2003-2004: Animals

Elements

• Trusts: pacts we make among ourselves to help care for and protect animals
• Regional cycles: animal life cycle exploration of regional ecosystems
• Animal Units: time spent studying specific species of animals
• Seasonal Needs: exploring animal behavior during different seasons
• Animal Behaviors: tracks, homes, diet, communication, play
• Service Learning: working with animals in the community
• Evolution of animals: a look back to dinosaurs and how they have evolved
• Special Units: animal extensions
• Health: Body Unit

September

• Trust: How we care for our Pets (A group book about basic animal needs)
• Cycle: Ponderosa Pine (Sensory explorations of our native pine forest)

October

• Behavior: How do animals play? (How can we model our play after animals?)
• Seasonal Needs: How are animals preparing for the winter? (Adaptations)

November

• Behaviors: Communication in the animal kingdom (featuring a wolf pack)
• Animal Unit: Wolves (role playing, letter writing, track interpretation)

December

• Trust: Hurt No Living Things
• Special Unit: Mythological animals (a board game based on archetypal myths)

January

• Health: Skin, Muscles, and Bones Body Unit
• Service Learning: Humane Shelter

February

• Evolution of Dinosaurs (a review of our animal’s ancestors: from Bones to Birds)
• Cycle: High Mountains Animals (a mural of the high-mountain food chain)
• Seasonal: Birds of Prey (migration and food pyramid)

March

• Special Unit: History of the Domestication of animals (a slide show)
• Trust: How can we learn from animals (a look at natural intelligences)

April

• Special Unit: Farm Animals (experiential unit)
• Service Project: Help care for newborn goats at a local farm
• Seasonal: Riparian habitats (the ecosystem that comes alive every spring)

May

• Cycle: Plains’ Animals (how the decline of the buffalo and prarie dog affect us)
• Trust: Care for the Earth (participation in an earth day parade and ceremony)
• Service: Habitat Restoration

In June we go camping for the last week of school and spend time looking for animals, exploring the high mountain environment, and living outdoors.