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School Nest Watch Program Guide

Secondary, Elementary, Middle

Description

This resource was in developed in support of School Nest Watch, a monitoring program designed to give students first-hand experience with many of our local birds.

The March and April nature guides draw attention to a number of interesting bird species. Some like the highly entertaining Chickadee are year-round residents in most parts of Canada while others including the aerobatic tree swallow and colorful Eastern Bluebird, are just making their return.  Tips for observating bird species that are nesting or 'on the move' can be found in any of the spring nature guides.

While this particular resource provides information for teachers on how to register and participate in the national monitoring program, it also it also contains instructions on how to build and locate nesting boxes to attract these and other bird species to the school yard. March is a perfect time to build as by the end of the month the birds will be looking to ‘move in’. Students can place the boxes around the school yard as soon as the ground has thawed and begin to monitor and study bird behavior for the remainder of the school year.

General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

A nesting box program could be an ongoing curriculum-based project to connect students, staff and community in an effort to enhance the school yard and provide crucial nesting habitat.

Construction, installation, monitoring and maintenance of the nesting structures will involve the students in meaningful outdoor learning throughout the school year. These activities support a range of outcomes across the curriculum.  Obvious fits are with Science 4 (Habitats), Science 6 (Biodiversity), Science 7 & 10 (Ecosystems) and Environmental Science 12.

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.

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  • Alberta
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    • Grade 4
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Living Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interaction
    • Grade 7
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Interactions and Ecosystems
    • Grade 9
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      • Environmental Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Environment and Outdoor Education: Environmental Investigations
  • Manitoba
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    • Grade 6
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Diversity of Living Things
    • Grade 7
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Interactions Within Ecosystems
    • Grade 10
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Senior 2 Science: Dynamics of Ecosystems
  • New Brunswick
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    • Grade 12
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Environmental Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Advanced Environmental Science 120:Introduction to the human sphere
        • Introduction to Environmental Science 120: An Overview of Environmental Science
  • Newfoundland & Labrador
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 6
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Diversity of Life
    • Grade 7
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Interaction of Ecosystems
    • Grade 10
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 1206: Sustainability of Ecosystems
    • Grade 11
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 2200: Ecosytems
    • Grade 12
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      • Environmental Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Environmental Science 3205: Introduction to Environmental Science
  • Northwest Territories
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 6
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Diversity of Living Things
    • Grade 7
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Interactions and Ecosystems
  • Nova Scotia
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    • Grade 6
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    • Grade 10
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 10: Sustainability of Ecosystems
  • Nunavut
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 6
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Diversity of Living Things
    • Grade 7
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Interactions and Ecosystems
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 6
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Diversity of Life
    • Grade 7
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Interactions Within Ecosystems
    • Grade 10
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 431A: Life Science, Sustainability of Ecosystems
    • Grade 12
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Environmental Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Environmental Science 621A: Introduction to Environmental Science
  • Quebec
  • Saskatchewan
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 6
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 6: Life Science: Diversity of Living Things
    • Grade 7
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 7: Life Science: Interactions within Ecosystems
    • Grade 10
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 10: Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics

Themes Addressed

Citizenship (1)

  • Community-Building and Participation

Ecosystems (3)

  • Appreciating the Natural World
  • Biodiversity
  • Habitat Loss

Land Use & Natural Resources (1)

  • Habitat Restoration