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Making Connections

Elementary learning activities in, about and for the environment

Elementary

Description

Making Connections is a compilation of activities that focuses on introducing students to some of the knowledge and skills required for environmentally-responsible citizenship. While each curriculum based activity can stand alone, the resource is designed to support the entire school spending an afternoon outdoors engaged in environmental learning adventures. The activities will help students identify the connections between the Earth and their everyday lives. They will also contribute to the development of ecological literacy as students learn about ecosystems and environmental issues. The first five activities are best suited for grade one to four students. They include:

  • Connecting with our Actions: A Million Year Picnic - students examine how long it takes certain items to decompose and based on that information, they have an opportunity to make their own choices about what is best to take on a picnic.        
  • Building bird feeders with recycled materials - Students will use recycled materials to make a bird feeder, reinforcing the idea that by reusing objects, rather than buying new ones, we can generate less garbage.                                                                            
  • Food Chains: The Sun Powers All! - Through acting and singing, the students will understand the connections between the components of a food chain and realize that all energy originates with the sun.                                                  
  • Connecting with Habitats: Home Sweet Home - The activities consists of charades, games and riddles which give students an understanding of the concept of habitat, what animals need to survive, and the importance of preserving habitat.                                                                      
  • Creating a Mini-forest – Students work together in small groups to create a large classroom mural of a forest, thus becoming familiar with the components of a forest ecosystem.                                                                                                                                              

General Assessment

Strengths

  • Easy-to-implement activities that provide an outdoor learning experience.  
  • Each activity has allotted time for reflective discussion, with questions listed in the activity outline.
  • The resource provides suggestions for future classroom projects/activities. Teachers are asked to consider incorporating these extensions into their classroom work.
  • The activities engage students in student-centered cooperative activities
  • Encourages students to identify their connections to the Earth

Recommendation of how and where to use it

This resource can be used to support elementary science outcomes in an outdoor setting.  The activities are especially appropriate for grades one to four.  The resource also includes opportunities for reflection, discussion and journal writing.

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
    • Kindergarten
      • 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.
  • British Columbia
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Kindergarten
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Rights, roles, and responsibilities shape our identity and help us build healthy relationships with other
        • Identity and Families
  • Manitoba
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Characteristics and Needs of Living Things
        • Characteristics of Objects and Materials
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Connecting with Others
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Air and Water in the Environment
        • Growth and Changes in Animals
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Growth and Changes in Plants
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Habitat and Communities
  • New Brunswick
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Health Education
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Explore Your World: Diversity and Social Responsibility
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Explore Your World: Diversity and Social Responsibility
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Explore Your World: Diversity and Social Responsibility
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Our Local Environment : :Scientific Literacy
        • Our Local Environment : Learning and Living Sustainably
  • Newfoundland & Labrador
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Materials, Objects & Our Senses
        • Needs and Characteristics of Living Things
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Environments
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Air and Water in the Environment
        • Animal Growth and Changes
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Environments
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Plant Growth & Changes
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Habitats
  • Northwest Territories
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Energy and Control: Energy in our Lives
        • Matter and Materials: Characteristics of Objects and Properties of Materials
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Connecting and Belonging: Connecting with Others
        • Connecting and Belonging: My Environment
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Earth and Space Systems: Air and Water in the Environment
        • Life Science: Growth and Changes in Animals
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Growth and Changes in Plants
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Habitats & Communities
  • Nova Scotia
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 1: Needs of Living Things
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Social Studies 1: Age Appropriate Action
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 2: Air and Water in the Environment
        • Science 2: Animal Growth
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Social Studies 2:Environments
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 3: Plants
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 4: Habitats
  • Nunavut
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Energy and Control: Energy in our Lives
        • Life Systems: Characteristics and Needs of Living Things
        • Matter and Materials: Characteristics of Objects and Properties of Materials
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Connecting and Belonging: Citizenship
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Earth and Space Systems: Air and Water in the Environment
        • Life Science: Growth and Changes in Animals
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Communities in Canada: Citizenship
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Growth and Changes in Plants
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Habitats & Communities
  • Ontario
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science & Technology
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Needs and Characteristics of Living Things
        • Matter and Energy: Energy in Our Lives
        • Structures and Mechanisms: Everyday Materials, Objects & Everyday Structures
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science & Technology
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Earth and Space Systems: Air & Water in the Environment
        • Life Systems: Growth & Changes in Animals
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science & Technology
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Growth & Changes in Plants
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science & Technology
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Life Systems: Habitats and Communities
  • Prince Edward Island
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Materials, Objects and Our Senses
        • Needs and Characteristics of Living Things
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Interactions: Environments
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Air & Water in the Environment
        • Animal Growth and Changes:Investigating the Needs and Life Cycles of an Organism
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Change: Environment
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Plant Growth & Changes
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Habitats
  • Quebec
  • Saskatchewan
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Needs & Characteristics of Living Things
        • Using Objects and Materials
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Air and Water in the Environment
        • Animal Growth and Changes
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Plant Growth and Changes
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Habitats and Communities
  • Yukon Territory
    • Step 2Select a grade level
    • Kindergarten
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Rights, roles, and responsibilities shape our identity and help us build healthy relationships with other
        • Identity and Families

Themes Addressed

Citizenship (1)

  • Community-Building and Participation

Ecosystems (1)

  • Appreciating the Natural World

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