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At-home and at school learning resources from Learning for a Sustainable Future
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Welcome to Fall Week 3 of Learning Inside Out! We hope that you are beginning to get back into the swing of things with this unusual start to the school year. We are continuing to release these weekly, easy-to-use, curriculum-connected activities that can be implemented in school, outdoors or online to help you engage your students in learning.
LSF recommends outdoor learning as a tool for safe learning and engagement, and most of the activities you will find below utilize outdoor space as a classroom or tool. We hope you will enjoy this week’s selections.
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About Learning Inside Out
Below you will find a selection of activities, broken down by various grade levels. These guides will be released weekly and archived on our Learning Inside Out page, so you can always access the full catalogue.
All activities have been modified from resources on our R4R database, simplified and adapted for both outdoor learning in the school yard or at-home as needed. The activity descriptions below should contain all the information and links that you need!
If you'd like to view the full original resource on R4R, including curriculum connections for every province/territory, click the activity title.
We want this guide to work for you, so your feedback is invaluable to us.
Use the feedback button at the bottom of this Guide, or email us at info@LSF-LST.ca. We would also love to see photos of students engaging in the activities, please e-mail us any pictures or videos you have!
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This week's theme focuses on the beautiful, unassuming blooms that populate our roadsides! These flowers (asters and goldenrods) anchor a diverse food web which includes Honey Bees, Wasps, Long-horned Beetles, Soldier Beetles, Ambush bugs, Monarch Butterflies, Goldenrod Spiders and Hoverflies, which mimic bees or wasps. Through the activities below, you will learn about local flowers, plants, and the many species that rely on them for survival. We also highly recommend taking some time to read through our latest guide: Step Outside Mid-September 2020 to find out who's mating, who's migrating, what's going on with the stars and the planets - and feel more in tune with what is really happening around you, right outside your door!
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This book introduces younger students to flowers, their pollinators and their seeds. They will discover the meanings behind such interesting botanical terms as angiosperm and stamen. Students will also learn about the process of pollination and seed production. Finally, one of the most important messages communicated by this book is that the world has an amazing diversity of plants, many of which benefit humans. We should all care about the remarkable plant species that provide us with much of our food and other products we use.
Discussion questions after the reading:
1. What is the reason for a flower?
2. What role do the different flower parts play in pollination?
3. What is the purpose of the petals, the stem?
4. Why is pollination essential to a plant’s survival?
5. How do you think colour, shape, size, patterns, and scent affect pollination?
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What did you think of The Reason for a Flower?
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Students walk through a designated area such as the schoolyard or a local park and choose a plant they wish to observe. After carefully examining the plant, they note their observations following the guided observation process presented in class. This process helps students focus on plant characteristics as a way to enhance both their appreciation and knowledge of plant adaptations and plant diversity. The activity also helps sharpen students’ observation and inquiry skills. Students who choose can take turns introducing the plant they have selected by presenting the highlights of their observations.
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What did you think of Meet a Plant: Up Close and Personal?
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The bird-watching activity is a great first step toward getting students outside observing and learning. Students erect a bird feeder and create a viewing center to be able to observe the birds without disturbing them. They watch and identify the birds that visit the feeder and record what each species eats. Through their observations, they identify different bird adaptations and habits. They collect their data in journals and include details such as the name of the species, date, time of day and the differences and similarities among the birds.
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What did you think of Bird Banquets?
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In this learning activity, students will conduct a model population census by taking advantage of “species” present in their own local environment. Students will analyze and compare results to develop an understanding of the complexities associated with species and ecosystem management. They will explore different variables and factors contributing to population dynamics.
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What did you think of Population Dynamics?
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Let us know how this helped your learning & teaching from home or at school indoors & (hopefully) outdoors! and what you'd like to see more of by filling out our brief feedback form! |
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Follow us on social media for continued weekly highlights & other exciting opportunities through the school year! |
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Please share widely with any parents and teachers in your life! |
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Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF) is a Canadian charity with over 25 years of experience working within the education system. Our Resources for Rethinking (R4R) database is an award-winning collection of resources that are peer-reviewed by certified teachers and connected to curriculum in all provinces and territories. R4R is recommended on many Ministry of Education websites. |
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Learning for a Sustainable Future
343 York Lanes, York University
4700 Keele St
North York, ON • M3J 1P3
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