Outdoor School - Multnomah Education Service District
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Animals Field Study Curriculum Outline


MESD Outdoor School > For Teachers > Animals Field Study Curriculum Outline

Skip Field Study Navigation
See also: Outdoor School Curriculum
Field Study Curriculum Outline: Animals • Plants •  Soil • Water

​Field Study Tour: Animals • Plants • Soil • Water 
Next Generation Science Standards:
 Animals • Plants • Soil • Water

Theme: COMPLEXITY
​

Course Concept: ​ADAPTATION 
​Animals have characteristics that best suit them for a specific environment.
​
Standards: 
  • The student will identify the specific adaptations of animals.
​
Course Concept: ​CHARACTERISTICS 
​All animals have specific features that make them unique.
​
Standards: 
  • The student will be able to identify animals and their characteristics using reference materials.
  • ​The student will locate and identify animals, signs and behaviors using reference materials.​​
​
Course Concept: ​NICHE 
​Animals perform specific ecological roles within their ecosystem.
​
Standards: 
  • The student will describe an animal’s niche and compare niches of different species.
​
Course Concept: ​HOMEOSTASIS 
​An ecosystem seeks balance, and that balance is affected by the population of particular species or the introduction of a new species.
​
Standards: 
  • The student will describe how animal populations tend toward homeostasis. 
  • The student will describe the factors that determine the carrying capacity of a habitat and how it impacts animal population cycles. 
  • The student will explain the significance of competition in an animal population.
​

Theme: ECOSYSTEMS
​

Course Concept: ​FLOW 
​Animals, water, soil and air produce flows within a corridor.
​

Standards: 
  • The student will be able to explain an environmental flow.
  • ​The student will be able to give examples of animals that create environmental flows within a corridor.
​
Course Concept: ​INTERACTIONS 
​An ecosystem is composed of complex interactions between animals, plants, water and soil.
​

​Standards: 
  • The student will identify interactions within an ecosystem.
​
Course Concept: ​COMMUNITY 
​Animals and plants occupy specific areas and function through interrelated trophic systems.

Standards: 
  • The student will explain the role that specific animals play in the natural processes of an area. 
  • The student will develop observations as to why certain animal communities exist on site.
​
Course Concept: ​HABITAT 
​Animals require components of a natural environment including food, water, shelter and space. Humans are animals influenced by the same environmental factors that affect other living things.
​
Standards: 
  • The student will list the elements of an animals habitat. 
  • The student will identify transitional zones as “edges” in an area. 
  • ​The student will explain how edges affect animal populations.
​​

Theme: IMPORTANCE

Course Concept: HUMAN DEPENDENCE 
​Individual and collective human behavior has profound and direct consequences on animal communities.​
​

Standards: 
  • The student will discuss how human behavior affects animal populations.
​
Course Concept: BIODIVERSITY 
​An ecosystem requires a variety of species to remain stable.
​

Standards: 
  • The student will identify causes of threatened, endangered and sensitive animal populations. 
  • The student will explain why biodiversity is important.
​
Course Concept: ENERGY FLOW 
​The flow of energy from the sun through plants to successively less numerous organisms.
​

Standards: 
  • The student will describe the role animals play as consumers in nutrient cycling and energy flow. 
  • The student will describe ways animals impact plants, soil and water quality in an environment. 
  • The student will explain the flow of energy through the trophic levels of a terrestrial habitat (food pyramid). 
​
​Course Concept: RESILIENCE 
​Animals are able to survive a variety of environmental pressures.
​

Standards: 
  • The student will give examples of introduced species and discuss their ability to survive in various environments. 
  • The student will identify causes of threatened, endangered and sensitive animal populations.
​
Course Concept: CAREER 
​The study of animals offers a wide range of career opportunities.​
​

Standards: 
  • The student will complete tasks that wildlife biologists and population ecologists perform.
​

​Animals Field Study Activities
The following activities are typical of a day on Animals Field Study at Outdoor School. Actual activities will vary by site and season.

Nutrient Cycle / Decomposition: Students examine decomposition and study the means by which nutrients are cycled through an ecosystem.

Adaptations Activities: Students identify adaptations of animals and describe how those adaptations help animals survive in their habitats. They use measurement and observations to identify animals using reference materials such as field guides.
The most common activities:
  • Pelts
  • Skulls
  • Horns, Antlers and Hooves
  • Birds
  • Live Animal Stations

Arthropod study: Students find and examine arthropods and discuss the role arthropods play in local ecosystems.

Food Web: Students demonstrate interrelationships among structures in an ecosystem.

Animal Signs Hike and Survey / Casting Animal Tracks: Students identify a wildlife-related question for inquiry and then survey the site for signs of wildlife and draw conclusions about presence and populations of animals.

Bear Game: Students use role-playing and simulation to explore concepts of carrying capacity and competition for food, water, shelter and space.

Oh Deer!: Students role play deer population cycles to discuss carrying capacity and wildlife population cycles.

Bird Observations: Students perform a bird population survey by counting and cataloging bird songs and observed birds.

Food Pyramid: Students study the numerical relations in a terrestrial food pyramid.

​Deadly Links: Students actively simulate the process of bioaccumulation of toxins in a wildlife population. Debrief discussion explores how human choices affect animal populations.
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11611 NE Ainsworth Circle, Portland OR 97220
phone: (503) 257-1600 fax: (503) 257-1592
​outdoorschool@mesd.k12.or.us
© COPYRIGHT 2019. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  • About
    • Mission
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Session Calendar
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Merchandise
    • Partners
    • Contact
  • Programs
    • Outdoor School >
      • Program Tour
      • Field Study Tour >
        • Animals Field Study Tour
        • Plants Field Study Tour
        • Soil Field Study Tour
        • Water Field Study Tour
        • Academic Program Elements
      • Sample Daily Schedule
      • Register Your Class for ODS
      • Session Calendar
    • 4th Grade Overnight
    • StarLab >
      • Presentations
      • Space Requirements
      • Adjustments & Fees
  • Sites
    • Angelos / Sandy River >
      • ASR Location & Directions
      • ASR Facilities
      • ASR Science & Nature
      • ASR Land & History
      • ASR Meet the Staff
    • Collins >
      • CL Location & Directions
      • CL Facilities
      • CL Science & Nature
      • CL Land & History
      • CL Meet the Staff
    • Kuratli / Trestle Glen >
      • KR Location & Directions
      • KR Facilities
      • KR Science & Nature
      • KR Land & History
      • KR Meet the Staff
    • Namanu >
      • NM Location & Directions
      • NM Facilities
      • NM Science & Nature
      • NM Land & History
      • NM Meet the Staff
    • Westwind >
      • WW Location & Directions
      • WW Facilities
      • WW Science & Nature
      • WW Land & History
      • WW Meet the Staff
  • History
    • History by Decade >
      • The 1960s
      • The 1970s
      • The 1980s
      • The 1990s
      • The 2000s
      • The 2010s
      • The 2020s
    • Retired Sites >
      • Adams / Milk Creek
      • Adams / Nate Creek
      • Arrah Wanna >
        • AW Location & Directions
        • AW Facilities
        • AW Science & Nature
        • AW Land & History
        • AW Meet the Staff
      • Canby Grove >
        • CG Location & Directions
        • CG Facilities
        • CG Science & Nature
        • CG Land & History
        • CG Meet the Staff
      • Cascade >
        • CAS Location & Directions
        • CAS Facilities
        • CAS Science & Nature
        • CAS Land & History
        • CAS Meet the Staff
      • Colton
      • Crestview
      • Eagle Fern
      • Howard >
        • HO Location & Directions
        • HO Facilities
        • HO Science & Nature
        • HO Land & History
        • HO Meet the Staff
      • Kiwanis >
        • KW Location & Directions
        • KW Facilities
        • KW Land & History
        • KW Staff
      • Scouter's Mountain
      • Sports Acres
      • Trout Creek
      • Yamhill
    • Outdoor School Staff Photos
  • For Parents
    • Dear Parents and / or Guardians
    • Frequently Asked Questions >
      • English
      • Español
      • русски
      • tiếng Việt
    • Forms for Parents
    • Sample Daily Schedule
    • Sample Menu
    • Students with Specific Needs
    • Parents of Student Leaders
    • Session Calendar
  • For Teachers
    • Outdoor School Curriculum
    • Preparation & Follow-Up Ideas
    • Special Needs - Outdoor School
    • Supporting Transgender Youth
    • Forms for Teachers
    • Translated Parent Info
    • Sample Teacher Schedule
    • Ideas for Class Meetings
    • Fundraising Ideas
    • Next Gen Science Standards >
      • NGSS Alignment: Animals
      • NGSS Alignment: Plants
      • NGSS Alignment: Soil
      • NGSS Alignment: Water
    • Teacher Calendar
  • For Student Leaders
    • Criteria for Participation
    • SL Workshop Training
    • Register for Workshop
    • Makeup Workshop
    • Student Leader Recruiters
    • Student Leader Calendar
    • Bus Schedules
    • Forms for Student Leaders
    • Parents of Student Leaders
    • 10 Reasons to Participate
    • Handbook, Songbook, & Skits >
      • Beginner Handbook
      • Advanced Handbook
      • Outdoor School Songbook
    • SL Sample Weekly Schedule
    • Evaluation Rubric
    • College Credit & Scholarships >
      • PCC College Credit
      • Student Leader Scholarship
    • Jobs, Internships & Programs
    • Support Resources
    • Social Media
    • Special Needs Volunteers
  • For Staff
    • Trainings & Certifications
    • Incident Reporting
    • Wildlife Handling Guidelines
    • How to Field Instructor
    • How to Program Leader
    • Staff & Field Study Songs
    • Professional Resources
    • Seasonal Employment
    • Job Listings
    • Merchandise Payment
    • Staff Calendar
  • MESD