Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2026
Abstract
The goal of this lesson was to design an immersive, place-based learning inquiry for students to observe and learn about animal adaptations influenced by the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. By exploring the MSUM Regional Science Center, students engage with the natural phenomenon of camouflage, specifically analyzing how the physical traits of the Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel and the Prairie Pocket Gopher are influenced by their environment. Through a combination of hands-on "phenomenon walks" and argumentative journaling, this lesson empowers students to construct evidence-based arguments regarding how survival is tied to habitat-specific traits.
Recommended Citation
Sikorski, Katherine, "Adaptation in the Tallgrass Prairie: The Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel" (2026). OER Materials. 6.
https://red.mnstate.edu/oer-materials/6
Included in
Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Elementary Education Commons, Outdoor Education Commons
Comments
This place-based learning lesson was created for teachers to use at the Minnesota State Moorhead Regional Science Center. This inquiry lesson was created for a science methods course.