Carmen Cid is an ecologist who observes the natural world close to her home in the town of Willimantic, Connecticut. Learn more about her life and work by viewing the video and exploring the CD-ROM. Five activities in this kit include: Sound Sense, Cool Tool, Seedy Travelers, Walk On Water Bugs, and Drain Game. Students learn to test their own skills of observation in Sound Sense. Teams of students place transect lines outside and use them to sample their local biodiversity in Cool Tool. Seedy Travelers allow students to build testing devices and verify predictions. Pairs of students build model water bugs and use the bugs to find out how pollutants can affect water quality in Walk On Water Bugs. Finally, in the Drain Game, students learn about the importance of maintaining healthy watersheds.

Instructional Materials

This kit includes a video, CD-ROM, and activity book. In addition a kit containing non-consumable materials to implement the five activities is available. This portion of the kit includes: (14) Magnifying lenses, (7 packages) Seed mix, (14) Funnels, (14) Spray bottles, (10 palm size pieces) Fuzzy cloth, and (1) Box of bending straws. This kit must be returned in the condition in which it was received. If not, the replacement cost is $70.

Illinois State Goals & Learning Standards

01A. Apply word analysis and vocabulary skills to comprehend selections.

01C. Comprehend a broad range of reading materials.

03A. Use correct grammar, spelling, puctuation, capitalization and structure.

03C. Communicate ideas in writing to accomplish a variety of purposes.

04A. Listen effectively in formal and informal situations.

04B. Speak effectively using language appropriate to the situation and audience.

05C. Apply acquired information, concepts and ideas to communicate in a variety of formats.

10A. Organize, describe and make predictions from existing data

11A. Know and apply the concepts, principles and processes of scientific inquiry

12A. Know and apply concepts that explain how living things function, adapt and change

12B. Know and apply concepts that describe how living things interact with each other and with their environment

12E. Know and apply concepts that describe the features and processes of the earth and its resources

13A. Know and apply the accepted practices of sciences

13B. Know and apply concepts that describe the interaction between science, technology, and society