First Grade

photo by Michelle Frehsee

Plant and Animal Design

In kindergarten, students learned what an organism needs to survive. Take a deeper dive in First Grade to examine how those needs are met, through an investigation of life cycles, inheritance of traits, as well as structure & function of both plants and animals.

  • Plant Life Cycles                                      Length: 1.5 hours
    Through interactive games and outdoor explorations students learn about the life cycles of different plants and the inheritance and variation of traits. Come explore how plants differ not only from one another, but how seedling and parent plants are both the same and different.
    Fall or Spring – Outdoors
    NGSS: LS1.B, LS3.A, LS3.B
  • Animal Life Cycles                                   Length: 1.5 hours
    Through interactive games and outdoor explorations, students learn about the life cycles of different animals and the inheritance and variation of traits. Young animals are similar but not exactly like their parents. Hands-on activities will help students experience the differences between adult and immature animals across a variety of animal families.
    Any time of year – Outdoors
    NGSS: LS1.B, LS3.A, LS3.
  • Phenomenal Plants                                    Length: 1.5 hours
    Join us for a hike to explore the structures of various plant parts, and discover how they function. Depending on the season we will hike through garden, field and forest to investigate different plant parts and their roles in the plant’s growth and survival. Students will employ scientific skills as they discover the patterns among plant parts.
    Fall or Spring – Outdoors / In classroom
    NGSS: LS1.A
  • Amazing Animals                                        Length: 1.5 hours
    In a game-based program students learn about the extraordinary structures of various animals. Together we will investigate how they use their body parts to perform myriad tasks, as well as how they capture and convey information required for their survival.
    Any time of year – Outdoors
    NGSS: LS1.A, LS1.D
  • Thorns and Threats                                 Length: 1.5 – 2 hours
    Tie together your plant and animal studies, as students investigate how both plants and animals protect themselves.  Through interactive activities and role playing students will discover the defense strategies of plants and animals. You may be surprised at the similarities!
    Any time of year – Outdoors
    NGSS: LS1.A, LS1.D