NatureMapping Activities

Students will develop "search image" by practicing their different senses. Report if you: see, hear, see and hear, or smell. Other ways to record your observations are if you see a carcass, see a bird on nest, flying overhead and signs.
Using the same Treasure map, place 2-3 Sign cards along the way. Also place "Other signs" (Pencil, gum wrap, feather, golf ball) along the path.
Divide the class into groups of 3-5.
Each student will use their Treasure Map
Students will record/draw in their journals what they see and where they see it (e.g., what segment of the route that they see it. There are 4 segments).
As a team they will compare their sheets and re-trace the route if they missed any of the signs.
Students will return to the classroom and using field guides and Internet identify who made the signs.
Students will add their information to the Data Collection Sheet.

Practice looking and identifying different signs online. (Click Here)
Go outdoors and using your Treasure Map, walk slowly along the segments, looking around for signs.
Draw each segment of the Map and where you found the sign and what the sign was.
After every team member has found the signs, bring them back into the classroom.
Using field guides, Internet, and materials your teacher provides, identify the signs.
Enter the data for each of the species on your Data Collection Sheet.

Definitions

Tracking - the pursuit of an animal by following tracks or marks they left behind.