Cycles of Learning: Lesson Plans

 

Cycles of Learning is a 16-week curricular unit, with most lessons lasting from one to five days. Click on each lesson to see detailed lesson plans. (Lessons listed in italics are optional. Where available, additional extensions are listed at the end of each lesson.) Terms are clarified in the glossary.

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Ecological Concept	Week	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
		WONDER	EXPLORE	IDENTIFY	ORGANIZE	SHARE
Ecosystems	1	Introduction to Ecosystems: Day 1	Introduction to Ecosystems: Day 2 or Field Trip to Local Ecosystem	Ecosystem Mural Project	Introduction to Ecosystems: Day 2	Round Table
Ecosystems	2	Ecosystem Survey Ecosystem Enhancement Project
Ecosystems	3	Teaching about Ecosystems
Interactions	4	Introduction to Interactions	Interactions in the News and Literature: Assignments	Introduction to Interactions
Interactions	5	Interactions in the Food Chain	Population Change: Fox, Mice, and Seeds	Interactions in the News and Literature: Presentations	Teaching about Interactions
Energy Flow	6	Introduction to Energy Personal Energy Use: Day 1	Quantifying Ecosystem Energy
Energy Flow	7	Personal Energy Use: Days 2-4			Teaching about Energy Flow
Cycles	8	Cycles Research Project
Cycles	9	Watershed Study			Teaching about Life Cycles and the Water Cycle
Cycles	10	Introduction to Soil	Soil Superheroes	Nutrient Games	Teaching about the Soil Cycle
Change	11	Plant Adaptations			Teaching about Plant Adaptations
Change	12	Evolution of Animals			Teaching about Animal Adaptations
Change	13	Plate Tectonics and Geologic Change			Teaching about Change
Stewardship	14	Ecosystem Enhancement Project
Stewardship	15	Final Ecosystem Projects	Ecosystem Enhancement Project
Stewardship	16	Final Ecosystem Projects