This worksheet includes several FutureFit Extension Activities that highlight 21st Century skills like critical thinking and creativity. These FutureFit Extension Activities are designed to reinforce the concepts included in the worksheet activity while integrating real-world skills. They can be used as in-class independent practice or group activities, or assigned for take-home or independent work.
FutureFit Extension Activities
Investigate/Create
Prior to performing the outside habitat investigation, provide students with containers (boxes, mason jars, plastic/Tupperware, etc.) and instruct them to collect representative samples of what they find in the plots they explore outside. Each student should collect enough material to fill their container, and should collect as many different types of materials as possible. The goal is to have each student collect a "mini-habitat" that they can bring back into the classroom with them.
Provide students with a graphic organizer (or create one) that they can use to keep track of what happens to their mini-habitat over the course of a predetermined amount of time (length of unit, next week(s)/month, etc.). Students should record any activity that occurs: For example, do leaves turn color? Do grasses wither? Do insects appear or disappear? Does mold or condensation appear? If the classroom is equipped with photographic equipment (iPad, digital camera, etc.), allow students to take and save photos of their mini-habitats.
At the end of the proscribed time period, have students collect and organize their mini-habitat data. Have them perform the outside plotting exercise again. When finished, students should produce a brief report or presentation on a) how their mini-habitat changed over time and b) how the second plotting of the outside habitat differed from both the first plotting and the activity of their mini-habitat.
