Standard: Science

04 Jan 2024

Nature Awareness

August-June

Awareness of your surroundings can lead to a deeper connection with nature, and with yourself. Walk silently through the forest, hear the quietest sounds, see the smallest movement. Students will use these skills as they experience Greenacres and connect to nature and themselves in a deep and authentic way. 

Ohio Science Standards

  • SWK l: Various science disciplines use diverse methods to obtain evidence and do not always use the same set of procedures to obtain and analyze data
  • SHE: Science depends on curiosity, imagination, creativity and persistence.
  • SHE: Science and engineering are influenced by technological advances and society; technological advances and society are influenced by science and engineering

    Vocabulary:  awareness, sit spot, observation, hypothesis

    Introduction: CLICK HERE for a mushroom poster from  a Greenacres educator

    Introduction: CLICK HERE for a bird poster from a Greenacres educator

    19 Dec 2023

    Know your Zone

    August-June

    The USDA uses zones to define certain growing areas. Our farm, located in zone 6b, faces challenges from weather, pests, and soil conditions. Join us as we learn and engage with the farmers as they tackle and solve daily challenges in our zone. 

    Ohio Science Standards:

    • B.DI.1: Biodiversity 
    • B.DI.2: Ecosystems
    • B.DI.3: Loss of diversity

    Indiana and NGSS Standards:

    • HS-LS2-2. Use mathematical representations to support and revise explanations based on evidence about factors affecting biodiversity and populations in ecosystems of different scales.
    • HS-LS2-4. Use mathematical representations to support claims for the cycling of matter and flow of energy among organisms in an ecosystem.
    • HS-LS2-6. Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
    • HS-LS4-5. Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species.

    Ohio Social Studies Standards:

    • Geography – Spatial Thinking and Skills: Maps and other geographic representations can be used to trace the development of human settlement over time.
    • Geography – Human Systems: Geographic factors promote or impede the movement of people, products and ideas.
    • Economics – Scarcity: The variability in the distribution of productive resources in the various regions of the world contributed to specialization, trade and interdependence.

    Vocabulary:

     zone, mapping, crop, seeds, cultivation, season, temperature, region, germination, heirloom, microclimate, diversity 

    19 Dec 2023

    Genetics on the Farm

    August-June

    Through competition, nature passes the strongest traits onto the next generation. Using nature as a guide, see how our farmers use the same concept to improve our herds and gardens for production and taste!

    Ohio Science Standards:

    • 8.LS.1 Diversity of species, a result of variation of traits, occurs through the process of evolution and extinction over many generations. The fossil records provide evidence that changes have occurred in number and types of species.
    • 8.LS.2 Every organism alive today comes from a long line of ancestors who reproduced successfully every generation.
    • 8.LS.3 The characteristics of an organism are a result of inherited traits received from parent(s).

    Indiana and NGSS Standards:

    • MS-LS1-1. Conduct an investigation to provide evidence that living things are made of cells; either one cell or many different numbers and types of cells.
    • MS-LS1-2.Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways the parts of cells contribute to the function.
    • MS-LS1-4 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes. Use argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support an explanation for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants respectively.
    • MS-LS1-5 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms.
    • MS-LS4-5. Gather and synthesize information about technologies that have changed the way humans influence the inheritance of desired traits in organisms.

    Ohio Social Studies Standards:

    • Economics – Economic Decision Making and Skills: Choices made by individuals, businesses and governments have both present and future consequences.

    Vocabulary:

    genetics, breeds, natural selection, genetic traits, adaptations, farming, livestock, crops

    13 Dec 2023

    Step into Soil

    All life depends on soil. Come learn how this important building block impacts life around Greenacres, and how we create healthier soil through farming practices. We will also experience how soil scientists study the properties of soil.

    Ohio Science Standards:

    • 4.ESS.3: The surface of Earth changes due to erosion and deposition.
    • 4.PS.1: When objects break into smaller pieces, dissolve, or change state, the total amount of matter is conserved.
    • 6.ESS.5 Rocks, mineral and soils have common and practical uses.
    • 6.ESS.4 Soil is unconsolidated material that contains nutrient matter and weathered rock.

    Indiana and NGSS Standards:

    • 2-ESS2-1. Compare multiple solutions designed to slow or prevent wind or water from changing the shape of the land.
    • 4-ESS2-1. Make observations and/or measurements to provide evidence of the effects of weathering or the rate of erosion by water, ice, wind, or vegetation.
    • 4-ESS2-2. Analyze and interpret data from maps to describe patterns of Earth’s features
    • MS-LS2-5. Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services
    • MS-ESS2-1. Develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth’s materials and the flow of energy that drives this process.
    • HS-ESS2-2. Analyze geoscience data to make the claim that one change to Earth’s surface can create feedbacks that cause changes to other Earth systems.

    Ohio Social Studies Standards (K-8):

    • Geography – Spatial Thinking and Skills: Spatial thinking examines the relationships among people, places and environments by mapping and graphing geographic data. Geographic data are compiled, organized, stored and made visible using traditional and geospatial technologies. Students need to be able to access, read, interpret and create maps and other geographic representations as tools of analysis.
    • Geography – Places and Regions: A place is a location having distinctive characteristics, which give it meaning and character and distinguish it from other locations. A region is an area with one or more common characteristics, which give it a measure of homogeneity and make it different from surrounding areas. Regions and places are human constructs.

        Vocabulary:

        soil health, properties, erosion, deposition, matter, minerals, nutrient, weathering

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