Teachers' Guide

Overview

Lesson List
and Standards

Visiting
The Dunes

Foundation
for Planning

Cross-reference

Technical
Guide

To cross-reference these lesson plans by grades, subject areas, and whether it is suitable as a pre- or post-trip classroom lesson or an on-site activity, please visit the cross-reference tool.

Lesson/Activity
Title and Link

Description

Colorado
Content Standards

National
Science Standards

All Sand Grains, Great and Small

Students will be introduced to the concept of natural sorting and learn that the sand dunes are made up of different types and sizes of sand.

Geography 3.1; Math 1, 3, 6; Science 1, 2.1, 4.1

A, B, C

Biological Diversity at the Dunes

Students will be able to explain the concept of biological diversity and use observable characteristics to group living things found at the park.

Geography 1.2; Math 1, 3, 5; Science 1, 3.1

A, C, F

The Camouflage Trail

Students will gain an understanding of the concept of camouflage and adaptation.

Science 3.1, 3.4

C

Castles in the Sand

Students will learn about the cohesive force of water tension and the adhesive force of capillary action.

Science 1, 2.1, 4.1, 4.3

A, B

Design a Trail

Student groups will work cooperatively to produce an interpretive walking trail. Together they will research a topic, choose a focus, write, illustrate interpretive information, lay out a trail, organize information, and teach.

Civics 4.2, 4.4; Geography*; History*; Reading and Writing 1 - 5; Science*; Visual Arts 1, 3, 4

*

Digging Back in Time

Students will follow other students in the field at a hearth site archaeological dig and complete an activity which will help them learn about the systematic science of archaeology.

History 1.2, 2.1, 4.1; Reading and Writing 1; Science 1, 6

A, G

Does it Belong to Me or is it Free

Students will be able to distinguish between wildlife and domesticated animals.

History 4.1; Science 3.1

C

Endemic Insects

Students will understand why Great Sand Dunes is home to endemic insects, learn about biogeography, and specifically learn about the behaviors of the Great Sand Dunes tiger beetle.

Geography 1.2, 1.3, 3.1, 3.2, 6.1; Math 1, 3, 5; Reading and Writing 1; Science 1, 3.1, 3.4

A, C

Eolian Science

Students will understand the mechanics of dune formation and compare eolian landscapes on planet Earth and beyond.

Geography 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2; Reading and Writing 1; Science 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.4, 6

B, D

Everyone Has a Story

Students will work cooperatively to decide on a topic and investigate it through oral history interviews. Students will understand that everyone has a story.

Geography 2.1 - 2.3; History 2.1, 2.2, (standards 3 - 6 are addressed when a related topic is chosen for procedure #6); Reading and Writing 1 - 5

Exotic Escapes

Students will learn about exotic plant research and science at Great Sand Dunes through field notes, photographs, and an interactive activity.

Geography 4.5, 5.1, 6; History 4.1; Reading and Writing; Science 3.1, 3.4

A, C, F

Find My Critter

Students will be able to understand the importance of coloration in the ways animals are adapted.

Science 3.1, 3.4; Visual Arts 1, 3

C

Fingerprints in the Dunes

A series of interrelated activities centering around dune ecology and the Sand Sheet Poster.

Geography: 2.2, 3.1, 3.2; Reading and Writing: 1, 2; Science: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3; Visual Arts: 1, 2

B, D

Flowing Waters

Students will learn to calculate stream flow and creatively seek ways to refine and improve a scientific measurement process.

Geography 3.1, 5.3, 6; Math 1, 2, 3, 6; Science 1, 2, 5, 2.1 - 2.3, 4.3, 5, 6

A, B

Go with the Flow

Students will learn about hydrology at Great Sand Dunes and how to calculate the flow through an interactive exercise.

Geography 3.1, 5.1 - 5.3, 6; Math 1 - 3, 6; Reading and Writing 1; Science 1, 2.1, 2.2, 4.3, 5, 6

B, F

Habistack

Students will understand habitats, predator/prey relationship, and the trophic structure on which Great Sand Dunes' habitats are built.

Geography 1.3; Science 3.1, 3.2

C

Habitat Search

This coloring puzzle will help students learn about the ecology of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.

Reading and Writing 1; Science 3.1

C

Insect Design

Students will be able to identify common insects at Great Sand Dunes while also understanding the general external morphology of insects.

Science 3.1 - 3.4; Visual Arts 1, 3

C

Inspector Flora

Students will observe wildflowers while learning to identify the main parts of a flower.

Science 3.1; Visual Arts 1, 3

C

Land of Many Opportunists

Students will learn how aggressive exotic species take advantage of a wide range of resources in order to expand their range and compete in a nonnative habitat.

Science 1, 3.1, 3.4, 5

A, C, F, G

Latin Roots

Students will learn how scientists name new species of plants while creating a new one of their own.

Science 3.1; Visual Arts 1, 3

C, G

Let's Be an Archaeologist

Students will learn about the reasoning methods of archaeologists and gain insight about a culture by making their own inferences about the people who occupied an archaeology site.

History 2.1, 4.1; Science 1, 6

A, G

Magnetic Sand?

Students will understand that sand is made up of different minerals—one being magnetite, a compound containing iron.

Science 2.1, 2,2, 4.1

B

Native Dyes

Students will become familiar with natural dyes, which plants they came from, and how Native Americans have used them.

History*; Science 3.1; Visual Arts 1, 3, 4

C

Nocturnal Lives

Students will understand the difficulty nocturnal creatures have and the reasons they come out at night.

Science 3.1, 3.2

C

An Ocean in Colorado?

Students will understand the globally rare phenomenon of surge flow, exhibited in Medano Creek. Students will conduct an experiment by measuring, recording, and graphing data about stream flow. Students will compare the waves of an ocean on the beach to the surges of water in Medano Creek. They will also use measuring skills to compare the pulses of water.

Geography, 3.1; Math 1 - 3, 5, 6; Science 1, 2.1 - 2.3, 4.3, 6

A, B, G

Oh, So Special

Students will become acquainted with the habits and characteristics of a few special plants and animals before visiting the park.

Reading and Writing 1; Science 3.1

C, F, G

Our Common History

Students will understand through chronological problem-solving and reading skills a summarized account of the human history of Great Sand Dunes.

Geography 2.1, 4.1; History 1.1 - 2.3, 4.1; Reading and Writing 1

Plant Adaptations

Students will understand the concepts of habitat and plant adaptations to desert environments.

Reading and Writing 1; Science 3.1, 3.4

C

Quick Draw

Students will learn how trophic levels differ and are similar among ecosystems.

Science 3.1, 3.2; Visual Arts 1, 3

C

Raven's Song

An on-line interactive fable with questions that refer to Great Sand Dunes' web site.

Geography: 2.2, 3.1, 3.2; Reading and Writing: 1, 4, 5; Science: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3

Sand Density

Students will understand material density as it relates to water and sedimentary rocks.

Science 2.1, 4.1

B

Sand Filters

Students will see the importance of sand in water filtration and understand how aquifers are recharged.

Science 2.1, 4.3, 5

B

Seed Travelers

Students will be able to explain various methods of seed dispersal and how animals and natural processes play a role in helping plants reproduce.

Science 3.2, 3.4

C

Then and Now

Students will read a selection of oral histories and compare/contrast those people's lives with their own experiences.

Reading and Writing 1 - 5; History 2.1, 2.2

Think Like a bird

Students will understand the complexities of nest building by attempting to design and build a nest themselves.

Science 1, 3.1 - 3.4, 6; Visual Arts 1, 3

A, G

Track Memory

Students will begin to learn to identify mammal tracks at Great Sand Dunes and learn to notice the difference between animal track shapes.

Science 3.1

C

Trail Skits

Students will learn how to be prepared, respect the natural ecology, and be safe on their trip to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.

Civics 4.2, 4.4, Science*

*

Tree Classification

Students will learn the basics of tree identification at Great Sand Dunes and how to use a dichotomous key.

Science 3.1

C, G

Water, Water Everywhere, Nor Any Drop to Drink?

Students will participate in a decision-making exercise that emphasizes team work, problem solving, and critical thinking. Students will research water resource issues and existing water policies, working in teams to present a variety of perspectives on a specific water issue.

Civics 1, 2, 3, 4; Geography 1.1 - 1.3, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4, 5.1 - 5.3, 6.2; History 1.1, 2.3, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1; Math*; Reading and Writing 1 - 5; Science 4.3, 5, 6

E, F

Who Passed This Way?

Students will be able to identify common animal tracks and learn how to make plaster casts of them.

Science 3.1

C

Wildlife Scavenger Hunt

Students will use observation and deductive reasoning skills to find objects at the sand dunes that are the result of animals' interactions with the environment.

Science 3.1

C

You Can't See Me

Students will understand the importance of natural coloration and camouflage in survival, considering the colors of various animals found at the park.

Science 1, 3.1, 3.4, 6; Visual Arts 1, 3

A

*Standards may be applicable under specific conditions.