Interact with natural artifacts and visual representations to learn about Michigan plants and animals throughout the year. 

50-Minute Classroom Visit

Unit – “Living it Up”  (Late November - December)

* Lesson Plan

* Information for Teachers

* Seasons Chart

* Parent Letter

An AAPS Environmental Education teacher will visit for a 40-minute program that will take place in the kindergarten classroom. During the first part of the lesson, students will learn about how an oak tree changes during the four seasons. They will observe photos via a digital presentation and interact with puppets to learn about how three specific animals; a moth, chickadee, and squirrel all change their behavior and/or bodies in response to seasonal changes. Students will identify images that show these animals in different seasons. This activity will draw attention to the importance of trees, especially oaks, which provide habitat services for hundreds of native Michigan animal species. 

During the second half of the program, students will interact with real specimens of other different native Michigan animals and make observations about their anatomy. This high-interest activity is meant to spark students’ curiosity and allow them to practice acting like a scientist.  Students will be prompted to make observations about the specimens and use season charts to think about the survival strategies of various species. In the conclusion of the lesson, the instructor will emphasize examples of how some of the animals studied change their bodies, their behavior, or their environment to get the food and shelter they need in different seasons.

After the EE program, teachers can extend the learning by taking classes outside, observing a tree on campus, and recording their observations on this seasons chart. Teachers are encouraged to keep these charts and take students outside to repeat observations each season. 

This lesson is intended to extend, and/or prepare students for, the kindergarten Phenomenal Science unit, Living It Up.