MINIPAGE ACTIVITIES MEET MANY STATE AND NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS. THIS WEEK'S STANDARDS: STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ORGANISMS: THEIR NEEDS, STRUCTURES AND BEHAVIORS. (SCIENCE:

MiniPage activities meet many state and national educational standards. This week's standards: Students understand the characteristics of organisms: their needs, structures and behaviors. (Science: Life Science) Students understand the properties of earth materials. (Science: Physical Science)
Students understand the characteristics and life cycles of organisms. (Science: Life Science)
Activities:
1. Draw pictures of three different creatures you've seen in soil near where you live. Label your pictures.
2. Make a list of all the living creatures you've seen in the soil near your home. Show your list to family members and friends. What other creatures have they seen? How many on your list are also in today's MiniPage?
3. Which of the arthropods in today's MiniPage (a) eat only plants or roots, (b) eat other living creatures, and (c) use tricks and traps to catch other animals?
4. Look for stories or columns about soil and gardening in your newspaper. Circle all the words that describe soil or refer to preparing soil for planting. Make a list of the ways gardeners improve the ground for gardens, such as special treatments or additives for the soil.
5. Use resource books and the Internet to learn more about the soil in your area. Use these questions to guide your research: What kind of geologic area do you live in? What type of soil do you find in your area? What types of minerals are in the soil? What types of plants grow well in the soil? What are the advantages or disadvantages of that kind of soil?