Dipping into field science

What a joyful day of field work we had at the Arboretum today! 

Photo courtesy of L. Ganem

We began with a short indoor class on food chains, where we learned about producers, consumers (herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores), and decomposers.  Soon, we formed smaller groups and headed outside with nets and plastic tubs for some pond dipping. 

The children took turns pulling nets through the water to collect a sample of organisms (and mud) from the pond.

They sorted through each sample,

















transferring any finds to a tub of clear water for closer observation. 












Photo courtesy of B. Atkinson

We then used a record page to identify the organisms and classify the consumers as herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores.





My group observed turtles, tadpoles, a leech, a water boatman, mosquito fish, a fishing spider, a water scorpion, and lots of crawfish.

fishing spider

We were also excited to see a Broad-Banded Water Snake winding its way through the pond.  I was impressed by how well its pattern camouflaged with the narrow oak leaves floating on the water.

After lunch, we broke into small groups (4-5 children with an adult chaperone) for a hike.  The children used nature awareness skills, including a Fox Walk, Deer Ears, Owl Eyes, Eagle Eyes, and Dog Nose, to increase our likelihood of spotting something interesting.

A super-sneaky Fox Walk

On outdoor field trips, each group carries a Field Pack, empowering the children with the tools to navigate, observe, measure, identify, and record in the field (clockwise from top left):
* Field guides (Sky Watcher Chart, Texas Wildlife, Texas Trees & Wildflowers, Texas Butterflies & Moths, Houston Birds, Rocks, Gems and Minerals Golden Guide, and Fossils Golden Guide)
* Binoculars
* Compass
* Fold-away keychain magnifier
* Measuring tape
* Specimen container
* Golf pencils (stored in an M&Ms tube)
* Field notebook
* Colored pencils
* First aid kit (gloves, wet wipe, alcohol wipe, tooth container, Kleenex, Band-aids, tiny bottle of hand sanitizer)
Each Cooperative Science Group has an assigned color.  This pack belongs to "the green group."
Thank you to the generous donors who have funded additions to these kits over the years.  The other teacher who went with us told me at the end of the day that one of her students had commented wistfully, trail map in hand, "Boy, it sure would be nice if we had a compass."

The children identified and drew the clouds and recorded our wildlife sightings in the group's field notebook.

More than once, we paused so the children could identify a butterfly or a caterpillar.













Photo courtesy of B. Atkinson

(and I managed to sneak in purposeful and highly motivated reading, even on a day we spent outside!)


We used binoculars to examine a group of four hawks circling overhead.

We rolled a rotting log (toward us so that frightened critters have an escape route away from us) and used the magnifier for a closer look at termites. 















When we arrived at a meadow pond, the children suggested a Sit Spot, some quiet time to sit, just  watching and listening. 









Photo courtesy of C. Pratt

Apparently, my group wasn't the only one with this instinct. 

Photo courtesy of C. Pratt

There's something about being in nature that quiets the mind and body.














Once again, our field notebook and colored pencils came out. 
Leonardo da Vinci said, 'I don't understand a thing until I draw it.'  Scientific illustration helps us really pay attention to what we're looking at and allows the hand to help the brain comprehend.









One of our parent chaperones wrote to me after we'd all gone home for the day, "Today was super fun and your class is lovely.  All of the children were the right amount of curious, energetic and engaged."  Yes!




There's a Book for That!
The Other Way to Listen by Byrd Baylor
Shelterwood by Susan Shetterly
I'm in Charge of Celebrations by Byrd Baylor
Crinkleroot's Guide to Walking in Wild Places by Jim Arnosky
The Looking Book by P.K. Hallinan
Somewhere by Jane Baskwill
Pond Life (A Golden Guide)
Pond & River (Eyewitness Books)
One Small Square: Pond
Kids Discover: Ponds
Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature (For Kids of all Ages and their Mentors) by Jon Young, Ellen Haas, & Evan McGown

Get Outdoors with Your Family
Borrow a Family Field Pack
Get Out Here Houston  There is also an app
Houston Arboretum & Nature Center  Free!
     Naturalist Explorers Saturday classes
     Arboretum at Night for families
     Naturally Wild Families
Bellaire Nature Discovery Center
Hermann Park
Memorial Park
Jesse Jones Park  programs
Brazos Bend State Park
Buffalo Bayou Boat Tours (scroll down)
     Buffalo Bayou Walking Tours  Free!
     Buffalo Bayou Audio Tours
     Bayou City Adventures Buffalo Bayou kayak tours
Artist Boat   kayak & watercolor adventures
Armand Bayou Nature Center   programs
Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens
Sims Bayou Nature Center
Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary
Shangri La Botanical Gardens & Nature Center   programs
Katy Prairie Conservancy
Discovery Green
Texas Through Time Great Places to see Geology in Texas
Nature Rocks Texas

Resources for aquatic field work:


Photo courtesy of L. Ganem

Creature Seeker Pond Kit
Aquatic net
Nature Circles: Pond & Stream Life card set
Pond and Stream Sampling Kit
LaMotte Aquatic Bug Kit
Enviro-Safe field-use thermometer
LaMotte MacroLens
Elenco Two Way Bug Viewer
LaMotte Aquatic Macroinvertebrate ID Cards
Eyewitness DVD: Pond & River
Turbidity tube or Secchi tube
Take a Wetlands Walk by Jane Kirkland