The classes dispersed after the bell rang. Sally thought, school is sooo boring, why can’t we do more real life learning instead of computer worksheets or book work. She arrived at biology and sat down at her desk.

“Today,class, I’m going to give you a very different sort of assignment,” said Mrs. Templeton while walking across the front of the room.

Ooh….thought Sally this could be exciting! She listened carefully.

“We will go outside and look for living organisms around the school yard then identify them,” said Mrs. Templeton holding up a mushroom. “I will number you in twos and you must stay with your buddy while searching for the organisms.”

Mrs. Templeton handed out lined paper numbered 1-20 each with two blanks and a plastic bag for each group. “On these papers please write the name of the organism then whether it’s a producer or a heterotroph. Place your organism in a plastic bag. I’ll set a timer for 30 minutes to complete this activity,”said Mrs. Templeton.

I counted one and found my buddy Aerial with a number two. “This should be fun,” said Sally.

“I agree,” said Aerial skipping. “Where should we go first?”

“Let’s go by the river,” said Sally walking in that direction.

“Stay where I can see you!” said Mrs. Templeton holding a clip board.

The twenty students searched near the parking lots, the playground, and the river.

“Here is a frog,” said Sally getting ready to pick it up. “It’s a heterotroph.

“We can take a picture, because we can’t put the frog in a bag,” said Aerial as she focused her phone. “Here is a clover.” She picked it and put it in the bag. “This is a producer.”

Throughout the thirty minutes Sally and Aerial along with the rest of the classmates found their twenty items.

“I’ve had a lot of fun,” said Sally skipping back to class with Aerial.

“Me too, said Aerial.

“Thank you for this lesson Mrs. Templeton,” said Sally. “I loved going outside and getting my hands dirty while learning.”

“Your welcome,” said Mrs. Templeton with a smile.