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Get to Know Nature

Elementary

Description

Students become nature “reporters” in this outdoor experience that involves detailed investigations of the plants and animals in the local community.   A scavenger hunt process actively engages learners in making new discoveries while strengthening science skills in observation, classification and communication.  Through the production of a classroom nature guide students are encouraged to think deeply about their observations and appreciate the remarkable biodiversity in their local community.

General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

This resource involves students in an authentic scientific investigation in which they use all of their senses to explore and describe nature.   An important aspect of this process is the recording and communication of information which builds English Language Arts writing and vocabulary skills.  Visual Arts outcomes are incorporated into the field guide production through student created drawings of plants and animals.

This lesson could be extended through visits to other local habitats such as wetlands or forests to compare and contrast plant and animal species.  A class could even participate in a local “Bio Blitz” by working alongside real scientists collecting data in threatened ecosystems like salt marshes.  Students could also use their data as the basis for articles in the school newsletter to raise awareness about biodiversity conservation in the local community.

Relevant Curriculum Units

The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.

  • Step 1Select a province
  • Alberta
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Kindergarten
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Text Forms and Structure: Identifying and applying text forms and structures improves understanding of content, literary style, and our rich language traditions
        • Writing: Ideas and information can be articulated accurately and imaginatively through the use of writing processes and an understanding of the author’s craft
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Earth Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions.
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Living Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions.
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Writing: Ideas and information can be articulated accurately and imaginatively through the use of writing processes and an understanding of the author’s craft
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Investigating change and the diversity of Earth’s systems helps us to develop understandings of the conditions necessary to sustain life.
        • Living Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interaction
  • British Columbia
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Kindergarten
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science: Plants and animals have observable features
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 1: Living things have features and behaviours that help them survive in their environment
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Local Communities:: We shape the local environment, and the local environment shapes who we are and how we live.
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 2: Living things have life cycles adapted to their environment
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 3: Living things are diverse, can be grouped, and interact in their ecosystems
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment
  • Manitoba
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    • Kindergarten
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Trees
    • Grade 1
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Characteristics and Needs of Living Things
      • Social Studies
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        • My Environment
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Growth and Changes in Animals
    • Grade 3
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      • English/Language Arts
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        • Language as Exploration and Design
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Growth and Changes in Plants
    • Grade 4
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      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Language as Exploration and Design
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Habitat and Communities
  • New Brunswick
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    • Kindergarten
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      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Representation
      • Health Education
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Explore Your World: Diversity and Social Responsibility
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Explore Your World: Diversity and Social Responsibility
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Explore Your World: Diversity and Social Responsibility
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Representing
      • Health Education
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Explore Your World: Diversity and Social Responsibility
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Explore Your World: Diversity and Social Responsibility
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Explore Your World: Diversity and Social Responsibility
    • Grade 2
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Representations
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Our Local Environment : :Scientific Literacy
        • Our Local Environment : Learning and Living Sustainably
    • Grade 4
  • Newfoundland & Labrador
  • Northwest Territories
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    • Kindergarten
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      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Plan, Focus, Interpret & Analyse
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Senses & the Body
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • The World and Me
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Plan, Focus, Interpret & Analyse
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Characteristics and Needs of Living Things
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Connecting and Belonging: My Environment
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Plan, Focus, Interpret & Analyse
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Science: Growth and Changes in Animals
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Interpret & Analyse
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Growth and Changes in Plants
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Interpret and Analyse
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Habitats & Communities
        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment
  • Nova Scotia
  • Nunavut
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Kindergarten
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Plan, Focus, Interpret & Analyse
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Senses & the Body
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Being Together: The Land: Place & People
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Plan, Focus, Interpret & Analyse
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Characteristics and Needs of Living Things
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Connecting and Belonging: The Land: Place & People
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Plan, Focus, Interpret & Analyse
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Science: Growth and Changes in Animals
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Communities in Canada: The Land: Place & People
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Interpret & Analyse
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Growth and Changes in Plants
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Interpret and Analyse
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Habitats & Communities
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
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    • Kindergarten
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Writing and Representing
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Exploring the World Using Our Senses
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Units/ Outcomes
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Writing and Other Ways of Representing
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Needs and Characteristics of Living Things
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Interactions: Environments
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Writing and Other Ways of Representing
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Animal Growth and Changes:Investigating the Needs and Life Cycles of an Organism
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Change: Environment
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Writing and Other Ways of Representing
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Plant Growth & Changes
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Writing and Other Ways of Representing
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Habitats
  • Quebec
  • Saskatchewan
  • Yukon Territory
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Kindergarten
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science: Plants and animals have observable features
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 1: Living things have features and behaviours that help them survive in their environment
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Local Communities:: We shape the local environment, and the local environment shapes who we are and how we live.
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 2: Living things have life cycles adapted to their environment
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 3: Living things are diverse, can be grouped, and interact in their ecosystems
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment

Themes Addressed

Citizenship (1)

  • Community-Building and Participation

Ecosystems (2)

  • Appreciating the Natural World
  • Biodiversity

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