Students and Teachers

Forest Senses

Grades recommended

This program is recommended for kindergarten, grade 1, 2 and 3.

Curriculum links

The following curriculums are linked to this program:

• Science & technology
• The arts
• Health and physical activity

Location

Offered on site at Ken Reid Conservation Area or off-Site at schools where suitable.

Seasonal availability

Fall, Spring and Summer.

Program description

In this hands-on activity students will explore Ken Reid Conservation Area to discover a variety of trees and their defining features. Students will then use their senses to investigate and identify different parts of a tree and discover the types of trees at Ken Reid Conservation Area. This activity ends with a creation of a beautiful tree rubbing using a variety of tree materials.

Micro-Macro Hike

Grades recommended

This program is recommended for kindergarten, grade 1, 2 and 3.

Curriculum links

The following curriculums are linked to this program:

• Science & technology: Understanding life systems
• The arts
• Health and physical activity

Location

Offered on site at Ken Reid Conservation Area.

Seasonal availability

Fall, Spring and Summer.

Program description

Students will investigate a macro and micro habitat and learn about some of the animals that live there and how their needs (shelter, space, water and food) are met in these two different habitats. Students will take part in a hike within a macro (big) habitat and then investigate a micro (small) habitat through hands on exploring.

Pond Dipping/Water Bugs

Grades recommended

This program is recommended for kindergarten, grade 1, 2 and 3.

Curriculum links

The following curriculums are linked to this program:

• Science & technology: Understanding life systems
• Health and physical activity

Location

Offered on site at Ken Reid Conservation Area or off-Site at schools where suitable.

Seasonal availability

Fall, Spring and Summer.

Program description

Students will explore through hands on investigation a water system and the wonderful and amazing benthic invertebrates or water bugs that live in water. Students will learn about some of the neat adaptations these bugs have to survive, how the needs of the bugs are met, and how these bugs play an important role in indicating water quality to scientists.

The Changing Seasons Games and Scavenger Hunt

Grades recommended

This program is recommended for kindergarten and grade 1.

Curriculum links

The following curriculums are linked to this program:

• Science & technology
• Health and physical activity

Location

Offered on site at Ken Reid Conservation Area or off-Site at schools where suitable.

Seasonal availability

Fall and Spring.

Program description

Students will explore beautiful Ken Reid Conservation Area and investigate the natural signs of seasonal change occurring to the living and non-living elements in nature by participating in a scavenger hunt activity.

Wonderful Wetlands

Grades recommended

This program is recommended for kindergarten, grade 1, 2 and 3.

Curriculum links

The following curriculums are linked to this program:

• Science & technology: Understanding life systems
• Health and physical activity

Location

Offered on site at Ken Reid Conservation Area.

Seasonal availability

Fall, Spring and Summer.

Program description

Students will be guided through Ken Reid Conservation Area's swamp or marsh wetland both of which are part of the beautiful McLaren wetland. Students will be given an opportunity to explore the plant and animal life in the wetland using their senses and scientific tools.

Pollinator Gardens

Grades recommended

This program is recommended for kindergarten, grade 1 and 2.

Curriculum links

The following curriculums are linked to this program:

• Science & technology
• Health and physical activity

Location

Offered on site at Ken Reid Conservation Area or off-Site at schools where suitable.

Seasonal availability

Spring and Summer.

Program description

Through engaging games and interactive presentation students will learn about various native pollinator species, their habitats and how pollination occurs. This lesson concludes with students making their own seed bombs.

Water Cycle

Grades recommended

This program is recommended for grades 2 and 3.

Curriculum links

The following curriculums are linked to this program:

• Science & technology
• Health and physical activity

Location

Offered on site at Ken Reid Conservation Area or off-Site at schools where suitable.

Seasonal availability

Fall, Spring and Summer.

Program description

During a brief Introduction by Kawartha Conservation staff, will demonstrate the different parts of the water cycle and show students up close the process water takes when it evaporates, condenses and precipitates. Students will then become a part of the water cycle droplet and travel between areas to understand the journey a water droplet really makes.

Plants at Ken Reid

Grades recommended

This program is recommended for grades 2 and 3.

Curriculum links

The following curriculums are linked to this program:

• Science & technology: Understanding life systems
• The arts
• Health and physical activity

Location

Offered on site at Ken Reid Conservation Area.

Seasonal availability

Fall, Spring and Summer.

Program description

In this hands-on activity students will explore the parts of a flowering plant followed by an activity that highlights the process plants use to uptake nutrients and water. Following these activities students will explore Ken Reid Conservation Area and use a key to identify different types of trees using their distinguishing features. This lesson ends with students creating a beautiful rubbing using variety of tree and plant materials.

Soil Recipe

Grades recommended

This program is recommended for grades 3 and 4.

Curriculum links

The following curriculums are linked to this program:

• Science & technology: Understanding life systems
• The arts
• Health and physical activity

Location

Offered on site at Ken Reid Conservation Area.

Seasonal availability

Fall, Spring and Summer.

Program description

Students will be given a brief presentation on the different parts of soil and the role they play in creating varying soil types. Students will learn about the living and non-living components that soil is made of and how they work together to create an environment to sustain plant life. The activity ends with students creating their own soil recipe and planting a seed that corresponds to the soil type the students created.

Habitats and Survival

Grades recommended

This program is recommended for grades 3-6.

Curriculum links

Science & technology: Understanding life systems is linked to this program.

Location

Offered on site at Ken Reid Conservation Area.

Seasonal availability

Fall, Spring and Summer.

Program description

Program: Students will be guided on a hike through different habitats in Ken Reid Conservation Area and will learn about the different ways plants and animals are adapted to survive in these habitats. Following the hike students will play the “Survival” game where they explore a forest habitat as a carnivore, omnivore or herbivore and discover strategies that animals use to survive and meet their needs.

Rocks and Minerals

Grades recommended

This program is recommended for grade 4 students only.

Curriculum links

Science & technology: Understanding Earth and Space systems is linked to this program.

Location

Offered on site at Ken Reid Conservation Area.

Seasonal availability

Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer.

Program description

Students will be given a brief presentation on the uses of rocks and minerals by humans, how the rock cycle functions creating three main rock types. Following this the students will embark on their own “rock hound” journey to discover how scientists classify and analyze rock specimens. This activity ends with a hike to investigate some of the rock formations found in Ken Reid Conservation Area and the weathering and erosion of these sites.

Tree Friends

Grades recommended

This program is recommended for grades 3-6.

Curriculum links

The following curriculums are linked to this program:

• The arts
• Health and physical activity

Location

Offered on site at Ken Reid Conservation Area.

Seasonal availability

Fall, Spring and Summer.

Program description

In this lesson students are encouraged to connect with nature and become familiar with some of the tree species in this region. Students will use a key to identify different types of trees using their defining features. This activity ends with the creation of a beautiful rubbing using variety of trees and plant materials.

Orienteering

Grades recommended

This program is recommended for grades 3-8.

Curriculum links

Health and physical activity is linked to this program.

Location

Offered on site at Ken Reid Conservation Area.

Seasonal availability

Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer.

Program description

Students will explore Ken Reid Conservation Area through a variety of orienteering courses that provide students the opportunity to develop map literacy skills including interpret symbols, distant conversion and using control points to establish locations. Students will work together in teams and develop their leadership, cooperation and problem-solving skills in a fun supportive environment.

Environmental Sculpting

Grades recommended

This program is recommended for grades 3-8.

Curriculum links

The following curriculums are linked to this program:

• The arts
• Health and physical activity

Location

Offered on site at Ken Reid Conservation Area or off-site at schools where suitable.

Seasonal availability

Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer.

Program description

Students will learn about a variety of environmental sculptors and photographers, such as Andy Goldsworthy, Patrick Dougherty, Martin Hill or Robert Smithson. These artists use primarily natural materials to create site specific art. Following a brainstorm session student will create their own environmental sculpture or art piece in nature either individually or in a group. The program ends with a gallery visit to each student's piece.

Snowshoeing and Tracks

Grades recommended

This program is recommended for kindergarten and grades 1-3.

Curriculum links

The following curriculums are linked to this program:

• The arts
• Health and physical activity

Location

Offered on site at Ken Reid Conservation Area or off-site at schools where suitable.

Seasonal availability

Winter (weather dependent).

Program description

Students will experience the wonders of winter as they are guided on a hike through Ken Reid Conservation Area. Students will take part in snowshoeing games and look for signs of animal life by observing animal tracks and scat.

Watershed Stewardship Program (Part One)

Grades recommended

This program is recommended for grades 4-12.

Curriculum links

The following curriculums are linked to this program:

• Science & technology: Understanding life systems
• Health and physical activity

Location

Offered on site at Ken Reid Conservation Area for Part One and off-site for Part Two.

Seasonal availability

Fall, Spring and Summer.

Program description

In part one of this two-part program, students will visit Ken Reid Conservation Area and be given a brief presentation on the overall health of a watershed. Following the presentation students, just like scientists at Kawartha Conservation will go into the field and assess the surface water quality using chemical and biological tests. The morning session focuses on water chemistry testing, with the afternoon session focusing on water bugs and biological testing. The activity ends with students considering ways they could improve the overall health of the watershed. Part two of this program Kawartha Conservation will coordinate either a restoration or community awareness project for students to participate in and use their stewarding skills.