PLT Activities for Grade 7

Revised 8/2009

Activity Title / Overview / Grade Levels (in 6-8 range) / Science SCI GLE Correlations /
3. Peppermint Beetle
(p.23) / In this activity, students will explore their sense of smell and discover why smell is important to animals, including themselves. Inquiry: Students experience scent-marking and consider its benefit to animals. / 6 / SCI GLE 0707.Inq.1
SCI GLE 0707.1.3
4. Sounds Around
(p.26) / Our ears are constantly being bombarded with sound—so much so that we automatically “tune out” a lot of it. Some sounds are “music to our ears,” while others can annoy us and even damage the delicate structures in our ears. This activity helps students “tune in” to the sounds in their environment and helps them identify and lessen local noise problems. They also learn how different sounds in nature have inspired cultural stories. Inquiry: In Part C, students compare noise levels between a sheltered site and an open site. Math: In Part B, students create “sound maps”. They estimate and record the distance for each sound, and then measure actual distances. In part C, they use bar graphs to display sound-level data. Language Arts: In Part D, students read or listen to and discuss a Greek myth. / Part B: 6
Part C: 6-8
Part D: 6-8 / SCI GLE 0707.Inq.1
SCI GLE 0707.1.3
SCI GLE 0707.7.6
MATH GLE 0706.1.5
MATH GLE 0706.5.2
LA GLE 0701.8.1
5. Poet-Tree
(p.31) / Writing and sharing poems gives students an opportunity to express their thoughts, values, and beliefs about the environment and related issues in creative and artistic ways. You can do this activity in combination with Activity #21, “Adopt a Tree,” to allow students to explore their adopted tree through poetry. You may also adapt the activity to explore parts of the environment other than trees and forests, such as art or architecture. Language Arts: Students read, write, and share nature poetry. / 6-8 / SCI GLE 0701.3.1
LA GLE 0701.3.1
14. Renewable Or Not?
(p.69) / Students often do not know which resources are renewable and which are nonrenewable, or which are recyclable or reusable. In this activity, students will learn what these terms mean and discover why sustainable use of natural resources is so important. Language Arts: In Part A, students read a set of “clues” and create definitions for renewable and nonrenewable resources. In Part B, students participate in demonstrations and discuss their insights into how resources can be managed in sustainable ways. / Part B: 6 / SCI GLE 0707.7.5
LA GLE 0701.5.1
15. A Few of My Favorite Things
(p.75) / This activity gives students a better appreciation for how many natural resources they depend on in their day-to-day lives. By tracing the resources that go into making one item, students will learn how the manufacturing of just one product can have an impact on the environment. Inquiry: Students identify the materials and energy used to make a favorite object. As Enrichments, they trace solid waste in their community, set up a Swap Shop, or use “trash” to create new products. / 6-8 / SCI GLE 0707.Inq.1
SCI GLE 0707.7.6
16. Pass The Plants, Please
(p.77) / Spaghetti. Fried rice. Tortillas. Vegetable soup. Thanks to plants, these and many other favorite foods are ours to enjoy. This activity will get students thinking about just how big a part plants play in our daily diets. Math and Inquiry: In Part A, students sort plant-derived foods into plant-part categories. In Part B, they create daily bar graphs for the plant-part items in their lunch. Language Arts: As an Enrichment, students prepare snacks using recipes included. / 6-8
/ SCI GLE 0707.Inq.1
SCI GLE 0707.1.3
MATH GLE 0706.1.5
MATH GLE 0706.1.7
MATH GLE 0706.5.2
LA GLE 0701.4.2
17. People of The Forest
(p.82) / To the Mbuti Pygmies of Africa, the Pesch of Latin America, and other peoples around the world, the forest is home. More than just a place to live, the forest provides their basic needs. Language Arts: By reading about and comparing and contrasting different forest peoples, both past and present, students learn about some of the ways people have depended on forests throughout history. / 6-8 / Grades 6-8 Social Studies
LA GLE 0701.6.1
19. Viewpoints on The Line
(p.89) / This activity is designed to get students thinking about and expressing their views and to listen to those of their classmates. It helps students explore the underlying assumptions that shape our opinions. You may wish to use this activity on a regular basis to give students a chance to evaluate their opinions as they learn more about environmental issues. Language Arts: Students express their views and listen to those of others. / 6-8 / SCI GLE 0707.7.6
LA GLE 0701.2.1
LA GLE 0701.2.5
21. Adopt a Tree
(p.97) / Students “adopt” a tree, deepening their awareness of individual trees over time and encouraging a greater understanding and appreciation of their local environment. Inquiry: In Part B, students use a journal to record observations and answer questions about their adopted tree. / Part B: 6-8
/ SCI GLE 0707.Inq.2
SCI GLE 0707.1.3
27. Every Tree
For Itself
(p.117) / This active simulation gives students an understanding of the conditions that trees need to live and grow. It helps students learn that trees often must compete for their needs. Math and Inquiry: Students record and compare results of the simulation for rounds conducted according to different scenarios. Language Arts: As a Variation for Older Students, students create tree cookies and write stories to accompany the results of the simulation rounds. / 6-8 / SCI GLE 0707.Inq.2 SCI GLE 0707.1.3
LA GLE 0701.4.2
28. Air Plants
(p.120) / Plants play a part in every breath we take. Use this activity to help students understand the process of photosynthesis, and how people depend on this process (and plants) because of the production of oxygen. Inquiry: Students observe oxygen production in a submerged aquatic plant to infer the roles of light and carbon dioxide in photosynthesis. Language Arts: As an Assessment Opportunity, students use “clip art” provided to create a concept map on photosynthesis. / 6 / SCI GLE 0707.Inq.1
SCI GLE 0707.3.1
LA GLE 0701.3.1
31. Plant a Tree
(p.132) / Never underestimate the power of a tree! Besides giving us an amazing array of paper and wood products, trees provide a host of other benefits – from shading our backyards to assisting in the maintenance of the global climate. Service Learning: Students express their appreciation of trees by planning and carrying out their own tree-planting project, following the included Tree-Planting Instructions. / 6-8 / SCI GLE 0707.4.2
32. A Forest of
Many Uses
(p.135) / Privately and publicly owned forests are often managed to provide many different resources. In this activity, students will learn how forests are managed to meet a variety of human and environmental needs. Language Arts: Students work in teams to brainstorm and share ideas for managing a forest for one of three uses: wildlife, recreation, or products. / Part B: 6-8
/ Grades 6-8 Social Studies
LA GLE 0701.2.7
33. Forest
Consequences
(p.138) / Few issues, if any have simple solutions – and resolving them usually involves compromise. In this activity, students will learn about some of the effects that human activities can have on a forest. They will explore some of the trade-offs involved in working out a land use issue. Language Arts: Students read a Land-Use Scenario and choose among three land-use proposals. / 6-8 / SCI GLE 0707.7.6
LA GLE 0701.2.7
LA GLE 0701.6.1
35. Loving It Too Much
(p.147) / National parks are the treasure of any nation. Yet national parks today struggle with serious dilemmas. By looking at problems in America’s national parks, students can begin grappling with some tough environmental issues that affect parks locally and globally. Math: Students graph given data on changes in the US Population, national park area, and national park visits over time to identify patterns and trends. / 6-8 / SCI GLE 0707.7.6
MATH GLE 0706.1.5
MATH GLE 0706.1.7
MATH GLE 0706.5.2
36. Pollution Search (p.153) / Here’s a way for students to take a closer look at pollution: what it is, what its sources are, and what people can do to reduce it. Inquiry: In Part A, students look for and record evidences of pollution in and around the school. Math: In Part A, students identify and categorize forms of pollution and create a data collection chart. / Part A: 6
/ SCI GLE 0707.Inq.2 SCI GLE 0707.7.6
MATH GLE 0706.1.5 MATH GLE 0706.1.7 MATH GLE 0706.5.2
37. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
(p.159) / By taking a look at their own trash, students will learn a lot about how and why they throw things away. Inquiry and Service Learning: Students plan and conduct a service learning project, and in doing so find ways to cut down on the waste they produce and improve how waste is managed in their community. Math: Students create tables, charts, and graphs of volumes, weights, quantities, and types of solid waste collected. / 6-8 / SCI GLE 0707.Inq.2 SCI GLE 0707.7.5
SCI GLE 0707.7.6
MATH GLE 0706.1.5
MATH GLE 0706.1.7
MATH GLE 0706.5.1
MATH GLE 0706.5.2
38. Every Drop Counts
(p.163) / It’s easy to waste water and even easier to take water for granted. Water pours out of our faucets as though it were endlessly available. But the truth is that the supply of good quality fresh water is limited. Fortunately, it’s just as easy to conserve water as it is to waste it. This activity will help your class (and maybe the whole school) cut back on water waste. Inquiry: Students monitor their water use and create an Action Plan to conserve water in their school. Math: Students record and graph data on water use. / 6-8 / SCI GLE 0707.Inq.2 SCI GLE 0707.7.5
MATH GLE 0706.1.5
MATH GLE 0706.1.7
MATH GLE 0706.5.1
MATH GLE 0706.5.2
39. Energy Sleuths
(p.167) / There are different sources of energy. Some are renewable; some are nonrenewable. In this activity, students will learn about the different sources, advantages and disadvantages to their use, and how energy is used in their daily lives. Inquiry: In Part C, students track their energy activities for one day. Language Arts: In Part B, students use the provided Energy Primer to research and prepare oral reports on energy sources. In Part C, they research the energy sources that fuel their energy activities. / Parts B and C: 6-8 / SCI GLE 0707.Inq.2 SCI GLE 0707.7.5
LA GLE 0701.2.6 LA GLE 0701.4.2
40. Then and Now
(p.174) / If your community is like most others, it’s now quite a bit different than it was 100, 50, 25, or even five years ago. Language Arts: By viewing pictures, and interviewing elders, students will understand how we, as people, affect and alter the environment in which we live. / 6-8
/ SCI GLE 0707.7.6
LA GLE 0701.4.2
42. Sunlight and Shades of Green
(p.182) / This activity introduces students to photosynthesis, the process that enables trees and other green plants to use sunlight to manufacture their own food. Inquiry: Students test what happens when they block sunlight from the leaves of a tree or shrub, and then they will interpret their findings. As an Enrichment, they test leaves for the presence of starch. Language Arts: Students listen to and respond to a passage read aloud that takes them on an imaginary field trip. / 6-8 / SCI GLE 0707.Inq.2
SCI GLE 0707.3.1
LA GLE 0701.2.1
43. Have Seeds,
Will Travel
(p.185) / A plant is a biological system. Its systems, processes, and components enable it to grow and reproduce. Inquiry: Students observe, collect, and classify seeds according to their likely means of dispersal. In the Enrichment, they modify dried lima beans to allow various types of dispersal. / 6-8 / SCI GLE 0707.Inq.2
SCI GLE 0707.4.2
44. Water Wonders
(p.188) / The water cycle is the system by which Earth’s fixed amount of water is collected, purified, and distributed from the environment to living things and back to the environment. Through a game and an experiment, this activity will introduce students to the various steps of the water cycle and will help them make connections between the water cycle and all living things. Inquiry: Students create “stream tables” to explore runoff under different conditions. As a Enrichment, they create terrariums in which they can observe the functioning of the water cycle. Math: In Part B, students explore the effect of the slope of the stream table on the speed of water poured or sprinkled on the surface. / 6-8 / SCI GLE 0707.Inq.1
SCI GLE 0707.7.2
MATH GLE 0706.1.4
MATH GLE 0706.1.5
50. 400-Acre
Wood
(p.217) / In this activity, students will play the role of managers of a 400-acre (162 hectare) piece of public forest. Through this role, students will begin to understand the complex considerations that influence management decisions about forest lands. Language Arts: Students read a scenario and create a land-use plan. Math: Students allocate portions of a 400-acre plot to various uses and calculate revenue and costs associated with these. / 7-8 / Grades 7-8 Social Studies
MATH GLE 0706.1.5
MATH GLE 0706.1.7
MATH GLE 0706.5.2
LA GLE 0701.3.1
51. Make Your Own Paper
(p.224) / Students investigate the papermaking process by trying it themselves. Students are thrilled to find that they can make paper and that their product is practical, as well as beautiful. Inquiry: As an Enrichment, students investigate how different materials affect the characteristics of the paper created. / 6-8 / SCI GLE 0707.Inq.2