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The Shape of Things
Geometric shapes are everywhere, especially in nature. This activity helps reinforce the concept of shapes and patterns in nature.
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Poet-Tree
Take the Poet-Tree activity, but put a Texas twist on it by writing about historic and champion trees in Texas. Also learn how trees can be historical to their community and how you can register a tree that may qualify for the Big Tree Registry.
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Picture This & Planet Diversity
This activity explores the diversity of plants and animals in each of the 13 different ecosystems in Texas.
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Charting Diversity
For a class activity, have students work in groups of four. Students will take turns drawing from the three bags until they have a match for their organism — a proper picture of the organism as well as how it moves and what it wears. Students then will discuss adaptations for each organism in their region. Repeat as time allows
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Can It Be Real?
This activity will give Texas students a better perspective on strange and unusual
organisms that exist in the Lone Star State. An extension for the activity would be to
have students research exactly where the organisms live and find a few more to add
to the list.
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Invasive Species
Texas is a big state and invasive species can be found almost everywhere. With the different ecosystems across the state, a variety of invaders have had the chance to move in and prosper. In this activity, there is information on how you can detect these invasive species.
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A Few of My Favorite Things
Students will gain a better appreciation for how many natural resources they depend on that come from Texas. In this activity, students will research eco-regions of Texas to discover where these resources are commonly found in abundance and what products/services they provide for consumers.
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Pass the Plants
In the Pass the Plants lesson, students look at the different plant parts that we eat. There are many plants found in Texas that native Americans once ate. Discover all the different edible plants in Texas with this activity.
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Environmental Exchange Box
To kick off the environmental exchange of information that students can make with students in different areas, a little information about their states' flora and fauna symbols makes a great beginning. This activity provides some basic facts about Texas.
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Birds and Worms
Texas is home to a variety of birds that eat all sorts of things. Most birds that eat insects will eat worms as well. This activity also includes a PowerPoint with Texas birds.
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Dynamic Duos
Every ecosystem has organisms that depend on each other or are interdependent. This activity provides a list of Texas organisms that are interdependent. You will find each type of symbiosis represented. There is an accompanying PowerPoint with the Texas symbiotic relationships.
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Three Cheers for Trees
The growth that many Texas cities have faced in the last 30 years has been tremendous. Many of these cities have lost green spaces due to development. However, there are many benefits for large cities such as Houston and Dallas to have green spaces.
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Loving It Too Much
One of the most beloved spots in Texas, Garner State Park, has become a family tradition for many Texans. Each year, more than 300,000 people visit the park, which has seen visits from up to five generations of the same family. Rich in natural features, the park has abundant wildlife and native plants. Geologically, visitors can find canyons, cliffs, and mesas in the limestone that makes up the bedrock.
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Pollution Search
Air pollution comes in various forms. In Texas, ozone comprises one of the worst air quality issues in Texas. Texas has several areas that have high ozone pollution rates. These areas are in and near large cities. Learn how ozone affects plants in this activity.
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Every Drop Counts
Most Texans cannot tell you where they got their water, but odds are good it came from an aquifer. Learn about the aquifers in Texas and how Texans use their water in this activity.
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Schoolyard Safari
There is great diversity in the plants and animals that can be found in Texas and that diversity isn't just limited to designated wildlife areas. School areas can also be a great resource for students when it's time to learn about organisms and their environment. Included in this activity is a datasheet for students to complete about the organisms they discover around the school and their environment.
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Field, Forest, and Stream
In the Field, Forest, and Stream activity, students will compare three different ecosystems. This can be easily accomplished in just one trip to the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site. There, you'll not only see three different ecosystems, but you'll experience some Texas History too.
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Tropical Treehouse
Drive just 47 miles south of Beaumont - or take a quick ferry trip form Galveston to the Bolivar Peninsula - and you'll find High Island. Located on a salt dome, High Island has the highest and driest ground on the Bolivar Peninsula. As a result, trees and shrubs can grow, which lure in migratory birds. Learn more about neotropical, migratory birds that pass through Texas with the accompanying PowerPoint.
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I'd Like to Visit a Place Where
Texas is a huge state with many different places to visit. One particular spot - Enchanted Rock - is believed to be both enchanted and a geologically rarity. Discover this unique Texas treasure in this activity.
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Looking at Leaves
Currently, there are 222 native species of trees in Texas. Examining the leaves is probably the most common way to identify trees because leaves can be very distinctive from species to species. In this activity, learn the different leaf characteristics that help identify a tree species. Then, test your knowledge with the accompanying worksheet.
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Germinating Giants
Texas adopted the pecan tree as its state tree in 1919. Thus, adding pecan tree facts to this activity is a great way to teach students about their state tree.
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Soil Stories
Soil Stories show students how the physical characteristics of soil help qualify some areas as potential historic landmarks. In this assignment, students examine the physical characteristics of soil and then predict the appropriate land use.
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Trees in Trouble
In 2008, Hurricane Ike slammed into Galveston Island - changing the lives of many residents and their landscape. Trees and shrubs were submerged in a salty storm surge brought ashore by the hurricane resulting in salt poisoning. In this activity, learn how the city and the Texas A&M Forest Service dealt with all the troubled trees in Galveston.
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Global Climate
Carbon Dioxide is one of the many contributors to global climate change. Unfortunately, Texas is the top state for carbon production. The gas is contributing to the increasing temperatures in Texas, as well as across the globe. Learn what global climate change would mean for Texas in this activity.
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Earth Manners
Don't Mess With Texas is a well-known slogan and yet, Texans still litter. Learn about this 30-year campaign and how you can prevent littering in this activity.
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Life on the Edge
Life on the Edge focuses on habitat types for Part A - Habitat Scramble. Use these Texas ecoregions and organism list for a place-based Texas twist to the activity with a worksheet included.
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In the Good Old Days
Texas history is rich in its diversity of people and countries that have contributed to its unique culture. In the activity In the Good Old Days, students learn how people's personal experiences and place in history affect their attitudes toward the environment. By looking at Texas history, students can see how ideas and cultures changed with each flag.
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