Search for Resources

Winter: Sledding Mink, Muskrats and Dabbling Mallards – A Season at Shaver's Creek

Elementary, Middle

Description

As days grow shorter and temperatures drop, the natural world may seem quieter, yet winter remains an active season for wildlife. Filmed using trail cameras at Shaver's Creek Nature Centre, this fascinating video captures a variety of animals using a beaver pond during early winter. Footage includes mink sliding down the snowy beaver dam, white-tailed deer using the dam to cross the stream, muskrats gathering vegetation for winter food caches and a variety of birds drawn to the open water and shelter provided by the pond. Narrated by a nature interpreter and supported by free teacher resources, this video helps students understand how animals adapt to winter conditions and highlights the importance of wetlands in supporting wildlife during the cold season. 

General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

This resource supports Grade 4-7 Science topics related to seasonal adaptations, ecosystem interactions, interdependence and animal response to changing environmental conditions. By observing trail-camera footage, students also practice scientific skills such as making detailed observations, comparing animal features and behaviours and identification of species. This video is accompanied by support materials such as “Teaching Tips”, and “Activities” which can be used to extend the learning experience into further exploration of habitats and ecosystems. 

Wetlands are among the world’s most threatened ecosystems, and this video could serve as a starting point for a community action project in which students help create a small pond on school grounds. The project might include planting native trees and shrubs that provide winter shelter and food for wildlife. Adding a trail camera to the site would allow students to document animal visitors over time and observe seasonal changes in habitat use. The Canadian Wildlife Federation provides a helpful guide to support this type of project through its Whip Up a Wetland resource. 

Relevant Curriculum Units

The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.

  • Step 1Select a province
  • Alberta
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Living Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Earth Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions.
    • Grade 6
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Living Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions
  • British Columbia
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 3: Living things are diverse, can be grouped, and interact in their ecosystems
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment
  • Manitoba
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Habitat and Communities
  • New Brunswick
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Our Local Environment : Learning and Living Sustainably
        • Our Local Environment : Scientific Literacy
  • Newfoundland & Labrador
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Habitats
  • Northwest Territories
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 3:Plants and Animals are diverse, can be grouped, and interact in their ecosystems
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment
  • Nova Scotia
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 4: Habitats
  • Nunavut
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Habitats & Communities
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Habitats
  • Quebec
  • Saskatchewan
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Habitats and Communities
  • Yukon Territory
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 3: Living things are diverse, can be grouped, and interact in their ecosystems
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment

Themes Addressed

Ecosystems (1)

  • Appreciating the Natural World

A project of LSF Newsletter Sign-up