA
• CHAPTER 1 •
INTRODUCTION
• Introduction continued •
There are refuges all
On our field trip we went on a great tram ride. We saw a
around the United
lot of interesting plant and animal habitats. We
States. All refuges are
observed many birds, fish, and trees. More than 40
for plants and animals.
million people visit refuges each year. Maybe you will
The United States has
be one of them.
560 refuges. Refuges
are nice places to visit.
People visit refuges to
learn about nature.
Patuxent Research
Refuge opened in
1936. Its size is more than 12,800 acres of land. It has
many different parts. Patuxent is a research refuge as
well as a wildlife refuge. In the Patuxent Refuge there is
a National Wildlife Research Center. There they do a lot
of animal and plant research. In the Visitor Center they
can tell you more information about the animals they
have.
2
• CHAPTER 2 •
TRAM
• Tram continued •
We rode a tram
edge of the meadow. We also saw beautiful butterflies
around Patuxent
and a bird house with birds.
Refuge. We went by
Wetlands
habitats such as
wetlands, forests, and
The wetlands provide food, water, and shelter for many
meadows. We
animals. Some animals that live in wetlands are ducks,
observed animals such
turtles, butterflies, Blue Heron and geese. There are
as birds and insects. In
some plants too like cattails, grass, lily pads, and algae.
addition to animals we
also saw many kinds of
plants.
Meadow
On the tram we saw meadows. The meadow provides a
habitat for many animals such as frogs, butterflies,
birds, and dragonflies. The meadow also provides a
habitat for plants such as cattails, Creeping Jenny,
dandelions, grass, and leaves. The decomposers in the
meadow are worms and fungi. We saw cattails by the
4
Forest
Birds
While we were on
the tram we saw
On the tram in the
some birds. For
forest we saw
example, we saw a
decomposers like
Blue Heron fly by
fungi and animals
next to the water and
like birds and frogs.
a goose swimming
We also saw trees
on the water. In
such as living trees
addition, we saw a cardinal and an oriole. The oriole is a
and snags. Snags are
small black and orange bird.
dead trees that have hollow trunks or branches that can
provide habitats for plants or animals.
5
• CHAPTER 3 •
HIKE
• Hike continued •
There are many hiking
trails at Patuxent
Refuge. For our field
trip we hiked with a
guide. He taught us
about plants and
animals. We observed
living and nonliving
poison ivy, and cattails. One tree, a chestnut tree, was
things.
protected by a tall fence and taken care of daily. A lot of
plants live at Patuxent refuge and the people there take
Living Plants
care of them carefully. Plants are important and that is
While we were hiking we saw plants. For instance, we saw
why we love them dearly to our hearts. We love our plants
a sweet gum
so much.
ball, oak
Animals
trees, walnut
trees, and
some good
We saw many living
smelling pine
animals. For example,
trees as well
we saw a little slippery
as prickers,
green and brown frog.
grasses,
In addition, we saw blue
7
singing birds.
Decomposers
Also, we saw a
On the beautiful hike we saw decomposers. For
butterfly that
was in a flower.
example, on the cold leafy
The color of
ground we saw fungi,
the butterfly
bright brown
was brown,
mushrooms, worms, and
orange and
white.
Furthermore,
we saw brown and gray squirrels that were climbing in
maggots. We also saw small
the tree.
pink and brown balls on a
rotted log. In addition, we
saw bright green moss.
Apart from that we observed crawling caterpillars.
Nonliving things
We saw many nonliving things on the hike such as mud,
soil, and wood chips. The dirt was sort of wet. There
were towering dead trees that fell down during a
massive storm.
8
• CHAPTER 4 •
VISITOR CENTER
• Visitor Center continued •
At the visitor center
bear, and white-tail deer. We observed animals by using
we saw endangered
technology too! We used telescopes and binoculars to
and non-endangered
observe animals. We really liked to see the birds using
animal exhibits. In
binoculars! Also, we looked at plants. We saw conifers,
addition, we observed
deciduous trees and lily pads!
the animals by using
We liked the Patuxent Visitor Center a lot because there
technology.
were a lot of exhibits that we learned about and liked to
My partners and I saw
look at. I’d recommend that you go too.
exhibits about the
endangered animals.
For instance, we saw
stuffed whooping cranes, bats, wolves, and sea turtles.
Some of the types of animals and plants have glass
around them because they are either endangered or
fragile.
In the exhibit we saw predators and prey. For instance,
we saw a wolf eating a rabbit. We saw carnivores,
omnivores, and herbivores such as otters, orioles, black
10
• CHAPTER 5 •
CONCLUSION
We had a good time at
marvelous field trip.
Patuxent Refuge. Our
class learned a lot at
Patuxent and after the
field trip we learned
more about Patuxent
at school. We really
like Patuxent.
In conclusion, the
field trip to Patuxent
Refuge in Maryland
was awesome, amazing, and wildly wicked! The guides
were super kind and helpful. In addition, they were
knowledgeable and brainy. The tram ride was grand for
viewing plants and animals. Going to Patuxent was a
12
Decomposers
break down dead plants and animals and the waste (poop) of other organisms.
Related Glossary Terms
Drag related terms here
Index
Find Term
Forest
land that has a lot of trees such as conifers and deciduous trees and some shrubs
Related Glossary Terms
Drag related terms here
Index
Find Term
Meadow
land that has tall and/or short grass without many trees
Related Glossary Terms
Drag related terms here
Index
Find Term
Predator
hunts the prey for food.
Related Glossary Terms
Drag related terms here
Index
Find Term
Prey
it is what the predator hunts for food.
Related Glossary Terms
Drag related terms here
Index
Find Term
Snag
is the name for dead trees left up right to decompose naturally.
Related Glossary Terms
Drag related terms here
Index
Find Term