Using Field Observations and Field Experiences to Teach GeoscienceAn Illustrated Community Discussion part of Geoscience in the Field:Field Experiences:Posters
Students use compasses and a map of campus to navigate and find orienteering markers. This lab helps to reinforce map navigation skills. Students enjoyed the activity.

Investigating Biodiversity in your schoolyard part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
In this field lab students will investigate the biodiversity around their school. Students will perform a biodiversity count using transect line. The students will develop multiple hypotheses relating to biodiversity and propose additional procedures for studying, collecting and testing these questions.

What Does Meteor Size Have to Do with Crater Size? part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This field investigation involves student dropping various objects into various mediums to find answers to questions that they propose, dealing with meteors and craters.

Investigating Rocks: Seeing your school's area part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a lab presentation where students gather data about rocks from their area and hypothesize what the rocks are and where they came from.

Insect Investigations part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a field investigation or bio-blitz where students are collecting as many different types of insects as they can. Back in the lab, they will record their findings, sort and classify the insects found. This will lead into a class discussion on biodiversity and the importance of insects and their benefits all living things.

Investigating water quality through quantative and qualitative analysis of benthic macroinvertebrate sampling. part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
In activity is a Biology field lab where students will investigate the relative health of an aquatic system based on bioindicators. Students will then summarize and reflect upon their findings.

What Lives Under a Rock? part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Students will listen to the book, Under One Rock Bugs, Slugs, and Other Ughs, written by Anthony D. Frederick and illustrated by Jennifer DiRubbio and then make a mini-book observation journal, Under One Rock to record what they see when they go outdoors to investigate what lives under a rock.

The American Red Squirrel an Outdoor Inquiry Lesson part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This is outdoor activity involving students in gathering information on what an American Red Squirrel Eats and its interdependence with the coniferous forest.

Diversity of Life in Your Neighborhood part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This is a field investigation on diversity of life where students count the number of kinds organisms in two locations. Students report their results on posters and propose reasons why there might be difference in diversity between the locations.

Middle School Stream Investigation: observing stream erosion, calculating stream discharge, and determining stream chemistry and turbidity part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This stream field investigation will allow students to look at stream erosional patterns, take measurements to determine discharge, and conduct a chemical and turbidity analysis of Garvin Brook in Stockton, MN. Based on this investigation students will create a presentation that includes a new testable question that may be carried out the following year along with a stream ecology study.

Interdependence of Life: How an ecosystem responds to change part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This field activity asks students to examine and interpret a given environmental site where a disturbance (fallen tree, beaver dam etc.) has taken place.

Habitat Part 2 (See Mitze Olson's Activity for Part 1) part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is an investigation to determine the effect of soil type on plant growth. The students will develop an understanding of the plant as producer.

Investigating SE MN Geology including rock layers, fossils, and Karst geology through Quarry Hill Nature Center part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a field investigation where students will increase their knowledge of SE MN geology including rock layers, fossils, and Karst topography. They will also learn how Karst Geology impacts our water quality.

Name That (Bird) Tune part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Students will learn to identify 3 to 4 birds by their song.

Healthy Waters part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is an mock investigation into different macroinvertebrates found in the streams in your local city. Students will record and analyze data that will lead them to learn if the water quality is good or bad in their backyard.