Overview

Objectives

To understand what a grassland is, what it requires, and in what ways are they similar and different from one another.
Learn to gain an appreciation for this ecosystem and its importance.

Vocabulary

Background

Grasslands are an important biome, which is an area with specific climatic conditions that influence what plants and animals can live there. Tallgrass prairie is a large community of organisms in a given area otherwise known as an ecosystem. However, most of the grassland in the country has been lost to agriculture.
Grasslands and prairie provide habitat, which is a place where an organism lives and gets everything it needs for survival and reproduction, for a lot of different plants and animals. As we explore some grasslands in the Park, we will see that they are home to all sorts of birds, bugs, small mammals, and especially plants, who have adapted to this treeless environment. Because some grasslands grow very tall, they also act as a refuge for some animals to hide from predators.
Fire and grazing are two key drivers of the prairie ecosystem. Fire and grazing work together to maintain a relatively tree free, grass dominated environment.

Program Outline

After going through the Education Center and observing the displays, we will gather at the amphitheater for a brief introduction to the activities and expectations for the day.

We will then go for a hike out to a tallgrass prairie where we can examine everything it is and has to offer.

We will then find a place where we can sit and have a conversation about some of the interesting things we have seen in the prairie. We will also talk about how the grassland differs from the characteristics of the nearby woodlands.

Activity: We will sit and reflect on grasslands by drawing a picture or writing a story or poem. We could also do a plant or animal inventory/graphing exercise.