Schoolyard BioBlitz: Monthly Observations of Plants, Insects, Weather, the Sun and Moon part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
In this field lab students will go outside and observe a particular area of the schoolyard. Students will design investigations to complete outside and will use outdoor observations to provide evidence for our indoor activities.

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.

Exploring A Decomposition Community part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity allows elementary students to construct a decomposition column in order to observe the relationship between living systems and energy sources.

Investigating Animals: Interdependence of Life In A Habitat part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a field investigation where students will observe, discuss, and gather evidence on how environmental changes affect animals that live in that habitat.

White Bass, A Taste of Home? part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Hmong students will study white bass and it's management in St. Paul.

Virtual Inquiry Field Lesson part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
The use of new technological motion sensing cameras creates a motivation for students in this life science lesson.

Ecosystem Study part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Students will explore and create a healthy ecosystem, once established they will then introduce additional variables which may harm the ecosystem and determine which hazards should be avoided.

Critter Catalog-Creating a Field Guide to Minnesota Animals part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity will help students learn about Minnesota animals and characteristics that distinguish them from one another.

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.

Connecting the story "Diary of a Worm" to a daily activity diary part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
In this activity, you will read the book "Diary of a Worm" and then your students will create their own diary.

Investigation a food web: producers, consumers, and decomposers part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a field investigation where students list plants and animals they observe. Students will organize their data as producers, consumers, or decomposers and create a food web showing how they affect each other. They will predict what will happen if the food web becomes imbalanced by extinction or over population.

Investigating simple plants part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
Students will observe simple plants, develop an investigable question, and form an investigation. They will document their investigation in their science notebooks.

Fish Habitats part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This is a unit for K-2 students on fish habitats. The last day is a field trip to a local lake.

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.

Environmental interactions: Connectedness of a natural system part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This is a field investigation of how a natural system in organized and the interconnectedness of an ecosystem.

Determining Bird Populations Through Counting part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a field investigation where students gather population data on bird species. The students will create bar graphs and interpret their findings. Based on their experiences and data, they will write an answer to the guiding question.

Food Chains: Nature's Restaurant part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
In these life science activities, students will participate in field observations of living things & do research of animals they observe to create a food chain & present it to the class. Students will participate in a food web simulation game.

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.

Ecology/Geography Classification part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection

"Mystery and the Unknown": Teaching Inquiry Through Aquatic Exploration part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a longer project that involves using inquiry to find out what kinds of aquatic animals live in our school pond. Students use direct observation, journaling, outdoor classroom techniques, research skills, collaboration, and service learning to learn about their question.