The resources and project outline are the collaborative efforts of the Chain Exploration Center Grades 5 & 6 teachers and a FIELD Edventures educator. The goals of the project were for students to take civic action on environmental issues of local importance. Additionally, the teachers wanted students to become familiar with the four habitat areas, and observable species present in each area.  It was decided that conducting a bioblitz across 4 days–one in each area–would provide students with data that would be the basis for individual and small group investigative questions, issue definition and investigation, and a proposal for conservation, protection, and/or restoration of natural resources, habitats, or species of Wisconsin. Students then presented their proposals to their state senator in a visit to the Wisconsin State Capitol.

This collection of five lessons explores 3rd grade mathematical concepts in the context of the outdoor classroom. These lessons span various math and science curricular units and include:Arrays in Nature (modeling multiplication)Measurement in Nature (length/mass and traits of organisms)Fraction Snow Cakes (fractions)Engineering and Design - Flight (measurement/data and forces)BioBlitzes (measurement/data, diversity and traits)