Middle Years (6 to 9 years)
Summer Joy
Landmark 3 (Exercise senses daily)
Today, we hit a few more landmarks before Pathways wrap up 🌻 Splashing through the soggy grass beneath the rainbow, the friends take turns running back and forth in perfect harmony. Our feet stay bare and happy as we venture into our garden to taste cilantro. Our garden is a sensory adventure! The smells invite us to be grateful for this land.
The friends have been particularly interested in pollinators, which isn’t at all surprising. These friends understand the importance of a healthy ecosystem and experience the wonder of watching buzzing busy work in our meadow of viper’s bugloss, campion, clovers, daisies, daisy fleabane…It has become part of our routine to walk, run, and watch the perimeter of our pollinator hill each day. Our business of preserving pollinators is not too serious to keep us from having a delightfully inventive music time!
Babbling Brook Daycare – July 5, 2023
Inching Along
Landmark 12 (Nearby plants and animals)
We found a little inch worm in our yard! We watched the strange way he walked, and wondered why the inchworm might have adapted that way!
Strath Maclean Child Care Centre – Junior After school – June 22, 2023
Cool and Muddy
Landmark 11 (Celebrate seasons)
We made the most of the PA Day falling on International Mud Day and had a blast!! Strath Maclean Child Care Centre – Junior After school – June 29, 2023
School Zoo
Landmark 2 (Animal friends)
Students were invited to learn from our friends in grade 3-4 all about various animals and the habitats where they lived. Our older students shared their learning with our kindergarten students. The younger students were able to view where each animal lived, what they eat, learn about predators of each animal and ask questions. It was fantastic for our older friends to share their learning. We had a fun day visiting our very own school zoo.
rfdowneylgk – June 16, 2023
Summer Treats
Landmark 11 (Celebrate Seasons)
We were filled with so much joy as we explored all this early summer day has to offer! The sticky heat, the cool rain, the hungry bugs, the beautiful chicory, the slippery branches and the tasty strawberries.
Babbling Brook Daycare – June 27, 2023
Growing Beans
Landmark 10 (Grow and Eat Food)
We have been growing bean plants for the last month and they are growing SO WELL!!!! We have yet to see any beans but there are lots of blossoms! We have 10 plants in total. We have been learning about their root systems, their growth cycle and what they need to live and grow strong and healthy. We are SO EXCITED to try a bean once one grows!
Harding’s grade twos – May 1, 2023
The Life Cycle of Beans
Landmark 10 (Grow and Eat Food)
We have been growing bean seeds in our class in ziplock bags for the last few weeks. Over the last few weeks, we have noticed the roots start to form and small shoots are now coming out of the top, working like scientists to make careful observations along the way. Today we sent our bean plants home so they could be planted in some pots or in our yards. For Art today, we used permanent marker and water colour paint on water colour paper to show the life cycle of our bean seed plants. These lovely paintings adorn our hallway walls.
kawarthaheightsyr3 – May 26, 2023
Headed to a Forest Adventure
Landmark 13 (Travel a Familiar Route)
We went on an adventure to our nearby forest again for the afternoon! The children love exploring in our forest. We do different activities and games every time we go and observe the changes within the forest that happen in between our visits
Strath Maclean Child Care Centre – Junior After school – May 19, 2023
Focus on the Surroundings
Landmark 11 (Celebrate each Season)
I asked the children as we entered the forest to walk slowly and look around high and low and to focus on the surroundings while walking in. Once we sat down for snack, I asked them to share the changes in the forest that they noticed since our last visit.
Strath Maclean Child Care Centre – Junior After school – May 19, 2023
Outdoor Learning and Games
Landmark 14 (Five New Outdoor Activities)
Camp Kawartha came to our school! We were lucky to have multiple leaders who lead three classes in some outdoor learning and games. The three teachers were then lucky to receive hands on instruction about how to bring learning outdoors. Jacob provided us with resources, ideas, and materials. It was a great afternoon.
Keith Wightman Gr 1 – May 26, 2023
Learning to Protect Ontario Turtles
Landmark 12 (Nearby Plants and Animals)
Today we learned about the species of turtles in Ontario, and how Grundy Provincial Park protects and monitors Ontario’s turtle species.
Queen Elizabeth Gr 2/3 – May 30, 2023
Thinking About Caterpillars
Landmark 12 (Nearby Plants and Animals)
Some of the children have been noticing caterpillars in our yard again! We’ve been thinking about last year and how we looked after some caterpillars as we waited for them to turn into butterflies! Some of the children have been thinking about what caterpillars might need to grow and make their cocoons, and some are thinking about what the cocoons look like.
Strath Maclean Child Care Centre – Junior After school – May 24, 2023
Butterflies Emerge
Landmark 15 (Garden, birdfeeder, insects etc.)
We had caterpillars in our room that we watched grow, they eventually turned into chrysalis’ and hung from the top of the containers. We then transferred the hanging chrysalis’ to our butterfly mesh container. We watched as we saw the butterflies emerge from the chrysalis. Yesterday we took our butterflies outside and released them. Some of the butterflies flew off right away, some stuck around for the students to hold.
Keith Wightman Gr 1 – May 24, 2023
Explore Bugs in the Garden
Landmark 15 (Garden, birdfeeder, insects etc.)
We spent time with Nature Nancy learning about bugs and insects. We went and explored bugs in our medicine garden.
Roseneath CPS SK/1 – April 26, 2023
Trees In Our Community
Landmark 12 (Nearby Plants and Animals)
Today we had the wonderful opportunity to have Nature Nancy visit our class. We had a great time learning about trees in our community and how trees make food.
Queen Elizabeth Gr 2/3 – May 19, 2023
Plant a Pollinator Garden
Landmark 15 (Garden, birdfeeder, insects etc.)
Today our school as a collective installed a pollinator garden with the help of Carlotta from Three Sisters Gardening. Our class that the opportunity to spread the mulch to help with weed suppression and water retention of the plants.
Queen Elizabeth Gr 2/3 – May 19, 2023
Growning Sunflowers
Landmark 10 (Grow and Eat Food)
We have learned about different life cycles of some animals and plants this year. We planted and grew sunflower seeds over the past month. We ended the project by measuring the height of our plants and entering that data into a bar graph.
Lakefield DPS Gr 1 – May 19, 2023
Bird Feeders for Our Nature Area
Landmark 15 (Garden, birdfeeder, insects etc.)
We made bird feeders and hung them around our school Nature Area. A local bird expert joined us and helped us identify the birds we saw and heard.
Kawartha Heights Gr 1 – April 19, 2023
Tree-ific Time
Landmark 12 (Nearby Plants and Animals)
Participated in an outdoor education workshop about trees (Treeific) led by Camp Kawartha. Super informative and fun!
St. Anne CES Gr 3 – May 5, 2023
Raising Chicks
Landmark 15 (Garden, birdfeeder, insects etc.)
We’re learning how to raise chicks!
St. Anne CES Gr 3 – May 1, 2023
Take Class Outside
Landmark 9 (Special Outdoor Place 2X/Month)
We decided to take our phys. ed class outside. We played a few predator/prey tag style games. Then students got to pick either skipping, basketball, or soccer. They all enjoyed being outside.
Keith Wightman Gr 1 – May 8, 2023
Observing Caterpillars
Landmark 12 (Nearby Plants and Animals)
We have some caterpillars that we are observing and watching their lifecycle. Students are very involved and invested in our caterpillars. Right now they have turned into chrysalis. We will soon be moving them into the mesh enclosure so they can continue to evolve into butterflies.
Keith Wightman Gr 1 – May 8, 2023
Explore Through Your Senses
Landmark 17 (Three New Outdoor Skills)
We offered a challenge/activity in the forest. We asked the children if they wanted to participate and a lot of them wanted to. The challenge was to walk along the “rope course” blindfolded! You were to walk slowly and explore through your senses using your hands and feet and see if there was any obstacles along the course you may have to step over and be able to find your way around the course. They actually did awesome with this activity and they had a lot of fun doing it.
Strath Maclean Child Care Centre – Junior After school – April 28, 2023
Geocache Discovery
Landmark 14 (Five New Outdoor Activities)
Out in our forest space we discovered a geocache! We worked together to get the cache down, then opened it up to check it out and sign it for our group!
Strath Maclean Child Care Centre – Junior After school – April 28, 2023
Community Clean Up
Landmark 11 (Celebrate each Season)
This week we have been celebrating Earth Day. We have been doing different activities, talking about how we can help, and the impact humans have on the Earth. Today we went outside and did a community clean up. The students were shocked to see how much garbage was left on the ground outside.
Keith Wightman Gr 1 – April 21, 2023
Walk Through the Forest
Landmark 1 (Explore Together Weekly)
Students were thrilled to walk through the forest and notice the changes that spring has brought. Along the way we discovered a broken blue egg. One of the students shared the egg was from a baby robin and there must be a nest nearby. We kept our eyes and ears out for the robin’s and enjoyed our adventure through the woods.
rfdowneylgk – April 26, 2023
Bird Sleuths
Landmark 15 (Garden, birdfeeder, insects etc.)
We were “Bird Sleuths”! We took a long hike down the trail, through the woods, and past 2 ponds to see how many types of birds we could observe in the different habitats. The students listened to the songs of birds to see if they could identify their calls.
St. Anne CES Gr 3 – April 26, 2023
Gathering Rock
Landmark 9 (Special Outdoor Place 2X/Month)
The class has claimed this large rock as their special gathering place 😀
St. Anne CES Gr 3 – April 26, 2023
Spring Trees In Bloom
Landmark 12 (Nearby Plants and Animals)
After the heat of the weekend, we noticed there was colour starting to form on the branches of many trees. When we investigated closer with magnifying glasses, we discovered that the trees were in bloom with flowers where we had seen buds a week earlier. Each tree species had its own unique flower. We picked some up from the ground to feel them and see them really close up. Some even reminded us of caterpillars. The trees are changing so quickly so we can’t wait to see what they look like on our next walk!
Highland Heights Gr 1/2 – April 20, 2023
Geese in Our Favourite Pond
Landmark 12 (Nearby Plants and Animals)
On a walk past our favourite pond we were very excited to see a big surprise- two geese and a male mallard duck! We quietly watched them and wondered if the female duck was already on a nest somewhere close by and whether the geese would make a nest there too. We didn’t want to scare them so we didn’t stay long. We will check in quickly from a distance on our next walk to see if they are still there.
Highland Heights Gr 1/2 – April 20, 2023
Notice the Sounds of Spring
Landmark 11 (Celebrate each Season)
During a recent science lesson in our outdoor classroom, we were noticing the different sounds that spring has brought. We stayed really quiet for two minutes and drew the different things we heard around us in the form of a sound map in our nature journals. When reflecting afterwards, students noted that they heard the wind blowing through the trees, chickadees, cardinals, robins, cars and people talking in the school yard.
Highland Heights Gr 1/2 – April 20, 2023
How Seeds Become Plants
Landmark 10 (Grow and Eat Food)
We are learning how plants grow.
For this activity, students were invited to watch ‘How Do Seeds Become Plants’, and summarize the information in their writing. They were then invited to draw a diagram of a bean plant, before planting a bean seed in soil and watching it grow.
Mrs. Miriam’s Grade 1 & 2 Class – April 26, 2023
Earth Day Buddy Clean Up
Landmark 11 Celebrate each Season)
To celebrate Earth Day, our class buddied up with the Grade 5s to spend a full learning block outside. We read nature stories under our favourite schoolyard trees and then headed out along the trail to pick up garbage.
Highland Heights Gr 1/2 – April 21, 2023
Friends Lead the Way
Landmark 13 (Travel a Familiar Route)
Getting to our destination where we choose to play for the day is half the fun! The friends lead the way and they know this route well.
Babbling Brook Daycare – April 25, 2023
Start a Worm Garden
Landmark 15 (Garden, birdfeeder, insects etc.)
We started a worm garden. We added soil, sand, grass, old leaves and water. The kids went out on a hunt for worms! We created a natural space to observe the worms. We also talked about compost and gave the worms our extra compostable scraps. It has been fun watching them tunnel and move along! It has also been fun problem solving adding to our original plan.
Roseneath CPS SK/1 – April 17, 2023
Celebrate the Season
Landmark 11 (Celebrate each Season)
Explored seasonal changes at local pond
St. Anne CES Gr 3 – April 12, 2023
Build a Squirrel Drey
Landmark 15 (Garden, bird-feeder, insects etc.)
We had Nature Nancy come and lead our class in a half day outdoor workshop. Students learned about the life cycle of squirrels, how they are mammals, and how they take care of their young. Students then had to create a drey using different nature items outside. Students made a drey and put a canister with warm water inside. Students checked temperatures after to see if the drey kept “the baby squirrels” warm.
Keith Wightman Gr 1 – April 17, 2023
The Science Connection
Landmark 9 (Special Outdoor Place)
Our class enjoyed the beautiful sunny week to take our learning outside as much as possible. For a science connection, we headed on a trail walk close to our school. While travelling down the trail, we heard and saw chickadees, mallard ducks, song sparrows, robins and cardinals. We touched the fuzzy branches of sumac and pussy willow buds starting to open. We stopped at the pond to write about what we could see, hear, touch, and smell at this habitat.
Highland Heights Gr 1/2 – April 12, 2023
Class Outside
Landmark 11 (Celebrate each Season)
We brought our phys. ed class outside. Students had their first introduction to ultimate.
Keith Wightman Gr 1 – April 14, 2023
Feathers on the Ground
Landmark 12 (Nearby Plants and Animals)
Scarlett was walking through the forest and discovered bird feathers on the ground. She said, “Oh no, this bird looks like it got attacked”. Scarlett wanted to pick up the feathers and save them but instead, we talked about decomposition and why they were best to stay on the ground.
Strath Maclean Child Care Centre – Junior After School – April 12, 2023
Walk Through the Water
Landmark 14 (Five New Outdoor Activities)
Noah had a thought for the watering hole he came across before stepping into the water. He wanted to make sure it wouldn’t go over the sides of his boots so he found a long stick and placed it in the water until it touched the bottom and he pulled it back up measuring how deep the water was. He said, “the dark spot is how deep the water is and I’ll be okay to go through” and he continued to walk through the water.
Strath Maclean Child Care Centre – Junior After school – April 13, 2023
Exploring Soil
Landmark 15 (Garden, birdfeeder, insects etc.)
Today Ms. H/Mr Grice’s grade 3 class at Keith Wightman spent the morning learning about and exploring soil. We made soil soup, played a soil game, explored with viewers looking for creatures in the soil and our final activity was for everyone to make their own terrarium. A splendid morning with great kids!
Think Outside with Nature Nancy – April 17, 2023
Hide and Hibernate
Landmark 11 (Celebrate each Season)
Cody, Harvey, Easton, and Reid were raking the leaves into a pile and then decided they wanted to jump into the pile and become invisible under the leaves. Cody was working hard to cover them all up to the point you could only see there hats! They said, “we are like animals hiding and hibernating and now that it’s warm and spring we are coming out” and they jumped out of the leaves! Cody got so buried that he eventually stuck just his hand out to wave and then jumped out!
Strath Maclean Child Care Centre – Junior After school – April 11, 2023
Gardening Skills
Landmark 15 (Garden, birdfeeder, insects etc.)
We have been practising our gardening skills all winter, clipping spider plants and growing “babies”. Today we planted our “babies” outside. We are up to 27 in total! We have been talking about the benefits of having plants in our classroom throughout the winter. Students expressed that it’s like having nature indoors and that they give us air and help to keep us calm. I added in that they also give us purpose as we tend to and care for them. Gardening in LLS-A is an every-season kind of thing!
Highland Heights LLSA – April 11, 2023
Orange & Seed Birdfeeders
Landmark 15 (Garden, birdfeeder, insects etc.)
The children have been hearing and seeing birds outside. We even had a robin tap on our daycare room window. The children really wanted to feed the bird. As a group, we made bird feeders out of oranges and sunflower seeds. The children pushed the seeds into the orange. Then we hung the around the yard to see if we could see any bird. The children were so engaged in this activity we decided to also hang some up in the woods for the birds and squirrels.
CELC-Peterborough – April 12, 2023
Traditional Inuit Games
Landmark 14 (Five New Outdoor Activities)
We spent a whole learning block outdoors with the wonderful Camp Kawartha team who taught us a variety of traditional Inuit games. It was a great experience. The activities promoted team building and the kids had great fun.
Queen Mary PS Gr 3/4 – April 3, 2023
Math Outside
Landmark 14 (Five New Outdoor Activities)
We made use of a sunny day last week to bring our math learning outside. We have been learning to read maps and to create and follow directions between two locations. To further practice this idea, students were placed into partners and challenged to orally give directions for a partner to walk from one animal toy to the other.
Highland Heights Gr 1/2 – March 30, 2023
After the Storm
Landmark 11 (Celebrate Each Season)
After a big snowstorm, we went outside to explore the schoolyard. We focused on our sense of smell to create a ‘smelly sundae’. Students were each given a plastic cup and challenged to collect various items of nature to place in their cup and create a new scent. Everyone loved to share their new creation with their peers. Thanks to Kim Dobson and Nature Nancy for the activity idea! 🙂
Highland Heights Gr 1/2 – February 28, 2023