This series of 5 high-quality, standards-aligned, inquiry-based activities have been field-tested by first grade students and families of Wequiock Children's Center for Environmental Science during Safer At Home orders. These activities encourage students to use natural areas around their homes and in their neigbhorhoods as they improve their science observation skils. The materials used are ones generally available at home and the activites require little preparation on the part of caregivers.Created as a part of a WISELearn OER Innovation project, Connect, Explore, and Engage: Using the Environment as the Context for Science Learning was a collaboration of the Wequiock Children's Center for Environmental Science and the Wisconsin Green Schools Network. One of the goals of the project was to create standards-aligned lessons that utilize the outdoor spaces of the school (as well as those of the students' homes).  Each section of this resource is an individual activity. While each activity builds on the previous ones, it is possible to use them individually.The observation protocol "I Notice, I Wonder, It Reminds Me Of, I Think Maybe" has been adapted from that of the BEETLES Project.The title image was used with permission and is courtesy of Joe Riederer.

This lesson can be taught for first grade during the unit on patterns in space.This lesson can be added to Amplify’s Spinning Earth: Investigating Patterns in the Sky unit. It can be used with Lesson 2.1 after watching Zoom Out to Space videosChapter 2 Driving Question: Why was it daytime for Sai when it was nighttime for his grandma?The pursuit of Identity can be addressed throughout this unit. It is defined by Gholdy Muhammad as "Who you are, who others say you are and who you desire to be". Students see that a woman and person of color was able to fulfill her dreams of becoming an astronaut despite having this dream dismissed by a teacher. She took her parents' advice. She dreamt of being an astronaut, she believed she could do it, and she worked hard to achieve this goal.

Students will have the opportunity to learn about animal signs, including tracks, sounds and coats and how to infer that information through a series of “mystery scenes.” Each mystery scene incorporates a basic biology concept appropriate for early elementary.