Carolina Curriculum: GEMS > Kits for Grades K-5

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Expanded view of the Schoolyard Ecology Kit

GEMS^® Schoolyard Ecology (Grades 3–6)

Just look outside and there is a world your class can explore, even with those schoolyards that, at first glance, seem to be nothing but blacktop. Every school has ants, hardy weeds, and sunny and cool places that can be the starting point for outdoor studies. Direct observations of relationships between the schoolyard environment and the organisms that live in it will spark students’ curiosity about the patterns and interactions in nature.

GEMS Schoolyard Ecology brings together a combination of science and mathematics skills as students compile information and construction concept about the environment. Students work in teams outdoors to sample, record, and analyze information about organisms and conditions in the yard, and then return to the classroom to share and interpret their findings. Classroom activities include transferring data from students’ maps to a large map of the study area, journal writing, and discussions. Throughout the units, students use mathematics to measure, map, quantify, and classify their findings. Older students have opportunities to explore scale, ratio, and grids.

Benefits of using this kit:
	Introduces foundational science concepts that lead to student success
	Strongly aligned with multiple state standards and the National Science Education Standards and Bench Marks for Science Literacy
	Provides clear step-by-step instruction, assessment suggestions, literature connections, and ideas for further instruction

Goals Standards In the Kit Pilot this Kit Support

Goals of Schoolyard Ecology
	Students can identify several environmental factors—such as sunlight, cover, and moisture—that can be used to distinguish different environments and which may influence the abundance of animals in an area.
	Students improve their ability to make careful observations of environmental characteristics and animals’ physical features and behaviors using basic investigative techniques and recording their observations in journals.
	Students are able to accurately record information about animals and environmental characteristics on maps of the schoolyard, and analyze a map to learn more about the relationship of animal communities to the physical environments.
	Students develop responsible behaviors toward and an appreciation for animals, plants, and the environment.

National Standards addressed by Schoolyard Ecology:

	Science in Personal and Social Perspectives Standard, K–4: Changes in environments.
	Life Science Standard, K–4: Organisms and their environments.
	Earth and Space Science Standard, K–4: Properties of earth materials.
	Inquiry Standard, K–4: Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry.
	Unifying Concepts and Principles: Systems, order and organization; Evolution and equilibrium; Evidence, models and explanation.

In the Kit:
The unit kit comes with a Teacher's Guide, a Teacher's Pack containing: copy masters, MSDS sheets, matrix of provided materials where used and materials needed but not supplied, and materials needed for a class of 32 students.

Try the Carolina Curriculum Pilot Program
What’s the best way to learn about STC Program®, Building Blocks of Science™, Math Out of the Box®, or GEMS Kits®? Pilot a unit in your school or district!

Here's how it works:

	Complete the pilot information request form.
	You choose a lead teacher(s) to pilot the units.
	Carolina ships the selected unit kit(s) to your school/district.
	At the end of the pilot, you can purchase one of the unit kits for 10% off the catalog price!

Contact our Sales Staff
Carolina’s Curriculum Sales and Services group provides districts and schools that are evaluating curriculum with samples, professional planning, and implementation assistance. Our staff includes in-office curriculum account managers and regional sales managers in the field. Click here to contact the account manager and sales manager for your school district.

Customer Service
All Carolina customers have their own customer service representative, determined by state, to meet their specific needs. Click here for customer service representative contact information.

Technical Support
With Carolina's technical support staff, you have access to knowledgeable professionals with expertise in many areas of the sciences. Call 800-227-1150 (8 am to 5 pm ET) or email curriculum@carolina.com and trained staff will answer your questions about a Carolina Curriculum product or provide additional information.


	Schoolyard Ecology Kit This Kit comes with a Teacher's Guide, an information packet, and the materials needed for a class of 30.

	Schoolyard Ecology Kit Teacher's Guide Additional Teacher's Guides are available if you need them.

	Schoolyard Ecology Kit Refill Pack This set replenishes the consumable materials in the Kit.