Environmental Education Programs
for Elementary Students
Kindergarten to Grade 4
While we have targeted grades for each program, please feel free to select any you feel are relevant to your student's interest and area of study.
| Alternative Energy |
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| What are the alternatives to fossil fuels? In this hands-on program, students learn how solar and wind systems work and the difference between renewable and non-renewable forms of energy. Students also have an opportunity to experiment with a variety of alternative energy demonstration kits, including a model hydrogen car, solar powered toys and cars, and model wind turbines. |
| Grades 2-4 |
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| A Breath of Fresh Air – The Wonder of Trees |
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| Watch in amazement as your whole class becomes a tree! Discover the variety and diversity of tree species that can be found at the Trent Nature Sanctuary. Participate in interactive tree games that highlight how trees produce oxygen, provide habitat, and help out our climate! |
| Grades K-4 |
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| A Day in the Life of a Squirrel |
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| Students live the life of a squirrel. From camouflaging to building nests, students participate in a variety of interactive games and role-playing activities. |
| Grades K-4 |
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| A is for Adaptation |
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| Full of games, stories and exploration. Understand the complex concept of adaptation in a fun and simple way. Stalk like a fox, hide like a field mouse and dance like a ruffed grouse in this hands-on and engaging program. |
| Grade 4 |
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| Be a Bird Brain |
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| All about birds. Learn how birds protect themselves from danger, participate in some interactive bird dances and sing with the birds. We'll watch birds forage at the feeders and we'll stalk song birds in the woods with binoculars. |
| Grades 1,2,4 |
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| Diamonds of Water |
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| A program about Snow. Unravel some of the mysteries of Canada’s most ubiquitous substances – snow! Capture snow flakes and examine their crystalline structure up close. Discover the many different types of snow and how animals use the insulating qualities of snow to survive. |
| Grade 2 |
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| Every Drop Counts |
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| Journey with us as we follow the water cycle and discover how the water we enjoy today has been recycled for millions of years. Learn how our actions affect water and what we can do to protect this valuable resource. |
| Grade 2 |
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| First Nations Awareness |
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| Various First Nations peoples have lived in the Peterborough area for thousands of years. Build a traditional wigwam, watch a bow and drill fire being started, learn traditional uses of plants and play traditional games. Learn about First Nation people today through our interactive “myth busting game.” |
| Grades K-4 |
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| Hide and Seek |
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| I spy with my little eye something that looks like a stick? Come discover the many ways creatures hide and disguise themselves from predators. |
| Grades K, 1 |
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| Is Anybody Home? |
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| What makes for a suitable home for animals? Using the Nature Sanctuary, we'll explore various habitats and determine which animals live in the area. We'll also find out why it is important to protect these natural spaces. We'll end off by offering practical ideas on how you can naturalize your schoolyard and your neighbourhood. |
| Grades 3, 4 |
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| It’s a Bug’s Life |
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| Our insect program capitalizes on the student’s enthusiasm for invertebrates of all kinds, from centipedes to cicadas. Through exploration and interactive play, students discover the fascinating world of our six-legged friends. |
| Grades 1, 2, 4 |
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| Life Cycles |
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| From seasons to life cycles, the natural world is full of repeating patterns. Come learn and explore the many ways nature cycles and recycles everything anew. |
| Grades K,1,2 |
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| Living Lightly |
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| Using the Environment Centre as a model, students investigate sustainable living practices and learn simple actions and things they can do to reduce their ecological footprint. |
| Grades 1, 3, 4 |
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| Mom, it’s not Dirt, it’s Soil! |
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| One cubic centimeter of soil contains more life than people on earth! Learn all about the creation of soil, the critters that inhabit it, and its importance in terrestrial ecosystems. |
| Grade 3 |
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| Nature Music |
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| Using found natural objects, students make homemade instruments and experiment with rhythm, melody and composition. |
| Grades K-4 |
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| Nature Sculpting |
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| Based on the inspiring work of Andy Goldsworthy, students use natural materials to create eye-catching sculptures while learning about the use of colour, texture and shape. |
| Grades K-4 |
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| Rock On! (rocks, minerals and fossils) |
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| “What kind of rock is this?” a child will often ask. Give them plenty of answers in this hands-on program. Learn how rocks are formed, what minerals have in common with rocks and how fossils are created. |
| Grade K-4 |
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| Sensorama: A Nature Sensory Experience |
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| A series of interactive and tactile activities designed to engage students and heighten their awareness of their natural surroundings. |
| Grades K, 1 |
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| Small Beginnings (seeds and seed dispersal) |
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| Some pop, some glide, some stick and many float in the air and on the water. In this program, students collect and classify seeds, simulate seed dispersal, and participate in activities designed to familiarize students with local plant species. |
| Grade 3 |
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| Taming the Wildflower |
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| By becoming detectives, students discover the beauty and diversity of our local wildflowers. Students also learn how flowers are pollinated and the fascinating dance honeybees use to locate flowers. |
| Grades 3-4 |
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| Tracking and Trailing |
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| Everywhere animals go, they leave subtle signs of their presence. Follow or mystery trails and find out about the various tracks animals leave behind. This is an interactive, hands-on program that requires students to use problem solving and observation skills. |
| Grades K-4 |
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| Unwelcome friends – Invasive Species |
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| What happens when a new species is accidentally introduced to an ecosystem? How do we manage our unwelcome guests? |
| Grade 4 |
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| Web of Life |
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| John Muir wrote, "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." In this program, students trace food chains, from the sun’s energy to nutrient rich soil, and discover the importance of food webs in various ecosystems. Students also learn how our everyday actions influence the intricate web of life. |
| Grade 4 |
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