Winter 2023
Level 2
January 7
Outdoor Safety and Etiquette
This first class of winter, we started our class with doing our land acknowledgment, and learning about safety rules along the way. How to prepare to winter and outdoor school? How to show respect to nature and others? What is the right closing for winter? We will continue to review our rules and land acknowledgement before each class.
Goodbye autumn, hello winter! What are the signs of the winter? A scavenger hunt is a fantastic way to kick monotony to the curb and unleash our winter spirit in the great outdoors. Let’s rock to get ready for this wonderful season together!
January 14
The Best Flakes Are Snow Flakes - Weight Measurement
This week we did a mini experiment using a scale on comparing and measuring the weight of different things we found from nature such as rocks, leaves and branches. We examined and wrote down which item is heaviest, which one is lightest, and which two items are balanced in weight. We also explored the diversity of living things around us in winter and identified as many as we could, including bees, ducks, turtles, and trees. We noticed new differences between living things beyond size, such as habitat, behaviour, and colour.
January 21
Whose footprints? - Length Measurement
We gained a better understanding of the concepts of length measurement, such as units of length and how length is determined, We tried to use different tools to measure length, such as ruler and tape measure. We learned how to measure length precisely to ensure the accuracy of the measurement results. We now know the application of length measurement in daily life and work, such as the width of a bridge and the length of a table.
January 28
Can you measure the weather? - Temperature Measurement
We learned about the principles and types of thermometers, including liquid thermometers and digital thermometers. We tried to use thermometers for temperature measurement and became familiar with how to use them. We also knew that the two rows of numbers on a thermometer represent degrees Celsius and degrees Fahrenheit. We deepen our understanding of thermometers and improve our practical skills through hands-on experiment near the pond, on the glass, and indoors.
February 04
Where the wild things are?
Where is the monster? Where are we? Bring the flash light and binoculars and let’s move on! We took on the role of the characters in the story and explored the deep forest of Camosun Bog wetland park! We fully stimulated our imagination and teamwork skills, and learned how to fully utilize our abilities to cooperate in completing the adventure.
My Shadow Play
Using lanterns and flashlights, we went into the forest to find nature's shadows of leaves, trees and mushrooms. We stood behind a curtain and created our own shadows, and we acted out plays with the shadows of ourselves and the characters from Gruffalo. After this lesson, we learned something new: the closer an object is to the light source, the larger the shadow. The farther an object is from the light source, the smaller the shadow.
February 11
February 18
Creative Forces
In this class we went into the big woods and let nature help us learn about forces and motion. Through the teacher's teaching demonstrations, tug of war and push-pull ball games, we learned that forces are mutual, unbalanced forces make objects move, and that the magnitude of a force affects the speed at which an object moves. Our creativity and problem solving skills were improved during activities, and we extensively practiced teamwork and communication skills in the games.
Ramp Energy
We went to the Queen Elizabeth Park where its diverse landscape can help us learn the lesson of ramp. Taking the advantage of the difference in terrain, we observed and compared the similarities and differences between a ramp and a staircase, measured the height of different ramps, recorded the speed of a ball moving on different ramps, and finally applied games to understand the utility of ramps/slopes and the convenience they bring to people.
February 25
January 15
Roll and Slide
Our nature classroom today was the Vandusen Garden, where we applied the garden's diverse terrain to learn about the two common physics of rolling and sliding. The children observed rolling spheres, sliding squares, and column logs that can both slide and roll, experienced which one rolls farther and faster, experimented with the difference between grass and snow, and gained an initial understanding of friction. It was an great exercise of physical strength, observation and thinking skills!
Final Project
After a term’s learning of "Nature's Measurement", "Story Adventure" and "Amazing Motion", the children's physical strength, observation skills, logical thinking, and sense of cooperation have been systematically exercised and enhanced.
Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring!