The OBIS Trail Module. Trial Version.

Designed to allow youngsters aged 10 to 15 to experience the challenges and problems environmental investigators might face making an environmental impact study, the trial version of the Outdoor Biology Instructional Strategies (OBIS) Trail Module focuses on aspects of construction-related environment problems. Four activities are included in the Module: (1) "Trail Impact Study", in which participants plan a safe, convenient footpath that will have minimal impact on the site; (2) "Cardiac Hill", in which participants use pulse rates as a guide to finding the maximum steepness for a trail along which hikers can walk comfortably; (3) "Hold a Hill", an activity to determine how steep a trail can be before excessive erosion occurs; and (4) "Trail Construction", finding the best construction technique for the site. The individual, water-proof folio for each activity includes activity explanation, preparation, materials, action, discussion, and follow up. Other materials are an overview of the Module and OBIS, and an equipment card indicating how to make inexpensive metric materials for measuring slope. (SB)