A Walk through Highland Park
SPRING, 2006-2007
The concept of interdependence was a running thread throughout the expeditions in the Second Grade classroom this year. This last expedition of the year highlighted the relationship between animals and their habitats and the impact that humans have on that relationship. Highland Park, an urban park and a legacy of the “Flower City” era, is the lens through which Second Graders investigated the interdependence between animals and their habitats and the choices humans make that have an impact on the environment.
Second graders worked in crews to observe, identify, and care for a variety of members of the animal kingdom. Through this experience, students learned about the classification system of all living things, the interdependence between animals and their habitats, as well as animal adaptations and their places in the food chain. To celebrate and demonstrate the skills and concepts learned, students wrote a children’s book that takes the reader on a narrative stroll through Highland Park. To accomplish this, they also participated in a variety of fieldwork opportunities including visits with wildlife professionals and representatives from the Parks Department, as well as regular on site experiences at Highland Park.
