This activity requires students to randomly sample three habitats from the Southeastern United States. The habitats we chose to sample include Upper Three Runs Creek (a blackwater stream in Aiken County, SC), a pine plantation, and an upland sandhills. Within a group of four students, two will sample the plants of one of these habitats and two will sample the animals. In a typical class there will be enough students to ensure that each of the three habitats is sampled at least twice.
The composition of each habitat includes common and rare plants (1,000 individuals) and animals (500 individuals) that could be encountered in Aiken County, SC. Individual plants and animal species are designated by letters of the alphabet (plants) or by numbers (animals) copied onto card stock, using a different color paper for each habitat. Numbered/lettered 1" squares are then cut up and put into large paper grocery bags labeled with the habitat and the type of organisms to be sampled (plants/animals). Blindfolded students "sample" from these bags, mixing the contents well between samplings.
