What is a cycle? How and why are things changing in Nature right NOW? This unit will focus on seasonal change. In the first lesson, we will think about what seasons look like in the Upper Valley and around the world. They will explore  the relationship of the earth and the sun as it relates to seasonal change. Older students will also consider what happens when natural cycles are disrupted, such as the effect of slightly shorter, warmer winters on animal populations of New England.

The cycle of day and night is probably a familiar influence on children’s schedules. Students will  learn about other creatures whose schedules are affected by the sunlight - diurnal, nocturnal, and corpuscular animals. They will also relate this cycle to the previous lesson as they consider why there are fewer hours of daylight in the winter. Older students will learn about light pollution and consider what happens when the cycle of day and night is disrupted.

Another important cycle in nature is the Food Chain. Students will learn about how energy moves through the food chain, from the sun to producers, consumers, and decomposers. Students will learn that energy is neither lost nor gained. They will connect this idea to previous lessons by investigating how the food chain is affected by access to the sun’s energy - both daily and seasonally. Older students will also consider what happens when the food chain is disrupted.

Let’s talk about SNOW! Students will learn about states of matter and explore how water changes in different temperatures. Matter, like energy, is neither lost nor gained and students will investigate the effect of temperature and seasonal change on the water cycle. Older students will also learn about what happens when this natural cycle is disrupted as they explore fresh water accessibility and pollution.