Interdependency Inventory
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Introduction:
As presented, the following activity is designed to fit the grade 6 unit "Trees and Forests". With modifications to fit topic and students' skill levels, it would also work well for the grade 1 unit "Needs of Plants and Animals" (#10), the grade 2 "Small Crawling and Flying Animals" (# 5), grade 4 "Plant Growth and Changes" (#1) and grade 5 "Wetlands" (#2). Connection to other curriculum areas can be incorporated: math (measuring, calculations), art (sketching viewpoints and by direct observation, rubbings) and language arts (journals, reflection, poetry), drama (skits, charades, role playing), social studies (map reading, communities). 

Activity Summary:
This bingo-like game teaches students about relationships between a tree and other organisms throughout the life stages of the tree. The activity can be completed at 3 different levels to accommodate students' varying prior knowledge and skill levels.

Season: Early spring through to late fall

Time: Varies depending on length of your field trip, which level the game is played at and how many examples students are expected to find.

Preparatory: Review the concepts of interdependency, adaptations and ecosystems. 
Have a class brain-storming session to compile a list of interactions among trees and other plants and animals.

Equipment required: Interdependency Inventory sheets, clipboards, pencils

Setting: Any forested area

Instructions:

1. Distribute sheets and review categories.
2. Explain to the students how to complete the sheets. You may select the level of completeness or let the students choose individually. 

Level One: when the student observes an example of interdependency described in a square, the student places an X in that square. 
Level Two: the student also looks for examples that are not listed and records their own discoveries in the bottom half of the appropriate box. 
Level Three: the student completes at least Level One and also names the organism involved, either generally (e.g. hawk, beetle) or specifically (e.g. red tailed hawk, bark beetle).
3. Review the sheets and conclude the activity back in the classroom.