Teachers participating in the Logan, Utah, SYEFEST generated a short list of key concepts that they deemed suitable for schoolyard ecology teaching, using the acronym I.D.E.A.S. For each concept, they listed some of the important ideas involve (in italics), and identified activities that could be used to address the concept.

I.D.E.A.S.: Primary Ecology Concepts

Interdependence

symbiosis, limits, environments

Activities: Good Buddies

Diversity

genetic, species, system, habitats

Activities: use the idea of a scavenger hunt for any core objective, map the schoolyard with respect to habitats or species present, make up a key or use a key to classify plants on the schoolyard.

Ever-lasting

disturbance, succession, energy-flow, cycles

Activities: soil compaction, playing lightly, plant time travel

Adaptation

stress/response, traits, process

Activities: fly a leaf, leaf toughness, moisture makers

Systems

Communities, environment, populations

Activities: microhabitat, beautiful basics, habitat lap sit - then modify by asking them to think about what lives on the schoolyard and the needs of those organisms (journal entry regarding the needs of a schoolyard inhabitant and the impact of kids)