Food Chains

SUMMARY: Students use their observations at Hidden Villa to drive further classroom study of ecological food chains. There are many separate activities in this unit that can be used together as a lengthy life science curriculum or taken apart and integrated individually into other state-adopted science programs. DURATION: 1 to 4 weeks GRADES: 3rd-5th, can be adapted for 2nd

Mini-Habitats

SUMMARY: Students use their observations of Hidden Villa's mini-habitats to drive further classroom study of animals' adaptations to their habitat. As an end project, students produce a representation of their chosen mini-habitat complete with captions explaining how each animal is adapted to its habitat. Optionally, students can also use the information on their poster to write informational essays. DURATION: 2 to 4 weeks GRADES: 3rd-4th, can be adapted for 5th

Nutrition

SUMMARY: This unit is connected to Hidden Villa's emphasis on Eco-Healthy Lunches and on developing student knowledge of the origins of what they eat. Using Reciprocal Teaching strategies, students learn about the basic components of food. They exercise graphing and fraction skills while studying food nutritional labels. They develop their critical thinking skills by using the information from their study to analyze media influences on what they eat. DURATION: 1 to 4 weeks GRADES: 4th-5th, can be adapted for 2nd-3rd

Hidden Villa Eco-Play

SUMMARY: Students read, practice and perform all or part of a play based on how human actions can hurt natural ecosystems that takes place at Hidden Villa. It is a bilingual (Spanish/English) play that very purposefully addresses the importance of speaking more than one language. English-only classes can enjoy reading the first scene as an example of how to dramatize food chain links in an entertaining manner. DURATION: 1 day to 6 weeks GRADES: 3rd-5th