This simple activity serves as an excellent companion to the Late February Nature Guide and offers teachers an easy and enjoyable means of getting students outside in winter. It provides suggestions for organizing a successful search for snowfleas/springtails that include helpful hints as to the best times and locations to find and observe these active winter insects in the school yard.
While written for use in primary grades, the activity itself will be of interest to older students as well.
This is an activity that can be repeated on a number of occasions throughout the winter when snow and temperature conditions are favourable.
The study of active winter insects provides an authentic learning experience to support science outcomes in grades K-2. In Science 6, teachers could introduce the use of a simple dichotomous key to help students identify the insects they uncover and chronicle the diversity of insect life, even in depths of winter!
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