Winter Ecology & Adaptations (Life Science)

Students will explore how organisms survive winter in the high mountains of central Colorado. Through field exploration, scientific observations, and a variety of activities, students will learn about the many different strategies organisms use to conserve energy and stay warm in the cold. This curriculum addresses the broader topic through three integrated sub-topics, focusing on animal adaptations, forest ecology in the winter, and the insulative properties of snow.

Animal adaptations standards: 3-LS4-3, 4-LS1-1, MS-LS4-6</p

Forest ecology standards: 5-LS2-1, MS-LS2-1, MS-LS2-4

Insulative properties of snow: 4-PS3-4, MS-PS3-3