Our Wintry Wilderness Adventures

We spent a spectacular day learning at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre!

Indigenous First Families Program

Our morning kicked off with the Indigenous First Families program, led by the wonderful Nadine. We stepped back in time to explore how the Inuit of the Arctic, the Plains First Nations, and the Woodland First Nations of Eastern Canada thrived long ago. Without stores like Costco, survival relied on expert hunting and a deep sense of community, where families shared everything from food to childcare.

While children didn’t attend formal schools, they were always learning! They learned hunting, cooking, and sewing from their elders. It was a life of responsibility and teamwork. Every job helped the family survive.

❄️ The Inuit: Life in the North

In the Arctic, the Inuit survived the cold by living in igloos and making tools. We got a close look at ring seal fur, used to create warm clothing and kamiks (shoes). One student even tried on a cozy seal fur parka! We learned how tough, creative and resilient the Inuit were.

🌾 The Plains First Nations: Hunters & Celebrators

The Plains First Nations followed the buffalo, living in tipis that could be moved. Nadine shared their vibrant culture of celebration, particularly the "powwow." We heard an elaborate fan that sounded like birds flapping. One lucky student dressed in traditional regalia, including a bone-and-bead choker, moose moccasins, and a protective breastplate. We even saw a replica headdress, where each feather represents a brave or kind deed.

🌲 The Woodland First Nations: Masters of the Forest

The Woodland First Nations lived near the Great Lakes, where they became incredible hunters and navigators. They used the birch trees around them to build canoes for traveling. After learning so many facts, the students were thrilled to handle the artifacts themselves. Feeling the silky furs and pelts was an absolute highlight!

Creativity and Play

To wrap up the morning, the students tapped into their own creativity! They designed fans decorated with nature-inspired scenes like rainbows and animals. We ended the morning with several traditional games. Though the rules were simple and the pieces were few, they were a challenging and high-energy hit!

Nature Scavenger Hunt

After a quick lunch, we bundled up and headed outside to experience God’s beautiful creation! Did you know we brought our own detective tools? Our five senses! Inspired by the book I Wonder, we set off on the trails, using our eyes, ears, noses, hands, and even our sense of smell to explore the world around us.

We shared a perfect day together! What a blessing to be able to take our learning beyond the classroom!

Hibernation: A Blanket of Snow

Seasonal changes are something we explore year-round in Science. Recently, we've begun learning how animals hibernate, migrate, and adapt to the cold winter months. 

Animals who hibernate often burrow under the snow. But how can you be warm under something so cold? 

Our experiment was simple: bury one thermometer in a snowbank, and leave the other sitting on top of the snow. To protect the thermometers, each was safe in a box.

We left the thermometers all morning and checked their temperatures after lunch. We discovered that it actually warmer under the snow! Many animals have a better chance of surviving the cold winter when there is a lot of snow. This snow acts like a blanket. It traps heat from the earth, as well as an animal's body heat when an animal burrows deep. 

Bundle up and enjoy the heaps of snow, everyone!

Animals & People in Winter

In Science, we've explored animals and people in winter!

PEOPLE IN WINTER

We brainstormed favourite winter activities, then bundled in our woolies and acted out a winter activity... indoors! Then we wrote a complete sentence about our chosen activity, and using our creativity and a fancy background, made imaginative winter posters!

ANIMALS IN WINTER

We've learned that animals hibernate, migrate, and adapt:

Hibernating: Blanket of Snow Experiment
Animals who hibernate often burrow under the snow. But how can you be warm under something so cold? The experiment was simple: bury one thermometer in a snowbank, and leave the other sitting on top of the snow. To protect the thermometers, each was safe in a box. 

We left the thermometers all morning and checked their temperatures before lunch. We discovered that it actually warmer under the snow! Many animals have a better chance of surviving the cold winter when there is a lot of snow. This snow acts like a blanket. It traps heat from the earth, as well as an animal's body heat when an animal burrows deep. 

Adapting: Beautiful Bird Feeders

Many animals change colour, grow thicker fur, or adapt in some way to withstand freezing winter temperatures. 

We know Canada Geese migrate, however many birds stay here, including sparrows and woodpeckers.  We made beautiful bird feeders to treat these hardy birds who stay here during the winter. Using birdseed and cranberries, we made delightful and delicious frozen feeders!

We were thrilled to find a place to hang them!

We didn't miss this opportunity to make artwork! Using cardboard to make branches and needles, the children used a stamping method to create wonderful boughs and berries. 

Look at the robins in the trees!

We learn best when it is hands-on. Bundle up and enjoy the winter, everyone!

Dream Snow Animals

We read the book Dream Snow!

In the story, a farmer falls asleep and dreams that snow covers his farm animals. This book is very clever! Clear plastic sheets, with "snow" on them, can be lifted to reveal the animal underneath! 

Armed with our knowledge of sentences, we made our own version of the book, but with a twist! Students each wrote clues about an animal of their choosing. Kids were challenged to write a sentence beginning with a capital letter and ending with a period. As well, students were required to spell Word Wall Words correctly (weekly spelling words posted on the wall). 

An illustration of the animal accompanied their clues, too!

Just like in Dream Snow, a clear page with painted "snow" covered the animal, so it would be lifted up to reveal the animal hidden under the snowbank! The very best part of this was adding "snow"!

Here are the clues:

Can you guess the animal? Peek under the "snow" to see!

Because of their fantastic work, the hallway near our classroom is packed with curious students, reading the clues and peeking under the snowbanks! Well done, Grade One!

Happy New Year: Jumping Back into Learning!

It has felt so good to be back together again! Take a peek at a few learning moments this past week:

Each morning we connected with a friend to buddy read:

We reviewed our numbers to 20 with a challenging number hunt . . .

. . . and found ways to make 5 using "ice blocks" on an igloo counting mat!

We presented groups we are a part of in Social Studies:

We celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany! We heard the story of the Wise Men and made our own little stars as a reminder to follow Jesus: 

What a fantastic week back together again! It is going to be a wonderful 2025!

Freezing Outside, Toasty Inside!

It has felt so good to be back together again! Though the snow is beautiful, the weather has been bitterly cold. Inside our school we are snuggly warm and learning up a storm! Take a peek at a few learning moments this past week:

Every day we connected with a friend to buddy read:

Many have presented groups they are a part of in Social Studies:

We are learning the addition strategy of counting on, and enjoyed this partner dice game to sharpen our numeracy skills:

We took our literacy to the hall, hunting for and recording words with the "sh" sound:

We heard the story of the Wise Men and made our own little stars as a reminder to follow Jesus: 

What a fantastic week back together again!

Warm in the Winter

Our current Science focus is on seasonal changes in Winter, and today we were exploring how some animals survive the cold. 

Do you think it is warmer under the snow or on top?

This generated an enormous amount of really thoughtful discussion and the students were asked to predict where it is warmer. 

The experiment was simple: bury one thermometer in a snowbank, and leave the other sitting on top of the snow. To protect the thermometers, each was encased in a cookie box.  (Honorable mention to the Beliveau family for eating so many cookies).

Off we went to set up the experiment! Students watched from indoors as Mrs. Beliveau buried one box/thermometer and set the other on the snow. 

We headed back to class and were very busy all morning!

After lunch, we hustled back to check on our experiment. 

Mrs. Beliveau checked the box sitting on top of the snow. The thermometer read -22 degrees C. Then Mrs. Beliveau dug out the buried box. The thermometer read -18 degrees C. It was warmer under the snow!

Many animals have a better chance of surviving the cold winter when there is a lot of snow. This snow acts like a blanket. It traps heat from the earth, as well as an animal's body heat when an animal burrows deep. Turns out that winters with little snow are harder for plants and animals to survive!

Kids in Winter!

Our Winter unit in Science has been lots of fun!

We got our creative juices flowing when Mrs. Beliveau read Snow Day. In the book, a "snow day" is declared and kids must stay home from school! The children in the book do many fun seasonal activities, which became an excellent conversation starter for our class!

Mrs. Beliveau promised we could do those Winter activities we just read about! Ski, sled, build a snowman, skate ... but how?

First, we brainstormed winter activities we enjoy doing. 

Then we dressed in their warm woollies and posed as if we were doing a snowy activity. Can you guess what winter activity these kids are acting out?

Then students focused their efforts on writing a complete sentence about their activity, 

chose a whimsical Winter background, 

and glued their cutout with a few details to complete the picture!

Look at what we made! 

We sure do know what people do in Winter!

Project idea adapted from a project featured by Christina Bainbridge. 
Visit her blog at Bunting, Books and Bright Ideas.

Snuggly Snow!

 

Experiment!

That word alone can get a room full of Grade One students absolutely, positively giddy! And that's how our day began, with excited kids ready to learn! Our current Science focus is on seasonal changes in Winter, and today we were exploring how some animals survive the cold. 

Do you think it is warmer under the snow or on top?

The experiment was simple: bury one thermometer in a snowbank, and leave the other sitting on top of the snow. To protect the thermometers, each was encased in a cracker box.  (Honorable mention to the Beliveau family for eating so many crackers for the sake of Science).

Off we went to set up the experiment! Students watched from indoors as Mrs. Beliveau tromped out to bury one box/thermometer UNDER and set the other ON the snow. 

We headed back to class and were very busy all day! 

Today we were introduced to the parts of a story! We made our own story retell bracelets to help cue us:

After last recess, we hustled back to check on our experiment:

Mrs. Beliveau checked the box sitting on top of the snow .....

The thermometer read -1 degrees C. 

Then Mrs. Beliveau dug out the buried box ...

The thermometer read 3 degrees C.

What?!?! 

It was warmer under the snow!

We hurried back to class, and working with a giant interactive thermometer, spent time exploring what this meant. 

Many animals have a better chance of surviving the cold winter when there is a lot of snow. This snow acts like a blanket. It traps heat from the earth, as well as an animal's body heat when an animal burrows deep. Turns out that winters with little snow are harder for plants and animals to survive!

Story retelling anchor chart and bracelets inspired by Kindergarten Chaos