Environmental Science Highlights
It feels as though spring is in the air, even though it is only mid-February! Though 2012 has been a nearly snowless year, students at 2nd Nature Academy and Nature's Pathways did have opportunities to look for mammal tracks this winter. Our environmental science teacher instructed students on mammal track patterns and led students through the forest to discover signs of animal activity. Many different animal tracks were seen. These included deer, snowshoe hare, fox, squirrels, mice, and even a partridge! Our kindergarten class was fortunate enough to see a snowshoe hare on two occasions; once when there was no snow on the ground, and once with snow cover. The tracks in the snow gave a clue as to who had recently been there, and then upon looking around, the children were the first to spot the camouflaged hare in close proximity. NH State Fish and Game provided us a Furbearer Kit on loan which gave students the opportunity to learn about these animals and to touch and examine the fur pelts and skulls of 14 different animals.
Earlier this school year students washed, dyed and carded wool from the sheep that were sheared last spring. They learned about the properties of wool and how warm wool is, even when wet. Older students examined wool and other fibers under a microscope in the science center after a parent directed lesson.
As part of our Earth Science curriculum last fall, students collected soil samples from different locations to compare and determine sand, silt, and clay content. They learned that different soil types support different flora and can help determine land use.
Autumn rains gave rise to a diverse assortment of mushrooms and other fungi which the younger students delighted in discovering and noticing how many had been nibbled by forest animals! These students are also very adept at finding animal scat and other signs of animal activity. True nature detectives!!
This spring we will be learning about wetland ecosystems and plan to explore the vernal pool to observe fairy shrimp and evidence of wood frog and salamander breeding. We will also collect swamp and pond water samples to identify macroinvertebrate life.
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