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Description
In this outdoor activity, students will complete a series of neighborhood walks with an observation chart over a period of a few months to predict and observe changes in living and non-living components of the local ecosystems in order to understand the impact of weather, climate and climate change.
The activity begins with a class discussion and brainstorm of the impact of weather events on students and then on plants and animals. The students will then complete their first walk in order to obtain baseline data for their observations. The students will predict what changes will occur by choosing nine things to observe and making a sketch on their Change Observation Cards. On their second walk, a month later or after a major weather event, the students will complete the same walk and record any changes in their nine items. The third walk occurs with the same procedure as above. The activity wrap up occurs with the students looking for similarities and differences in their cards with a partner and then creating categories for the changes. This leads to a class discussion relating the impacts of weather over time on living and non-living things in an ecosystem and climate change.
General Assessment
Recommendation of how and where to use it
Observing Change is an outdoor activity best suited for upper elementary and middle school students. It helps to support the outcomes related to weather and ecosystems. As it is an activity that is to be repeated over a period of time, it would be best used at the beginning of a term before a change in season in order for students to be able to observe the most changes in their walks.
Relevant Curriculum Units
The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.
- Step 1Select a province
- Alberta
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 5
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Earth Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened by investigating natural systems and their interactions.
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Interactions and Ecosystems
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- Newfoundland & Labrador
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Nunavut
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 4
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Life Systems: Habitats & Communities
- Grade 5
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Earth and Space Systems: Weather
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Interactions and Ecosystems
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Interactions in Our Environment
- Ontario
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 4
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Life Systems: Habitats and Communities
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Life Systems: Interactions in the Environment
- Grade 9
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- :Biology: Sustainable Ecosystems
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 4
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Living Things
- Grade 5
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Living Things
- Grade 6
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Living Things
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- The Living World
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- The Living World
- Saskatchewan
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 4
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Habitats and Communities
- Grade 5
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Weather
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 7: Life Science: Interactions within Ecosystems
- Yukon Territory
Themes Addressed
Air, Atmosphere & Climate (2)
- Climate Change
- Weather
Ecosystems (1)
- Appreciating the Natural World
