Junior Workshops
Habitat Heroes
Grade 4 - Life Systems - Habitats and Communities
Brief Overview: Brief Overview: Students will learn about how a habitat is like a community and learn about different habitats in their local environment, in Canada, and around the world. Students will discuss how humans can positively and negatively impact habitats. Students will design their own habitats using natural materials and make a plan to protect an environment in their local area.
Curriculum Connections:
B1.1: assess positive and negative impacts of human activities on habitats and communities, while taking different perspectives into account B2.1: describe habitats as areas that provide organisms, including plants and animals, with the necessities of life, and identify ways in which a local habitat provides these necessities B2.3: describe the relationship of organisms in a food chain, and classify organisms as producers, consumers, or decomposers B2.4: demonstrate an understanding of a food web as the interconnection of multiple food chains in a natural community B2.5: describe how animals are categorized according to their diet, and categorize various animals as carnivores, herbivores, or omnivores B2.6: describe structural adaptations of a variety of plants and animals and how these adaptations allow the organisms to survive in specific habitats
Adaptation Adventures
Grade 4 - Life Systems - Habitats and Communities
Brief Overview: Students will begin the workshop by playing the thicket hide and seek game where they try their hand at camouflage. Students will learn about animal and plant adaptations, focusing on structural adaptations such as mimicry and camouflage. Students will cycle through stations that focus on different adaptations that plants and animals use. Students will design an animal with an adaptation and create it out of LEGO. If students finish early, they can try out the butterfly camouflage activity and see if they can make their butterfly disappear.
Curriculum Connections:
B1.1: assess positive and negative impacts of human activities on habitats and communities, while taking different perspectives into account
B2.6: describe structural adaptations of a variety of plants and animals and how these adaptations allow the organisms to survive in specific habitats
Nature's Dinner Party
Grade 4 - Life Systems - Habitats and Communities
Brief Overview: Students will explore the concept of food chains and the dietary classifications of carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores. They will test their understanding through an interactive predator-and-prey game. Following this activity, students will dive deeper into food webs, examining the interconnected roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers. Through a hands-on food web activity, they will discover how all elements within a habitat are connected. The workshop will conclude with a meaningful discussion on the importance of reducing pollution to protect natural ecosystems.
Curriculum Connections:
B2.3: describe the relationship of organisms in a food chain, and classify organisms as producers, consumers, or decomposers
B2.4: demonstrate an understanding of a food web as the interconnection of multiple food chains in a natural community
B2.5: describe how animals are categorized according to their diet, and categorize various animals as carnivores, herbivores, or omnivores
Rock Stars: Junior Geologists
Grade 4 - Life Systems - Earth and Space Systems - Rocks, Minerals, and Geological Processes
Brief Overview: The workshop begins with a read aloud of Everybody Needs a Rock by Byrd Baylor and a discussion of rocks in our daily lives. Students will delve into the fascinating world of rocks and minerals, exploring their unique characteristics, origins, and roles in human life and the environment. Students will learn about the differences between igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Students will get to practice their geologist skills as they mine for rocks and minerals in a hands-on activity. Students will explore how society utilizes these natural resources and reflect on the environmental consequences of extracting and using rocks and minerals and discuss sustainable practices and conservation.
Curriculum Connections:
E2.1: explain geological processes that result in the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, using the rock cycle
E2.2: describe the physical properties of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks
E2.3: classify different rocks and minerals according to their composition and physical properties, using various tests and criteria
E2.4: describe everyday uses of rocks and minerals
E2.5: describe how fossils are formed and what information they can provide about Earth’s history
Pollution Patrol
Grade 5 - Matter and Energy - Properties of and Changes in Matter
Brief Overview: Students will get to hear the story and see pictures of the “Oiled Goose,” a goose that Haley helped to clean and rehabilitate while she was an intern at Le Nichoir. Students learn about how pollution occurs in the manufacturing processes and the environmental damage that it can cause. Students will then get into groups to complete the Oil Spill Activity. Acting as interns themselves, they must create a plan to clean an oil spill and put it to the test. Afterwards students will complete a self-assessment to see how their group did at 1) cleaning up the mess, 2) staying within the parameters provided. This challenge will encourage teamwork and foster an interest in the challenges of conservation.
*Recommend at least 100 minutes for this workshop.
*Allergy alert : vegetable oil and cocoa powder.
Curriculum Connections:
C1.1: assess the impacts on society and the environment of various processes used in the manufacture of common products
C1.2: assess how the use of specific materials in the manufacture of common products affects the environment, and identify actions that society and individuals can take to mitigate negative impacts
Nature's Power *Coming Soon*
Grade 5 - Structures and Mechanisms - Forces Acting on Structures
Brief Overview:
Curriculum Connections:
D1.1: analyse the effects of forces from natural phenomena on structures in natural and built environments
D1.2: assess various ways in which humans mitigate impacts of forces from natural phenomena on structures in urban, rural, and remote communities
D2.1: identify internal forces acting on a structure, and describe their effects on the structure
D2.2: identify external forces acting on a structure, and describe their effects on the structure
D2.3: describe forces resulting from natural phenomena that can have severe consequences for human-built structures, and identify structural features and materials that can allow such structures to withstand these forces
D2.4: describe ways in which physical characteristics of various animal and plant species help to protect them from potentially harmful effects of forces
D2.5: describe ways in which protective equipment helps to protect humans from potentially harmful effects of forces
Climate Crisis: Exploring Energy & Pollution *Coming Soon*
Grade 5 - Earth and Space Systems - Conservation of Energy and Resources
Brief Overview:
Curriculum Connections:
E1.1: analyse long-term impacts of human uses of energy and natural resources, on society and the environment, including climate change, and suggest ways to mitigate these impacts
E2.5: identify renewable and non-renewable sources of energy
E2.6: explain how the use of energy derived from fossil fuels changes the composition of the atmosphere and how these changes contribute to climate change
Nature Neighbours & Invaders
Grade 6 - Life Systems - Biodiversity
Brief Overview: The workshop kicks off with an interactive food web game, allowing students to explore how multiple food chains connect within an ecosystem to form a food web. Through this activity, they will observe the impact of an invasive species on the ecosystem. Following the game, a mini lesson will highlight the relationship between biodiversity and climate change. Students will then engage in an activity where they arrange a scenario that illustrates the consequences of reduced biodiversity. Next, they will learn about various invasive species and collaborate in groups to create and deliver mini presentations on a species of their choice.
Curriculum Connections:
B1.1: assess the benefits of biodiversity and the consequences of the diminishing of biodiversity
B2.2: demonstrate an understanding of biodiversity as the diversity of life on Earth, including the diversity of organisms within species, among species in a community, and among communities and the habitats that support them
B2.3: describe ways in which biodiversity within species is essential for their survival
B2.6: explain how invasive species reduce biodiversity in local environments
B2.7: explain how climate change contributes to a loss of biodiversity, describe the impact of this loss
Aviators Academy
Grade 6 - Structures and Mechanisms - Flight
Brief Overview: This workshop is designed to introduce students to the fundamental principles of flight and explore how birds harness these forces to navigate the skies. The session will cover the four forces of flight (lift, weight, thrust, and drag), explain how birds utilize these forces to fly, and the importance of migration, exploring the methods and reasons behind these long-distance journeys. Students will design their own bird (paper airplane) and experiment with forces of flight to see if they can fly their bird the farthest.
Curriculum Connections:
D2.2: describe the relationships between the four forces of flight – lift, weight, thrust, and drag – that make flight possible
D2.3: describe ways in which flying machines and various organisms use balanced and unbalanced forces to control their flight
D2.5: describe characteristics and adaptations that enable organisms to fly
Wild Poetry
Primary/Junior/Intermediate - Language/Science
Brief Overview: The workshop begins with a rainbow walk around the schoolyard where students can appreciate the colours in the natural world around them. Each student will get a pair of binoculars to help them notice small details that they normally wouldn’t be able to see. Students will listen to some poetry relating to nature and animals. Students will learn about different types of poetry and brainstorm what they could write about. Students will then get a chance to write their own poem. Students will be invited to share their poems at the end of the workshop.
Curriculum Connections:
Science Big Ideas
Organisms have unique characteristics and adaptations that allow them to survive in their habitat.
Plants and animals go through changes during their life cycle.
Air, water, and rocks in the local environment.
Taking care of the land through sustainability and stewardship.
Language
Writing: 1.1: identify the topic, purpose, and audience for a variety of writing forms
2.1 write short texts using a few simple forms
Reading: 1.1 read a variety of texts from diverse cultures, including literary texts
Wild Words
Primary/Junior/Intermediate - Science/Language
Brief Overview: The workshop begins with a walk around the schoolyard with binoculars. Students will compare their view with binoculars compared to just their eyes. This leads into our next activity where students use “soft” and “hard” eyes. Students can bring out their writing journals (or paper will be provided) and will spend some time journaling about what they see. We will discuss what makes a good short story and brainstorm some ideas for ones about nature. Students will then find a sit spot and draft a short story. Students are invited to share their stories at the end of the workshop.
Curriculum Connections:
Science Big Ideas
Organisms have unique characteristics and adaptations that allow them to survive in their habitat.
Plants and animals go through changes during their life cycle.
Air, water, and rocks in the local environment.
Taking care of the land through sustainability and stewardship.
Language
Writing: 1.1: identify the topic, purpose, and audience for a variety of writing forms
2.1 write short texts using a few simple forms
2.4 write simple but complete sentences that make sense
Reading: 1.1 read a variety of texts from diverse cultures, including literary texts
Beautiful World: Art in Nature
Primary/Junior - Science/Art
Brief Overview: The workshop begins with a rainbow walk around the schoolyard where students can appreciate the colours in the natural world around them. Students will discuss the elements and principles of design and how each is important in art. Students will learn about frottage and then create rubbings of different textures in the natural environment around the school (leaves, bark, etc). Students will then use natural things that they find on the ground to make an art piece. The workshop will conclude with a gallery walk where students can show off what they have created.
Curriculum Connections:
D1. Creating and Presenting: apply the creative process to produce a variety of two- and three-dimensional art works, using elements, principles, and techniques of visual arts to communicate feelings, ideas, and understandings
Elements: line, shape and form, space, colour, texture, and value
Principles: contrast, repetition and rhythm, variety, emphasis, proportion, balance, unity and harmony, and movement