Compare and Contrast deciduous and evergreen tree leaves to aid in tree identification part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity consists of classroom lessons where children observe tree leaves and compare and contrast those leaves leading to an understanding of the terms deciduous and evergreen (and also coniferous). They then use that learning to help them identify the kind of tree based on samples on a chart.

The Five Senses - Differentiated Lesson for ESL/Special Needs Students part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This guided inquiry activity is designed to help students understand that people get all of their knowledge from their senses, and that is why our senses are so important.

From Seeds to Plants part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a classroom activity to invistigate seeds and plants.

Tulip Growth and the Parts of the Flower part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This is a field and classroom activity in which students will observe tulip growth and identify and describe the parts of the tulip flower.

Describing Fall Leaves Through Words and Music part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This is an integration of science leaf observations with musical composition for early elementary students.

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.

First Grade Collecting Leaves with the book Leaf Man part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is takes place in nature and in the classroom. Students are gathering different types of leaves and naming characteristics of each then sorting them by those characteristics. Students then make a picture with leaves and writes 2-3 sentences about their picture using the characteristic words.

Going on a leaf hunt! part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity gives kindergartners the chance to get outside collect, observe and sort leaves. They will also try to differentiate between MN native leaves and non-native leaves to MN.

Who Am I? Plant and Animal Life in a Pond part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
In this activity, students use questioning skills to ascertain which pond plant or animal they are. In previous lessons, students have visited the neighborhood pond, made observations, and become familiar with pond life.

Pondering the Pond part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is designed to help students learn common names of pond life in Minnesota. To be most effective students should make a visit to the pond before participating in this activity.

Leaf Walk: Observing and Investigating Leaves part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a field investigation where students compare leaves, share observations and develop an investigable question to be explored by the class in small groups.

Comparing Two Leaves part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This is an inquiry where students will be comparing and contrasting two different types of leaves with a partner.

Growing Lima Beans: Do We Really Need Dirt? part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is an indoor lab investigation where students compare and contrast different growing environments for a lima bean seed and discover the optimal conditions needed for growth.

Classroom Phenology: Using the Environment as a Source of Data and Observations part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a classroom and schoolyard investigation where students collect daily temperature and precipitation readings, weather observations, and weekly phenology reports in a phenology binder and in nature journals. Students then analyze this data and compare to recorded values in the Weatherguide calendar.

Observing Leaves and descriptive writing part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
In this activity students will explore leaves using inquiry and their senses.

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.

Investigating Minnesota Tree Leaves part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
During the leaf activities the students will compare, contrast, classify, categorize, identify attributes, learn art techniques and learn about the importance of trees.

Looking for Living and Nonliving Things part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a field investigation where students begin to generate ideas about what is living and nonliving by observing and recording what they see in a defined area outdoors and later sharing things that they think are living and why.

Why are trees important? part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a field investigation where students gather leaves and make observation about the leaves and based on their data determine which leaves are the most common where they live.

Introduction to Nature Journaling part of MnSTEP Teaching Activity Collection:MnSTEP Activity Mini-collection
This activity is a field investigation where students will learn the importance of detail when nature journaling.