This new interactive field studies program is a revised version of Particles and Prairies, a popular study unit that has enhanced teacher and student understanding of the natural world for over 20 years. Energy and Ecosystems (E&E) features ecosystem services, engineering components, and field studies where students take scientific data. This new program provides students with authentic experiences using scientific practices and crosscutting concepts from the Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core Language Arts and Math. The program includes an instructional unit, a professional development workshop, and free field trips at Fermilab led by our Education Facilitators.

Three ecosystems in one workshop: prairie, water and woods. Investigate the dynamics of nature including energy cycles, resilience and biodiversity to reveal interdependent relationships among organisms within prairie, water and woodland ecosystems. Learn biological principles and how to use standard ecological measurement techniques to teach students to investigate, assess and compare these different habitats. If you have already attended a Particles and Prairies workshop, you can still attend and get credit for this new workshop.

In this ecology unit, students develop a deep understanding and appreciation of the components of prairie, water and woodland ecosystems. Using the same techniques that scientists use, students learn to collaborate and collect, upload, analyze and interpret data. At school, students can query data from the quadrat studies to explore trends in the restoration of the prairie over time.

Teachers may bring students to Fermilab for free field trips as often as one desires. Students make observations and gather data that provide vital information to help Fermilab's ongoing prairie restoration project. They obtain and communicate information about the similarities and differences of prairie, water and woodland ecosystems. Request a field trip.