My AHA Moment

Recently, I went to Banff, Alberta and spent some time at the Gondola Interpretive Center. I wanted to include my experience because the interpretive centre had so many cool visuals that would be fun to show a class. For example, in an activity we prepared for a grade 2 class, we had to find information on an animal each student chose, and one of the facts we included was that animal poop is called scat! While at the interpretive centre, I found a display that showed different animals’ scat. It was cool to see because the animal scat in the display was also from local animals in Cranbrook. The interpretive centre also had fun posters that shared what some signs are that animals are nearby, animal prints, how animals in the park are tracked, and so much more!

Field Trips

My experience going to Banff is not an opportunity I would be able to give my future students, local to Cranbrook, but there are plenty of fun places to go for field trips, such as the Kootenay Trout Hatchery & Visitor Centre, local lakes like Jim Smith, and our local park, the Community Forrest. My AHA moment was part wanting to share my experience in Banff and part wanting to share my excitement to take my future classes on fun science field trips!

Curriculum Connections

I have connected going on a science field trip with a grade 6 class using the following grade 6 science competencies.

  1. Experience and interpret the local environment
  2. Identify First Peoples perspectives and knowledge as sources of information
  3. Demonstrate a sustained curiosity about a scientific topic or problem of personal interest
  4. With support, plan appropriate investigations to answer their questions or solve problems they have identified
  5. Express and reflect on personal, shared, or others’ experiences of place

BC grade 6 science curriculum: https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/science/6/core

Why Field Trips are Important

Field trips are important because they spark students’ curiosity and engagement. Though field trips are extra work for teachers, the experience is necessary because it allows students to interact with a new environment, hear from other educators, and have new experiences!

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