Grade One

Grade 1 Programs

Farm & Pond Study (Characteristics and Needs of Living Things)

Students will explore both our pond, meeting the plants and animals that call it home. Through age appropriate activities students will learn about each animal’s adaptations, habitats and life cycles. Note: Proper footwear (i.e. Rubber boots) is essential for students, teachers and parent volunteers to maximize the learning potential and related enjoyment of this program. Highlands supplies the dip nets.

Junior Ranger Walk

Students will explore nature using the sense of sight, touch, hear, and smell. This program includes age appropriate activities which may include: bark/leaf rubbing, bug hunt, basic plant identification, animal track identification, sit spots, and other nature games.

Leader of the Pack (Characteristics and Needs of Living Things)

This game of predator/prey survival, designed specifically for ages five to seven, allows children to role-play wildlife families. The children become baby animals while parent volunteers become animal parents. Each family (five children and one parent) travel around as a group searching for food, water, shelter and space (markers placed in the playing area) and try not to become food for a predator family.

Lost in the Woods

Students will learn about surviving in the woods. While embracing a campfire atmosphere, the program explores one’s basic needs of survival, what to pack in their backpacks when going on a hike, how to dress appropriately, and how to build a safe and effective shelter. This half day program pairs well with the Wayfaring programs.

Sensory Stroll

Students will actively take part in a series of inter-connected activities that explore our natural surroundings by using four of their five senses; touch, smell, sight and hearing. This program aims to foster environmental appreciation within the students by encouraging a sense of wonder and respect of nature through first-hand experiences.

Snowshoeing

Please see Snowshoeing Program Guide – Grade 1 for more details. Meets Health and Physical Education curriculum strands. 

Wildlife Walk

While on a walk through the woods, concepts such as predator/prey, wildlife adaptations, wildlife populations, and human influence on wildlife are explored through a series of games. This is a fun, active, engaging program. This activity requires fewer adult leaders to be effective.

Wayfaring (Map Work)

Students will learn basic mapping skills indoors then use these skills outdoors, following a primary map of the Niagara Escarpment. On their mapping adventure, students work in small groups with parents and teachers to find orienteering markers. 

General Information

• All Programs must be reserved in advance and are designed as half-day sessions for a minimum of 15 students per program. Two half-day programs make an exciting full-day program.
• Program runs rain or shine (unless extreme weather conditions are forecasted).
• Supervisors are expected to remain with their group throughout the visit (program/lunch) and are responsible for discipline.