Rocky Mountain Ecosystem Explorers- FREE

Length

1 hour

Target Audience

Education: Grade(s) 3, 4, 5, Homeschool/Family Public Library: Library Patrons

Minimum participants:

5

Maximum participants:

There is no maximum, but for optimal interactivity, we suggest no more than 35 students.

Primary Disciplines

Sciences

Program Delivery Mode

Booking Information

Please submit program requests at least two weeks in advance. Captioning is available upon request - let us know in the "notes" section of your booking.

Program slots are Monday-Friday from 7:30am-4pm MT.

Our preferred platform is Zoom, but we can accommodate Webex and Google Meets/Classrooms.

We will be joining you on your link.

Receive this program and 9 more for one low price when you purchase the CILC Virtual Expeditions package. Learn more

For more information contact CILC at (507) 388-3672

Provider's Cancellation Policy

Please notify us a week prior to connecting if you won't be able to make the scheduled program time- this ensures we can do our best to fit in other schools from our waiting list.

About This Provider

Estes Park, CO
United States

Rocky Mountain National Park is a special place that receives over 4.6 million visitors per year. However, not everyone has the opportunity to visit; therefore, Rocky Mountain National Park's Education Rangers bring a new way to connect students across the country (and the world!) to Rocky- via virtual programs! Virtual programs are a fresh, fun, and an interactive take on the traditional classroom setting. Through these medium, Rocky rangers encourage students to get up and move while they learn, collaborate with their peers, and explore their National Park together. We look forward to expanding the reach of these programs to inspire students, our future park stewards.

Program Details

Format

1. The program begins with an introduction to the National Park Service and its emblem.
2. The ranger then introduces Rocky Mountain National Park and its ecosystems with a video.
3. We then discuss what an ecosystem is made of.
4. Students then are invited to come up to the camera one group at a time to discuss the ecosystem they researched.
5. The ranger will then elaborate on each presentation, showing supplementary videos and images.
6. Lastly, once students have built the whole mountain of ecosystems, we discuss biodiversity.
7. Time is allowed for questions for the ranger.

Objectives

Name at least 5 animals that call Rocky Mountain home
Answer questions about their selected ecosystem regarding temperature, elevation, precipitation, and animals present
Draw connections between Rocky Mountain and their home environment
Demonstrate research skills and organization
Describe the role of biodiversity in the health of ecosystems
Recognize the role of the NPS in preserving natural areas.

Standards Alignment

National Standards

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) (National Academy of Sciences)

NGSS-2-LS4-1: Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats.
NGSS-5-LS2-1: Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
NGSS-5-ESS2-1: Develop a model using an example to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere interact.
NGSS-MS-LS2-2: Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
NGSS-MS-LS2-3: Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.

State Standards

Colorado State Academic Standards (CSAS)

SC09-GR.4-S.2-GLE.3-IQ.1,2,4
SC09-GR.4-S.2-GLE.3-EO. b,c
SC09-GR.6-S.2-GLE.1-IQ.1
SC09-GR.6-S.2-GLe.1-EO.d