Over the next few weeks we will be studying Ecosystems in class and thinking about how organisms can still be wild and live and grow even in the City of Chicago where humans have changed the environment drastically.
In order for you to do your own study, your homework this week is to identify an interesting natural area near your house that you can get to without any trouble at all. As you think about what spot to choose, keep these things in mind.
- Easy Access - Be sure that you can get to this location easily and quickly so that you can visit it when your family's schedule and the weather give you a window. Don't choose an area that is going to be a hassle for you or your family. Good options are your yard, your neighborhood park, or areas along your street where animals and plants are growing and living wild.
- Make sure you can identify a number of different plant and animal populations that live in your natural area even if it's very small. (We will try to identify the organisms you are observing, but it's ok if you are not sure the actual species names. "Tall grasses, red ants, a rabbit, Pine tree, moss" - these can be specific enough for this project.
- Make sure that your natural area has at least one woody stemmed perennial like a bush or a tree. Something that has bark.
- Spend some time in a few different areas before choosing so that you know you have found an interesting natural area to spend time observing.
Once you have chosen your location, complete the description page we set up in our journals.
If your natural are is very large like a park, be sure to describe what part of it you will be focusing your work in.
Here is a picture of the blank journal set up if you forgot to take yours home.
