Environmental Education Center 6 th 8th Grade Student

Programs

Sixth Grade TEKS

Programs Science
STAAR Program Description

Junior limnologists will seine the pond to collect and identify a variety of organisms
Limnology- and determine their place in the overall ecology of the pond. Students will have the
6.1 (A),
Ecology of a opportunity to examine the microscopic life of the pond using microscopes. Students
Freshwater
6.4 (A,B), 6.12D-SS will use appropriate material and equipment to prepare samples for microscopic
6.12 (E,F)
Pond viewing. Topics covered will include succession, interdependence, levels of
organization, natural cycles, and biotic and abiotic factors.

The Post Oak Preserve is an example of a hardwood forest mixed with pockets of
prairie grassland and savanna woodlands. This program focuses on the unique
All Things are 6.1 (A),
woodland ecology and the plant and animal communities which exist in this diverse
Connected- 6.2 (C),
Interdependenc 6.4 (A),
6.12D-SS habitat. Students will be involved in hands-on exploration and gathering of
information about the trees, soil, water, leaf litter, and animal & plant life. Topics
e in the Woods 6.12 (E,F)
covered include succession, interdependence, levels of organization, natural cycles,
and biotic and abiotic factors.

The students will make a study of the complex web found in a grassland ecosystem
Grassland and examine the effects of succession on the habitat. Students will collect specimens
6.1(A),
Ecology of various grasses for identification & observation. The concepts of ecological
6.2(C),
(Best done in
6.4 (A),
6.12D-SS succession, natural cycles, nitrogen fixation, interdependence, taxonomy, abiotic and
August, Sept or biotic factors, and levels of organization within an ecosystem will be discussed.
6.12 (E,F)
May) Students will focus on cycles in nature (nitrogen cycle, water cycle, carbon/oxygen
cycles).

6.1 (A), Learn how the suns energy powers life on earth and explore methods for using this
Here Comes the 6.4 (A), clean and limitless source of energy in our own lives. Students will also have an
Sun 6.7 (A),
6.11B-SS opportunity to observe solar panels at work generating electricity and the working
6.9 (A) windmill. Students will explore the principles of solar energy.

Meet the
6.1 (A), Junior herpetologists will be introduced to the characteristics and adaptations of the
Critters
-Reptiles &
6.4 (A), 6.12D-SS major groups of reptiles and amphibians, their history, behavior and importance in the
6.12 (E,F) ecosystem through the use of live and preserved specimens from the EEC collections.
Amphibians

6.1(A), The junior geologists will classify rocks as igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic by
Rocks and 6.3(B,C), the processes of the rocks formation. The students will test the physical properties of
Minerals 6.4 (A), minerals, including hardness, color, luster, streak, and cleavage. The students will
6.6 (A,C), examine a model of the Earths layers.
6.10 (B)

Seventh Grade TEKS

STAAR Program Description
Programs Science
 Environmental Education Center 6 th 8th Grade Student
Programs

7.1 (A),
7.2 (A,C),
Junior ornithologists will explore the characteristics, behaviors and adaptations of birds.
Animal 7.4 (A),
During the field experience, students will take a trail walk with binoculars to observe bird
Adaptations - 7.10 (A,B), 7.10B-SS
populations associated with the natural habitats of the EEC. The students will use field
Birds 7.11(B),
guides for bird identification.
7.12 (A),
7.13(A)
Junior limnologists will explore the basic principles of ecology through study of a typical
Limnology- 7.1 (A),
pond. The students will examine the role of local plants and animals, as well as migrating
Ecology of a 7.4 (A), 7.10B-SS
and wintering birds. Field experiences will involve seining the pond to collect specimens
Freshwater 7.5 (A), 7.10C-SS
and identification of a variety of organisms. Students will have the opportunity to
Pond 7.12 (A)
examine the biotic and abiotic factors of the pond.
7.1 (A), The junior silviculturists will use hand lenses to make observations of, trees, soil, water,
7.2 (A), leaf litter, animal and plant life and their relationships in the ecosystem. The concepts of
Forest Ecology
7.5 (A,B,C), ecological succession, adaptations, tropisms, photosynthesis, cycles in nature and
Post Oak 7.10B-SS
7.7 (C), introduced species will be covered.
Preserve Trail 7.11A-SS
7.10(A,B,C),
Walk
7.12 (A),
7.13(A)
Grassland 7.1(A), 7.10B-SS The students will make a study of the complex web of life in the grassland ecosystem
Ecology (Best 7.2 (A,C), 7.10C-SS with a trail walk to explore the effects of succession on the habitat. During the field
done in August, 7.4 (A), 7.11A-SS experience, students will collect specimens of various grasses for identification. The
September or 7.5 (A,B), concepts of ecological succession, taxonomy, energy flow, photosynthesis, biodiversity,
May 7.10(A,B,C), cycles in nature, tropisms and adaptations will be covered. If the class is taken in summer
7.11 (A, B), or late spring, insect nets, killing jars and dichotomous keys will be utilized.
7.12 (A),
7.13(A)
Meet the 7.1 (A), The junior herpetologists will explore the basic characteristics of the major groups of
Critters 7.11 (B), reptiles and amphibians and their morphological and behavioral adaptations. Live &
7.11A-SS
Reptiles & 7.12 (A), preserved specimens from the EEC collection will be used to help identify various reptiles
Amphibians 7.13 (A) and amphibians that make the EEC their home.
7.1 (A),
Texas Land and Texas has 10 eco-regions that are affected by weathering, erosion, and deposition.
7.4 (A), 7.10B-SS
Water- Groundwater and surface water are also affected by human activity. The students will
7.8 (B,C), 7.10C-SS
Blackland explore the effect of natural and human events on our eco-region, the Blackland Prairie.
7.10(A,B,C),
Prairie Soils, aquifers, vegetation and rivers will be examined.
7.11(B)
7.1(A), The students will demonstrate and explain the decay of biomass in a compost bin, will
7.10B-SS
Compost 7.4 (A), examine the role of decomposers, how energy flows through an ecosystem, and cycles in
7.10C-SS
Happens 7.5 (A,B,C) nature. The students will practice making compost and examine compost with a
7.10 (A,B) microscope.

Eighth TEKS
STAAR/EOC Program Description
Grade Programs Science

Animal 8.1(A), The emphasis of this program is on the predator/prey relationships

Adaptations 8.2 (A,E), 8.11A-RS of birds and the role they play in the food web. Young
ornithologists will observe bird behavior and note their adaptations,
Birds 8.4 (A), 8.11B-RS migratory patterns, and roles in the ecosystem. Students will use
(Predator/Prey 8.11 8.11C-RS binoculars and field guides for identification and observation of
Relationships) (A,B,C) bird populations found in this ecosystem.
 Environmental Education Center 6 th 8th Grade Student
Programs

This program introduces the basic principles of ecology through

the study of our typical Texas farm pond. The pond plays a
8.1(A), critical role in the life of local plants and animals, as well as
8.11A-RS
Ecosystem of a 8.2(A, C), playing host to a variety of migrating and wintering birds. The
8.11B-RS
Fresh Water 8.4(A), field experiences will involve activities such as seining the pond
8.11C-RS to collect and identify a variety of organisms and determine their
Pond 8.11 (A,
B,C) niche in the overall ecology of the pond. Students will use the
appropriate material and equipment to collect samples from the
pond and examine the microscopic life of the pond using video
microscopic technology.
Young naturalists will focus on the unique aspects of a woodland
8.1(A), ecosystem with emphasis on the macro/micro-communities.
8.11A-RS
8.2 (A, C), Students will use hand lenses and/or pocket microscopes to
Ecosystem of the 8.11B-RS
8.4 (A), observe life in the forest. Many types of plant and animal
Forest 8.11C-RS relationships will be discussed and observed. Students will
8.11 (A,
B,C) explore aspects of human activity and how it affects short-term
and long-term changes to the forest.
Reptiles and 8.1(A), 8.11A-RS Our young herpetologists will learn about the basic characteristics
Amphibians A 8.2 (A,C), 8.11B-RS of reptiles and amphibians through discussing and interacting with
Unique Group 8.4(A), 8.11C-RS the reptiles and amphibians at the Center. Students will compare
8.11 (A, and contrast their morphological characteristics and behavioral
B,C) adaptations. Living specimens will be observed, measured, and
weighed using appropriate equipment.

Understanding 8.1(A), 8.10A-SS The beginning meteorologists will see how global patterns are
Climate, Weather 8.2(A,C), 8.10B-SS created by atmospheric movements that influence local weather.
& Seasons 8.3 (B, C), 8.10C-SS The role of high/low pressure systems, front, hurricanes, and
8.4 (A), tornadoes will be discussed. Students will take a walking tour to
8.7(A) view weather apparatus around the EEC, take readings and observe
8.10 current weather conditions. Lab activities will demonstrate
(A,B,C) convection currents in air and water that are driven by the sun,
vortices, and density gradients in the oceans.

Your Planet-Your 8.1 (B) Students will study the basic environmental problems and learn
Decisions 8.3 (A) 8.11C-RS how simple actions can be a part of the solution. Possible topics to
8.11 (C,D) 8.11D-SS be presented might include global climate change, endangered
species, renewable energy, pollution, biodiversity and
sustainability.