Bonjour !
Our outdoor exploration continues and we are noticing the visual changes in the plants, the smells of decaying leaves, frogs that are not so apparent in the pond, robins that are no longer in the trees, but we are seeing a lot of deer tracks and scat, doe, and bucks. The fun part has been following those tracks and spotting the deer as they run tails up when they hear us coming. We try to be super quiet, but it is not that easy as we trudge through the leaves with walking sticks in our hands. In the photos, we tracked deer that had joined a larger group. If you look closely, you may be able to spot them too. We are still on the look out for antlers on the ground, as this is the time of year that the bucks lose them. The class has also been involved in creating different types of birdfeeders and hanging them in our nearby forest for the birds to enjoy. Each time we go into the forest we can see how much has been pecked away. It's hard to think that we are in the month of December and there is only 1.5 weeks left before vacation. Have a lovely night! Bonjour !
In our small groups, we have been talking about the ways the creatures in our forest are getting ready for winter. Some will migrate, like birds and butterflies. Others, such as snakes, skunks, racoons, frogs, turtles, and groundhogs, will hibernate. A third group of animals that includes deer, squirrels, fox, rabbits, and birds will remain active throughout the colder months. The fur of these creatures may change in thickness or colour to become more suitable for the winter. These animals may also need to make different food choices as plants, seeds, and fruit become snow covered and more difficult to find. With this group of creatures mind, our students have been busy making a variety of birdfeeders to hang in the forest for our wild friends. We searched for pine cones and brought them back to our class to cover with lard and birdseed. We also made strings of popcorn, Cheerios, and cranberries to hang in the forest. These activities turned into opportunities to practice our fine motor and patterning skills as we threaded the small berries and cereal pieces. Bravo, les amis! Bonne soirée ! The children continue to explore various visual art forms using both natural and man-made materials. |
Tosh TiplerUGDSB Kindergarten Teacher Categories |