Challenge B

Welcome to the elementary school challenge page for Challenge B of the Fairchild Challenge! Read below to find challenge information, entry requirements, resources and more for the challenge.

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Challenge B: Nature Exploration and Biophilia

Title: Nature Quest
Due Date: Fri., Dec. 6, 2024 by 5 p.m.

Your Challenge:

Get ready to embark on an exciting adventure in your neighborhood or local park! In this challenge, you'll create a nature scavenger hunt that encourages you and others to explore the natural world around you. Your scavenger hunt should include a mix of fun and educational items, such as unique plants, interesting rocks or signs of local wildlife. Be sure to incorporate at least three different kinds of scavenger hunt questions, such as “find and identify” items, riddle-based clues or tasks that involve using your senses, like “listen for a bird song.” Add a personal touch by including items that are special to you, like your favorite tree or a flower that reminds you of a special memory. Think about what makes your environment unique and what you would like to share with others.

Once your scavenger hunt is complete, invite a family member or friend to join you on the quest. As you explore, take the time to notice the details and discover the hidden wonders of nature that you might have overlooked before. Then, write a short paragraph that describes something new you discovered on your journey. This challenge is not just about finding items on a list — it’s about learning to see the world through new eyes and sharing that experience with others. Enjoy the adventure and celebrate the beauty of the natural world!

Entry Requirements:

Deliver to the science education coordinator at Phipps in person or via certified mail (electronic submission is not accepted):

• Challenge Entry Form
• Each scavenger hunt MUST be labeled with the participating school and students’ names
• Scavenger hunt must include at least 3 different styles of questions (there should be a minimum of 10 scavenger hunt prompts overall)
• Scavenger hunt should include at least ONE original work of art

School Submits:

Challenge Entry Form, scavenger hunt and paragraph

Resources:

The following list of online resources may be used when preparing your entry:

• Audubon for Kids | Nature Activities, DIY, Lessons for Home | Audubon
• How getting outside can bring out the explorer in your kid (nationalgeographic.com)
• Using science and play to connect families with nature | C&NN (childrenandnature.org)
• Turn Any Walk into a Nature Walk | NAEYC
• 10 Tips to Connect Children to the Outdoors - Project Learning Tree Canada (pltcanada.org)
• Go Wild: Things Your Kids Can Do Outside (harriscenter.org)
• Children's Nature Hike | 5 Senses for Kids (youtube.com)
• Using Your Senses to Experience Nature - Kansas City Community Gardens (kccg.org)

Standards:

Read below to find the standards for each grade level for Challenge B of the Elementary School Fairchild Challenge

• Grades K – 1st
• Grades 2 – 3
• Grades 4 – 5

Grades K – 1st

• 9.1.8.E Communicate a unifying theme or point of view through the production of works in the arts.
• 9.1.8.K Incorporate specific uses of traditional and contemporary technologies in furthering knowledge and understanding in the humanities.
• 4.1.K.A Identify the similarities and differences of living and non-living things within the immediate and surrounding environment.
• 4.1.K.E Identify how the changes of seasons affect their local environment.
• 4.1.1.A Identify and describe the basic needs of living things in a terrestrial habitat.
• 4.3.K.A Identify some renewable resources used in the classroom.
• 4.3.K.B Recognize the importance of conserving natural resources.
• 4.4.K.B Identify common plants and animals used by people.
• 4.4.1.C Describe the life cycles of different plants and animals in a terrestrial habitat.
• 4.5.K.B Identify common pests in our homes, gardens and neighborhoods.
• 4.5.1.A Identify resources humans use from the environment.

Grades 2 – 3

• 4.1.2.D Identify differences in living things (color, shape, size, etc.) and describe how adaptations are important for survival.
• 4.1.2.E Identify how living things survive changes in their environment.
• 4.1.3.A Differentiate between the living and non-living components in an environment.
• 4.3.3.B Identify local natural resources.
• 4.4.3.C Use scientific inquiry to investigate what animals and plants need to grow.
• 4.5.3.A Identify resources humans take from the environment for their survival.

Grades 4 – 5

• 4.1.4.A Explain how living things are dependent upon other living and nonliving things for survival. 
  • Explain what happens to an organism when its food supply, access to water, shelter or space (niche / habitat) is changed.
  • Identify similarities and differences between living organisms, ranging from single-celled to multi-cellular organisms through the use of microscopes, video, and other media.
• 4.1.4.E Explain that ecosystems change over time due to natural and/ or human influences.
• 4.1.5.A Describe the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers within a local ecosystem.
• 4.4.5.C Investigate the factors influencing plant and animal growth. (e.g., soil, water, nutrients, and light)

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