The Cherry Creek Valley Ecological Park Activity Book and accompanying Teacher’s Guide were designed for Parker Jordan Metropolitan District by Valerian llc. Booklets are being paid for by the Parker Jordan Metropolitan District with public funds. Please contact R.S. Wells LLC, District Manager, at 303-779-4525 if there are any questions or concerns.

This book is intended to be used for educational purposes only and may be reproduced or disseminated only with the prior written consent of the Board of Directors for the Parker Jordan Metropolitan District, Arapahoe County, Colorado.

Cherry Creek Valley Ecological Park is owned and managed by Arapahoe County Open Space Park and Trails in cooperation with Parker Jordan Metropolitan District.

Copyright © 2008 Parker Jordan Metropolitan DistrictSecond Edition 2008

You Are Part of NatureDo you know what a seed is? Of course you do. And you also know that every seed needs to be planted and nurtured to grow up and be a healthy plant. Well, the same is true for you and everything else in nature. Nature is made up of all living things. The universe, earth, plants, and animals are all a part of nature. All living things are divided into two kingdoms: animals and plants. All animals need food, water, shelter, and habitat to survive. All plants need light, water, soil, and habitat to survive. Come explore the Cherry Creek Valley Ecological Park and be sure to show respect for the park and the creatures that live here.

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You Make a DifferenceYou have completed your Activity Book. You can make a difference and keep nature and the Eco Park a special place for everyone. There is much more you can learn about ecosystems. Always remember the seed and what it needs to grow, just like you. You can make a difference!

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Make A Difference!

Energy, Water, Soil, and Place

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This is your Activity Book. It will help you learn more about the Cherry Creek Valley Ecological Park (Eco Park). The Eco Park is a place where animals and plants share a place that provides energy, water, shelter, and space. This place is something called an ecosystem.

What is an ecosystem? An ecosystem is a group of plants and animals that live together in one place. These are special groups that have adapted to live together. You are part of the ecosystem. To enjoy this park safely, please take a few simple steps to be prepared:

HatWhistle Water Snack NotebookPen/Crayon

Stay on the trail unless you are with an adult guide.

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Your Activity Book

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Today is:

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Now You Know Your ParkWell, you have almost completed the book. On the next page is a fun word search to help you remember some of the things you learned from completing the previous activities. Complete the Eco Word Search and you will have completed the book! What do you think of when you think of the Eco Park?

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Seasons in the ParkThe Earth is always moving and changing. The Earth travels in a circle around the sun. Each trip around the sun takes one year. One way that we can tell the Earth is spinning is by observing day and night. As the earth takes its path around the sun, sometimes we get more energy from the sun (summer) and sometimes we get less (winter). In Colorado we have four seasons: fall, winter, spring, and summer.

Circle the answer that best fi ts each question.1. Which season is it now?

A. Fall B. Winter C. Spring D. Summer

2. The sun is...

A. shining. B. covered by clouds.

3. The sun is...

A. high in the sky and warm. B. low in the sky and cool.

4. What do the clouds look like? (Draw a picture below of what you see.)

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Around September 20th, days and nights are of equal length. Days are getting shorter and soon there won‛t be enough sunlight to keep the leaves green. Trunks, branches, and roots will stay alive and grow new leaves when there is more light in the spring. Trees and plants adapt to the energy shortage by dropping their leaves. How do you save energy?

Fall Equinox

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Biotic or Abiotic?Circle the abiotic things found in this picture. These are the things that are not alive. Have you seen any other abiotic or biotic things on your visit to the Eco Park today?

The Eco Park is a very special place where plants and animals and their homes are protected. It is a place for people to have fun and a place to explore nature. There are many living and non-living things that can be found in the Eco Park. Living things such as grass, leaves, and butterfl ies are called biotic. Non-living things such as rocks, a sign, or a bench are abiotic. What is in the park now?

What is Here Today?

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One of the fi rst signs of fall is that the leaves start to change color and drop to the ground. Find a leaf and trace the shape. Use crayons to show the color of fall.

Colors of Fall

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Around December 20th, days are short and nights are the longest of the year. How do you know when winter is here? The nights are long and the days are short. The sun is low in the sky. Are we getting much energy from the sun? Many trees have no leaves. Instead of rain there is snow! When you are outside on a winter day blow in the air and see your breath! How do other animals adapt to the winter weather? How do you adapt to winter weather?

Winter Solstice

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Settlers used wagons and pack animals to move all of their belongings. What do you think the settlers brought with them? What do you think the settlers ate?

Settlers

Bison

CornBerries

Deer

Oats

ChickenPig

Almost 200 years ago, more people moved here from Europe and the Eastern United States. Settlers from the East traveled West along rivers, creek, and streams. The settlers followed Cherry Creek as they made their way to new homes in Colorado. Why would they follow the Cherry Creek? Look around the park. If you were settling here, what would you use for food, water, and shelter?

Settlers

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Measuring Your ShadowMaterials Needed: - pen or pencil - yard stick or measuring tape - a friend

Your shadow varies in its size and direction depending on the time of the day.

Procedure: The fi rst measurement you take of your shadow should be early in the morning. With the help of a friend, stand in a place where it is easy to measure your shadow. Record the measurement in your notebook and note the time you took the measurement and the direction your shadow was going. Mid-day take a second measurement of your shadow and record the results in your notebook. At the end of the day take a third measurement of your shadow and record the results in your notebook.

Stand in the same place and face the same direction each time.

Conclusion:What are the differences of the 3 recordings?Why do you think they are different?

1.

2.

3.

4.

Time Length of Shadow Direction of Shadow

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Around March 20th, days and nights are of equal length.Spring, leaf, fl ower, here come the rain showers! In the spring (the Vernal Equinox) days get longer and trees and plants turn green and grow new leaves! The days get warmer and the creek fi lls with water from rain and snow melt. Song birds and water birds return to the park and many start to prepare for new babies. Spring is a great time to visit the park to see everything begin to bloom and grow!

Spring Equinox

Have fun when you visit the Eco Park but it is also important to follow these important rules:

Be careful around the open water.Stay on the trails.Try not to disturb animal families, they need their privacy.

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Native Americans had very colorful clothes and some lived in teepees. The color and patterns they put on their clothes and teepees communicated to others who they were.

How do you communicate to others about who you are? Draw colorful patterns and designs on the teepee that represent you.

Native Americans

A long time ago, there were people who lived here in groups called tribes. Each tribe had a name. Some tribes were called Arapaho and others were called Cheyenne. The people lived off the land. They hunted bison, gathered roots, berries, and plants to eat. They used bones, stones, and plants to make toys, tools, and decorations. They made clothes and made their own shelter using bison skins.

Native Americans

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I Spy!Time to explore new places and things. See how many of these things you can fi nd. Cross out the items with an “X” as you fi nd them.

Gazebo

Insect

Bird

Flower

Creek

Leaves

Bridge

Animal Tracks

Boardwalk

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After spring comes summer! Around June 20th, days are the longest of the year and the nights are the shortest. One sign that summer is here is that days are long and hot because the sun is high in the sky. All energy comes from the sun. Plants get energy from the sun. Animals get energy from the plants and other animals they eat. Summer is a good time to bring your energy to the Eco Park.

Summer Solstice

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There were many animals that lived in the wild. Connect the dots and fi nd out what kind of animal this is.

Long Before People

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A long, long time ago Cherry Creek looked different than it does today. The land was full of animal life but very few of the animals were people. Animals came in many different body shapes and sizes. Are you an animal?

Long Before People

Bees are very important to our ecosystem because they pollinate trees, fl owers, and other plants which produce food for us to eat. Without bees and other pollinators, there would be no food available for us to eat. Other pollinators are fl ies, wasps, butterfl ies, moths, birds, and bats. Help the bee fi nd his way to the Wild Plum blossom.

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Water in the Park

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My TreeMaterials Needed: - notebook - pen or pencil - adult to take you to the park

You can adopt a tree in the park and observe and record the changes that it goes through during the year.

Procedure: 1. Along the Eco Park trail, fi nd a special tree that you like. 2. Make a rubbing of a section of its bark. Use this as a picture for the front of your book. 3. On the fi rst day, also write what you see in your book. You might write, “My tree is very tall. It has yellow leaves and it has a big chunk of bark taken off of it.” Draw a picture of it. 4. If your tree is a deciduous tree, dry and press one of its leaves to add to a page in your book. If it is an evergreen tree, paste some of its needles in the book. 5. Go to the park at least once a month. Write the date, something about the tree that has changed, and draw another picture. 6. Do some research on your tree. Find out its name, other areas where it grows, what animals live in it or eat it, and other information. Include these facts in your book. 7. At the end of the year, have an adult help you bind all of the pages together.

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There are some kinds of trees that we call evergreen trees because they do not lose their leaves. They stay green all winter.

Needles(Needles are a type of leaf)

Some trees have seeds like this one. This seed came

from a cone.

Evergreen Tree Parts

The tree canopy is made up of many, many needles. The needles transform energy from the sun into food.

This is the root of the tree. The roots absorb water and nutrients from the soil.

This is the trunk. It has bark which protects the tree.

This is a branch. Evergreen branches can sometimes be hard to see through the needles. Branch-es move water up to the leaves and twigs and down to the roots.

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Water in the ParkWater is very important to all forms of life. Without water, plants and animals would not be able to live. In this section, you will learn about the Water Cycle and how water moves around the Earth. You will also learn about watersheds and some of the neat things that make water so special.

Put a check mark by the statements that are true.

Water is...___ wet (when it falls as rain)___ cold (when it is ice)___ hot ( when it is boiling)___ hard to see (when it is vapor)

Water can be found...___ in the ground___ in the sky___ in lakes and streams___ in the oceans___ in water fountains___ in glaciers

Water is used by...___ farmers___ businesses___ wildlife___ plants

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Clouds

Lake

Lake

Mountain

Creek Creek Vapor

RainSnow

Plants

Plants

Ground Water

The Water Cycle The sun‛s energy heats liquid water in the oceans, lakes, and rivers. The heated water turns into vapor (gas). When water vapor is warmer than the air it rises into the sky where you see it as clouds. This is called evaporation. Plants release water vapor into the air. This is called transpiration.

(Precipitation)(Precipitation)

(Condensation)

Deciduous Tree Parts

Cottonwood trees have seeds like this one.

Leaves on a cottonwood branch

There are some kinds of trees that we call deciduous trees because they drop their leaves in fall and sprout new leaves in spring.

This is the trunk. It has bark which protects the tree.

The tree canopy is made up of many, many fl at leaves. The leaves transform energy from the sun into food.

This is a branch. Branches move water up to the leaves and twigs and down to the roots.

This is the root of the tree. The roots absorb water and nutrients from the soil.

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Plant Types

Trees

Shrubs Grasses Flowering Plants

There are four main types of plants in the park. How many of each type can you fi nd in the park?

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RiverOcean

River

Vapor

Plants

Ground Water

As water vapor cools it turns back into a liquid. This is called condensation. Liquid water is heavy and cool. Sometimes it is cold, so cold that it turns to ice (solid) and falls back to the Earth as snow, hail, or sleet.

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Water Cycle ExperimentMaterials Needed: - handful of soil - water - plastic zip-top bag - strong tape - sunny window

Procedure: 1. Put the soil in the zip-top bag. 2. Sprinkle a little water on the dirt, just enough to make it moist. 3. Close the bag tight and tape it to the sunny window. 4. Watch what happens in the bag.

What do you think will happen?

What happened?

Do you know why?

Plants in the ParkPlants are a part of the ecosystem of the Eco Park. They help create the oxygen that we breathe, and they are food for people and animals. In this section, you will learn about what makes different types of plants unique and how to identify them in the park. There are also some fun activities for you to complete!

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Plants in the Park

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Ocean

Creek River

PuddlePond

Lake

Different Water BodiesWater covers most of the Earth‛s surface. These areas of water on the ground are called water bodies. An area of land where water drains into the same water body is called a watershed. Which water body below does Cherry Creek look like?

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Did you Know?Circle the correct answer for each question.

1. How much water does a person use daily?

A. 50 gallons B. 10 gallons C. 125 gallons

2. How much of a tree is water? A. 1/4 B. 1/2 C. 3/4

3. How much water is used to fl ush a toilet? A. 1-2 gallons B. 2-7 gallons C. 7-10 gallons

How much has the amount of water decreased over the past million years?

A. None B. 10,000 gallons C. 1,000,000 gallons 5. How long can a person live without water? A. 1 day B. 7 days C. 2 weeks

6. Where does the water from the Cherry Creek fl ow to? A. Gulf of Mexico B. Pacifi c Ocean C. Atlantic Ocean

7. How much of an elephant is water? A. 1/4 B. 1/2 C. 3/4

(Answers can be found on page 23 of the Teacher‛s Guide.)

4.

Draw Your Home

Look for homes in the Eco Park. What does a wild animal use to build a home? How is your wild animal home different from your actual home? How is it the same?

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What does your home look like? Draw your home here!

Animal HomesWildlife in the park live in all kinds of shelters. Do you know what kind of homes these animals live in? Write the correct letter next to the animal type.

A. Den

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B. Web

C. Grass

D. Lodge

E. Stream

F. Nest

G. Burrow

H. House

1. Spider

2. Prairie Dog

3. Cat

4. Beaver

5. Frog

6. Bear

7. Deer

8. Fish

9. Rabbit

10. Grasshopper

11. Snake

12. Fox

13. Ant

14. Sparrow

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What Needs WaterLook around the Eco Park. Make a list of things that need water to live and need water to be made.

HINT:A shirt is made of cotton. Cotton comes from a plant. The plant drinks water. What else do you see that uses cotton?

Wood comes from trees. Trees need water to grow. What do you see that is made of wood?

1.________________________________________

2.________________________________________

3.________________________________________

4.________________________________________

5.________________________________________

6.________________________________________

7.________________________________________

8.________________________________________

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Wildlife in the Park

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Where Do They Go?Do you have a favorite animal that you can fi nd in the summer, but it is not around in the winter? Some animals move from one place to another when the weather gets cold. This is called migration. Other animals sleep through the winter months. This is called hibernation. Some animals live in the Eco Park all winter long. Extra-thick fur or down feathers help to keep these animals warm.

Fun Fact:

Birds hide in dense bushes to stay dry during rain storms.

Great horned owls pant to keep cool from the hot sun.

Bears‛ teeth keep growing so they have to chew on trees to wear them down.

During rain showers, butterfl ies use leaves as if they were umbrellas.

Cold-blooded animals, like snakes, will sun themselves to keep their bodies warm.

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Match the Tracks

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Can you match which tracks are made by each animal? Draw a line from the animal to the tracks that each makes.

Wildlife in the ParkThe Eco Park is home to wildlife. Wildlife is another name for animals and insects. Deer, beavers, snakes, and dragonfl ies are all wildlife. They can all live without care of people. Dogs, cows, and parakeets do not count as wildlife. They need regular care from people. In this section, you will learn about many animals and insects that can be seen at the park. When you are completing the activities for this section remember that all the animals and insects are connected as part of the ecosystem and that they depend on each other and Cherry Creek to survive.

How to watch wildlife:Wear clothing that is not brightly coloredKeep still. Wait for animals to fi nd you. Do not follow them.Do not stand where you are fully visible. Crouch down low to disguise yourself.Move slowly and quietly when you do move.Freeze if an animal you are watching looks your way. Listen for animal noises like buzzing and plopping.Sniff out unusual smells.Use your senses to explore the Eco Park just like an animal would. Do not feed or bother the wildlife.

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Know the WildlifeThere are many different animals and insects in the park. You may not see these animals when you are exploring the Eco Park but they are here. Look for clues! What colors are these animals?

Fox Fox Tracks

Raccoon Raccoon Tracks

Mammals

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Mosquito

Grasshopper

Spider

Insects

Tick

Daddy Long Legs

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Insects

Dragonfl y

Bugs are wildlife. They are an important part of an ecosystem. There are many colorful bugs at the Eco Park. Bugs have no backbones. They wear their skeletons on the outside of their bodies. They have at least 3 pairs of legs; sometimes as many as 15 pairs of legs. How many pairs of legs do you have?

Ant Bumble Bee

Deer Deer Tracks

Rabbit Rabbit Tracks

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Mammals

Beaver Beaver Tracks

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Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fish

Frog

Turtle

Snake

Frog Tracks

Snake Tracks

Turtle Tracks

Fish

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Birds

Heron Tracks

Hawk

Hawk Tracks

Heron