In this activity, students visit a nearby grassland and observe the plants, animals and physical components of the ecosystem. Younger students can focus on using their senses to observe the grassland. Older students can collect samples of grass and other vegetation to include in their journals, as well as make sketches of animals they observe. If equipment is available, students can record physical factors, such as air temperature and humidity and soil pH.
In this activity, students learn about restoring grassland ecosystems by planting seeds in the grassland, as well as making observations of native grass seedlings in a greenhouse. Use planting methods and species that fit the local grassland. Before planting the seeds in the wild, students observe the soil conditions and look for seeds deposited naturally. In the greenhouse, students monitor the growth of grasses from seeds until they are ready to be transplanted into the wild.
Grassland ecosystems developed over hundreds of years. In this activity, students learn about the complex nature of grassland ecosystems by comparing a native area to a disturbed grassy lot near their school. Students visit the lot and observe the distribution of the grasses, the soil composition and the types of grasses and organisms present. Have the students visit a native grassland and gather similar data, as well as more detailed information about the types of grasses found there.
In this activity, students compare the temperate and tropical savanna grasslands located throughout the world. They look at physical factors like location and rainfall, and the types of grasses and animals that make up the ecosystem. They also examine the ways in which people have changed the grassland ecosystems in different parts of the world, both through the negative impacts of pollution and agriculture and the benefits of restoration and management.