Seventh grade – Life at the MEEC
Wetland Trail – S7L4, S7E1 PE7.3, PE7.5 - Students walk the trail around the fishery ponds to the Blackwater Swamp. Students will search for evidence of interdependence between the animals and their environment and make inferences regarding balance within nature and the balance between the needs of nature and humans. Students will also draw conclusions about the impact of seasonal changes on the ecosystem.
Microscope Lab – S7L1, ELAGSE7SL1 - Students will review the proper use of microscopes by comparing and contrasting various prepared slides. Students will prepare slides using pond water and learn to examine and identify phytoplankton and zooplankton. Using the observations, they will assess the suitableness of the water to sustain the hatchery pond fry population.
Backyard Bass - PE7.3, PE7.5, PE7.6, ELAGSE7SL1 - Fish targets are arranged in the field. Each pair of students is provided with a rod and reel. Students take turns casting from a given line to “hook” the fish. Students document hits and misses and convert data into graph form to assess their accuracy. The activity can teach teamwork, data collection and interpretation, as well as allow practice of rod and reel casting skills.
Dichotomous Keys – S7L1, ELAGSE7SL1 - Students will review the purpose and interpretation of dichotomous keys and use a dichotomous key to identify selected trees at the MEEC campus.
Dendrochronology – S7L4a, ELAGSE7SL1 - Students will develop an understanding of tree ring dating principles by examining and comparing tree core samples. Students will determine the age of trees by ring count as well as analyze width between rings to differentiate between growth in wet and dry years. The interdependence of plants on the earth’s varied seasonal changes will be emphasized.
Macroinvertebrate Study - SL4, ELAGSE7SL1 - From stream-drawn water samples, students will collect, sort and classify macroinvertebrates using dichotomous keys. Since macroinvertebrate type and count are a stream water quality indicator, students will then use Adopt-a-Stream guidelines to make inferences about the health of the stream.
Archery (National Archery in the Schools Program) - ELAGSE7SL1, PE7.2, PE.7.3c, PE7.3d, PE7.5, PE7.6, ELAGSE7SL1 A certified instructor teaches the safety and technical basics of archery as specified by NASP. Students are then allowed to participate in shooting targets, scoring their attempts, and retrieving arrows. NASP promotes student education, physical education and participation in the lifelong sport of archery in an effort to inspire students to spend more time outdoors.
Wheel of Nature – ELAGSE7SL1 - Students participate in a game-style two-team activity. When it is his or her turn, a team-member spins a wheel to determine how much a question is worth. To obtain the points for his side, the student answers the given question. Questions are based on the MEEC curriculum and include habitat features, wildlife adaptations, and identification of animal pictures, pelts, sounds, offspring and tracks. Models and other audio visuals are used to bring questions to life. Team work is encouraged as rules allow students to confer on difficult questions. (Questions are adapted to grade/ability level.)
Wetland Trail – S7L4, S7E1 PE7.3, PE7.5 - Students walk the trail around the fishery ponds to the Blackwater Swamp. Students will search for evidence of interdependence between the animals and their environment and make inferences regarding balance within nature and the balance between the needs of nature and humans. Students will also draw conclusions about the impact of seasonal changes on the ecosystem.
Microscope Lab – S7L1, ELAGSE7SL1 - Students will review the proper use of microscopes by comparing and contrasting various prepared slides. Students will prepare slides using pond water and learn to examine and identify phytoplankton and zooplankton. Using the observations, they will assess the suitableness of the water to sustain the hatchery pond fry population.
Backyard Bass - PE7.3, PE7.5, PE7.6, ELAGSE7SL1 - Fish targets are arranged in the field. Each pair of students is provided with a rod and reel. Students take turns casting from a given line to “hook” the fish. Students document hits and misses and convert data into graph form to assess their accuracy. The activity can teach teamwork, data collection and interpretation, as well as allow practice of rod and reel casting skills.
Dichotomous Keys – S7L1, ELAGSE7SL1 - Students will review the purpose and interpretation of dichotomous keys and use a dichotomous key to identify selected trees at the MEEC campus.
Dendrochronology – S7L4a, ELAGSE7SL1 - Students will develop an understanding of tree ring dating principles by examining and comparing tree core samples. Students will determine the age of trees by ring count as well as analyze width between rings to differentiate between growth in wet and dry years. The interdependence of plants on the earth’s varied seasonal changes will be emphasized.
Macroinvertebrate Study - SL4, ELAGSE7SL1 - From stream-drawn water samples, students will collect, sort and classify macroinvertebrates using dichotomous keys. Since macroinvertebrate type and count are a stream water quality indicator, students will then use Adopt-a-Stream guidelines to make inferences about the health of the stream.
Archery (National Archery in the Schools Program) - ELAGSE7SL1, PE7.2, PE.7.3c, PE7.3d, PE7.5, PE7.6, ELAGSE7SL1 A certified instructor teaches the safety and technical basics of archery as specified by NASP. Students are then allowed to participate in shooting targets, scoring their attempts, and retrieving arrows. NASP promotes student education, physical education and participation in the lifelong sport of archery in an effort to inspire students to spend more time outdoors.
Wheel of Nature – ELAGSE7SL1 - Students participate in a game-style two-team activity. When it is his or her turn, a team-member spins a wheel to determine how much a question is worth. To obtain the points for his side, the student answers the given question. Questions are based on the MEEC curriculum and include habitat features, wildlife adaptations, and identification of animal pictures, pelts, sounds, offspring and tracks. Models and other audio visuals are used to bring questions to life. Team work is encouraged as rules allow students to confer on difficult questions. (Questions are adapted to grade/ability level.)