Who’s Hibernating? Snowshoe Hike
Elk Island National Park
Prepare to be immersed in the world of winter! This sensory-based program explores the wonders of winter through plant and animal adaptations. Topics covered directly link with aspects of the Grade 1, 2, and 3 learning curricula: broad topics being senses, seasonal changes, and plant and animal adaptations.
Learning Objectives
- Students will be able to understand what an adaptation is and provide examples of animals in the winter with adaptations for the cold weather.
- Students will learn how to engage their senses to enjoy the various seasons of the year
- Students will learn how to snowshoe
- Students will be able to identify various signs of wildlife during the winter (e.g. tracks, scat, habitats, food, etc.)
Curriculum Links
- Grade 1: senses, seasonal changes, needs of plants and animals
- Grade 2: hot and cold temperature, small crawling and flying animals
- Grade 3: hearing and sound, animal life cycles
- Animal adaptations to cold weather
Teacher information
- To book: Email interp.elkisland@pc.gc.ca
- Cost: See prices
- Capacity: Two groups maximum per day; 30 students per group
- Offered: Monday to Friday, each program is 2 hours. Generally, between 9 am to 3 pm (can be adjusted slightly if needed)
- Language: Available in English or French
- Please ensure that all schools have a fair chance to participate in our programs: give us at least two weeks' notice of any cancellations, so that we may offer the time slot to another class.
- Supervisor to student ratios:
- A minimum of 1 supervisor for every 5 elementary students is required
How the program works
- Meet your interpreter at the Astotin Lake day-use area approximately 15 minutes before your scheduled program time.
- Upon arrival, the guide will gear up each student with snowshoes and demonstrate how to walk in them.
- Your classes will take part in a guided snowshoe hike with many educational and fun stops along the way (total distance of the hike is approximately 1.5 km)
- A Sense of Winter: a winter scavenger hunt that engages all 5 senses
- Hibernation Station: learn about animals that hibernate and build-a-bear habitat
- Snow Birds: a matching game where students learn about birds that store their seeds in the summer and fall and are able to re-find them come winter
- Let It Grow: learn about plant adaptations to cold weather
- Life Under the Ice: delve into the underwater world and learn about what some of the underwater critters do to survive the winter
This program is a total of 2 hours in duration.
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