Lesson Summary Students use hula hoops to help them focus on small areas of the habitat, called microhabitats.  They explore their surroundings for the smaller plants and animals that share our habitat. Teacher Background Students will use their observation skills in this lesson.  You will want them to notice if all the needs are met in the areas inside the hoops.  If not all needs are met, direct their thinking to where the unmet needs could be found. In any large habitat there are several ‘microhabitats’.  Smaller organisms can meet their needs from a much smaller area that larger ones.  We tend to think of habitats in terms of larger organisms, rather than including those of smaller organisms.  No matter the size, a habitat has to provide all 6 of the basic needs to the organisms living there. Set-up/Management Tips Session 1 has activities to sharpen their observation skills and Session 2 and 3 should be done the same day.  Be prepared to change plans for Session 2-3 if the weather does not cooperate. Obtain hula hoops to use outside.  (Ask your PE teacher J.) Find an area in the school yard where the students will be able to observe many different plants (like weedy areas) and insects (like cracked sidewalks/parking lot). Use the notebook page (or create your own) to hold students accountable for learning in the outside space.  You can direct their thinking by asking them about the 6 needs in a habitat and having them draw those (if inside the hoop) on their notebook page. You can have adults/parent volunteers come to help outside.  I’ve had success without adult help by laying down the ground rules for outside before going outside. Literacy Support Backyard Detective : Critters Up Close, Bishop, Nic ©2002 Under One Rock: Bugs, Slugs and Other Ughs, Fredericks, Anthony D. ©2001 Scientific Vocabulary Microhabitat, Minibeast