THIS PAGE UNDER CONSTUCTION - LESSONS COMING SOON!
Pre & Post Field Trip Lesson Plans
The following is a list of lesson plans that the nature center staff and classroom teacher have compiled to coordinate with your field trip lesson. We hope the following activities will help provide a hands-on and engaging experience for your students when combined with their field trip. Scroll down to find the lessons you have registered for. Click the italicized links to lesson PDFs below to open them in a new window. *Please note, not all field trip lessons have corresponding pre & post field trip lesson plans at this time. Please send feedback regarding the pre & post lesson plan ideas to NixonCountyPark@old.yorkcountypa.gov.
Click Your Field Trip Lesson Below:
AFRICA * ARCTIC * BATS * BIRDS OF PREY * 5-SENSES WALK * GEOLOGY WALK * INSECTS * LANDSCAPING FOR WILDLIFE * NATURE WALK * NORTHWEST * REPTILES * STREAM STUDY * WATERSHED DAY
Africa Indoor Lesson
Grades K-2
PRE TRIP: A Day in Africa, Habitat Dioramas, African Animal Adventure
POST TRIP: African ABC, Habitat Handbags, Animal Report
Grades 3-5
PRE TRIP: Africa the Continent, The Animals of Africa, Habitat Lap Sit, The Thicket Game
POST TRIP: Animals Talk Back
Grades 6-8
PRE TRIP Environment & Ecology: The Thicket Game, Carrying Capacity, Muskox Maneuvers
PRE TRIP Language Arts: Plain Poetry, Savannah Word Search, Missing Moths
PRE TRIP Social Studies: Three Dimensional Map of Africa, Protecting Endangered Species
POST TRIP Environment & Ecology: People of the Forest, Can It Be Real, National Geographic Explorers
POST TRIP Language Arts: Predator-Prey Diamante, Word Jeopardy, Moth Maps
POST TRIP Social Studies: Animals and Geography of Africa, Virtual Trip to East Africa
Arctic Indoor Lesson
Grades K-2
PRE TRIP: Ice Cold, Polar Bear, Eskimo Boy
POST TRIP: Habitat Handbag, Burr Cold, Arctic Report
Grades 3-5
PRE TRIP: Adapted Arctic, Temp in the Arctic
POST TRIP: Polar Bears in Phoenix, Talk Like the Eskimos
Grades 6-8
PRE TRIP Environment & Ecology: Pitching Tent, Day and Night’
PRE TRIP Language Arts: Musk Ox, Julie Wolves
PRE TRIP Social Studies: Map Study, Native Americans
POST TRIP Environment & Ecology: Icebergs, Arctic Seasons
POST TRIP Language Arts: Wild Wolves, I am a Walrus
POST TRIP Social Studies: Economics of Arctic Oil, History of Alaska
Bats Indoor Lesson
Grades K-2
PRE TRIP: A Bat’s Body, Bat Basics Adaptations, Batitudes
POST TRIP: Bat Man Bird, Bat Beeps, Bat Bulletin
Grades 3-5
PRE TRIP: Bat Myths, Gettings to Know Bats, How a Bat Compares to Me
POST TRIP: The Farmer’s Reply, Bat Scrapbooks, Bat Fruit Salad
Grades 6-8
PRE TRIP Environment and Ecology: Wings of Bats, Bat Trivia
PRE TRIP Language Arts: Bat Fables, Comparison & Contrast
PRE TRIP Social Studies: Bat Perception, Sonar
POST TRIP Environment and Ecology: Echolocation, Fast Food for Bats
POST TRIP Language Arts: Comparison & Contrast
POST TRIP Social Studies: Economic Importance, Bat Protection
Birds of Prey Lessons
Grades K-2
PRE TRIP: How to Spot a Raptor, The Lorax, Owl Predator
POST TRIP: One Bird Short, Raptor Report
Grades 3-5
PRE TRIP: Password, Bird Survive, Migration Models
POST TRIP: Field Guide, Puppets, Owl Food Habits, Deadly Links
Grades 6-8
PRE TRIP Environment & Ecology: Bird Beaks, Carrying Capacity
PRE TRIP Social Studies: The Bald Eagle, War Hawks
PRE TRIP Language Arts: Raptormania, Pamphlet
POST TRIP Environment & Ecology: Bird Adaptations, The Dangers of DDT
POST TRIP Social Studies: DDT Legislation, PA Laws
POST TRIP Language Arts: Figurative Language, Setting Pop-ups
5-Senses Walk
Grades K-2
PRE or POST TRIP: Monster Fun, Five-Senses, Senses Scavenger Hunt, Senses Mini Lessons, Altogether Now
Geology Walk
Grades K-2
PRE TRIP: Rocks or Minerals?, The Earth Bowl
POST TRIP: Crystalize Me, Rock Cycle Song
PRE OR POST: Everybody Needs a Rock
Grades 3-5
PRE TRIP: What’s the Difference, Edible Igneous, Moving Water
POST TRIP: Crystal Creations, Rocks and Minerals Poster Activity
Grades 6-8
PRE TRIP Environment & Ecology: Bill Nye Video, Chemical Weathering
PRE TRIP Language Arts: Gemstones, Oral Reports on Rocks
PRE TRIP Social Studies: Plymouth Rock, Pennsylvania’s Geology
POST TRIP Environment & Ecology: Making Soil, Weathering and Soil Erosion
POST TRIP Language Arts: Coal the Black Rock, Park Pamphlets
POST TRIP Social Studies: Coal, York County Geology
Insects Indoor Lesson
Grades K-2
PRE TRIP: What is an Insect?, Fuzzy Wuzzy Caterpillar, Dramatize Pollution
POST TRIP: Changing Times, Bug Bash, You Can’t Catch Me
PRE OR POST TRIP: My Insect Collection
Grades 3-5
PRE TRIP: Mealworm Magic, Insect or Not
POST TRIP: Classroom Bugs, Integrated Pest Management Basics
Grades 6-8
PRE TRIP Environment & Ecology: Tall Dark and Handsome, Insect Interest
PRE TRIP Language Arts: Fascinating Facts Bulletin Board, Insectlopedia
PRE TRIP Social Studies: Insect Dangers for the Colonists, Jamestown a Perfect Habitat for Mosquitoes
POST TRIP Environment & Ecology: Arthropod Puzzlers, Insect Travel Brochure
POST TRIP Language Arts: Insect Sound Activity, Survival Guide for Interaction with Insects
POST TRIP Social Studies: DDT Legislation Insects, Insect Entrepreneurs
Landscaping for Wildlife
Grades 3-5
PRE TRIP: Habitat for Sale, Life in a Square
POST TRIP: Backyard Evaluation for Wildlife, Common Species Report
Grades 6-8
PRE TRIP Environment & Ecology: Human Habitats, Animal Homes
PRE TRIP Language Arts: Critter Comfort, Outlining Activity
PRE TRIP Social Studies: Victory Gardens of World War 1 & 2, Plan a Victory Garden
POST TRIP Environment & Ecology: Birds Nest Activity, Pandamonium
POST TRIP Language Arts: Improving Listening Skills, Hummingbird Butterfly Garden
POST TRIP Social Studies: The Gardens of Williamsburg, Landscaping for History
Nature Walk
PRE OR POST TRIP: Are Trees Alive?, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Fall is Not Easy, Mini Lessons, Spring-Partners in Pollination, The Giving Tree, Weather Noises, Where Plants and Animals Live, Winter Tracks
Northwest Indoor Lesson
Grades K-2
PRE TRIP: Habitat Dioramas, Animal Adaptations Staying Safe
POST TRIP: Habitat Handbags
Grades 3-5
PRE TRIP: The Northwest Territory, The Beautiful Basics, What Bear Goes Where
POST TRIP: Camouflage It, Parts that Protect, Muskox Maneuvers
Grades 6-8
PRE TRIP Environment & Ecology: How Many Bear Can Live in the Forest, Oh Deer
PRE TRIP Language Arts: Interview a Spider, An Animal At Risk
PRE TRIP Social Studies: Three Dimensional Map of the Northwest, Native Americans of the Northwest
POST TRIP Environment & Ecology: Can It Be Real?, Don’t Say Goodbye, Saving the Living World Auction
POST TRIP Language Arts: Word Jeopardy, Cinquain, Travel Brochure, Bear Comparison
POST TRIP Social Studies: How Native Americans Depended on Animals, Plotting Animals on Northwest Maps
Reptiles Indoor Lesson
Grades K-2
PRE TRIP: What Is a Reptile?, Snake Snooping, All About Alligators
POST TRIP: Reptile Report, It’s Changing Before Our Eyes, The Missing Gator
Grades 3-5
PRE TRIP: Reptile Characteristics, Snakes, Snake Senses, Molting
POST TRIP: Lizards, Crocodilians, Crocodiles, Cold-Blooded Animals, Tortoises
Grades 6-8
PRE TRIP Environment & Ecology: Which Niche, Hot ‘n’ Cool Herps, If You Owned the Ecosystem
PRE TRIP Language Arts: Fascinating Facts About Snakes, Try to be Distinctive, Reptile Poetry
PRE TRIP Social Studies: World Map of Poisonous Snakes, Reptiles in American History
POST TRIP Environment & Ecology: Project Reptile, What Would You Do?, Cartoons and Bumper Stickers
POST TRIP Language Arts: Hammock Brochures, Reptile Tongue Twisters, Turtle Simulation
POST TRIP Social Studies: Legislation to Protect Reptiles
Stream Study
Grades K-2
PRE TRIP: Stream Sense, Circle of Insects, Did You Say
POST TRIP: Habitat Handbag, Common Ground, Insect Report
Grades 3-5
PRE TRIP: Disappearing Act, Imagine, Macroinvertebrate
POST TRIP: Water Works, Aquatic Habitat Homes, The Biotic Index
Grades 6-8
PRE TRIP Environment & Ecology: Stream Study, Ecosystems
PRE TRIP Language Arts: Great Green Globs, What’s New
PRE TRIP Social Studies: Susquehanna, Watershed Simulation
POST TRIP Environment & Ecology: Layer in Sandstone, Macrinvertebrate
PRE or POST TRIP Environment & Ecology: River Gradient
POST TRIP Language Arts: Informational Picture, See What You Save
POST TRIP Social Studies: Clean Water Legislation, Gold Rush
Watershed Hike and Introduction
Grades 3-5
PRE TRIP: Everybody Lives in a Watershed, Understanding and Reading a Topographic Map
POST TRIP: Going with the Flow, Watershed Walk
Grades 6-8
PRE TRIP Environment & Ecology: Chesapeake 2000 Agreement, What is a Watershed?, Watershed Pollution Cards
PRE TRIP Language Arts: Storytellers Part One, Who Moved Your Watershed?
POST TRIP Environment & Ecology: Survival of the Fittest Microbes, Biological Nutrient Removal, It Must Be Something in the Water
POST TRIP Language Arts: Storytellers Part Two, Who Pollutes We Pollute!
PRE OR POST TRIP Social Studies: Understanding and Reading Topographic Maps, A Drop Around the World, Down the Drain, Living Research Aquatic Heroes and Heroines