Get Outside!

Small Mammals

Class Description:

In this animal ecology class, students will learn characteristics of some of the small mammals in northern Minnesota. By traveling through various habitats searching for small mammal signs, they will learn about the role these small creatures play in the environment. Students then set out live traps overnight. These will be collected in the morning and animals observed before being released back into the wild.

Outcomes

Upon completion of the Small Mammals class students will be able to:

  • List the four characteristics that distinguish mammals from other animals.
  • Define niche and describe which niche is occupied by each of the small mammals native to northeastern Minnesota.
  • Find and interpret signs left by small mammals.
  • Describe a predator/prey relationship including small mammals.
  • Prepare and set a live trap for small mammals while responsibly monitoring and caring for the trap and any animals caught.

Minnesota Graduation Standards

Wolf Ridge has aligned the Center's entire curriculum to Minnesota Department of Education Academic Standards. As the primary student audience at Wolf Ridge is from 4th-12th grade, the matrices address these grade levels. Teachers may request that their students focus upon a specific benchmark while attending Wolf Ridge.The Wolf Ridge Curriculum Standards Matrix addresses benchmarks in

  • Science
  • Math
  • History and Social Science
  • Language Arts
  • Arts

Wolf Ridge Curriculum Concepts

  • Biodiversity: There is life found in every possible niche (habitat and role) on earth.
  • Adaptations: All living things have physical and behavioral adaptations which allow them to survive in their environment.
  • Ecosystems: Energy flows from one organism to another in a complex food web.
  • Personal growth: Much can be learned by observing and drawing conclusions from indirect evidence, such as animal signs.
  • Personal Growth: Ongoing research yields important information on changing trends such as populations.
  • See entire Wolf Ridge Curriculum Framework

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Time
3 hours total
2 hours outdoors

Audience
4th grade - adult

Activity level
moderate

Travel
1/2 mile

Total uphill travel
40 feet

150 px wide please