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Sensing Nature
Hear like a deer. See like a hawk. Touch like a star nose mole.
Smell the scent of a skunk. Learn the way animals use their
senses to capture their food -- and avoid being someone else's
food! Observe and touch our live animals up close and then
amble through our hands-on Sensory Nature Trail (1/8 mile). 1.5
hours. Appropriate for grades K-1.
Winter
Woods
Come discover how plants and animals are adapted to
survive and even flourish in Michigan’s winter weather. On a
nature hike, students will search for animal signs including
tracks, nests and other shelters. We’ll spend time looking for
insect galls, winter twigs and other winter plants. Students
will experiment with insulation as we create a winter home for
gelatin animals. A visit to the critter house will complete the
class. 1.5 hours. Appropriate for grades
K-2.
Incredible Insects
Sweep through the prairie and probe the woodchip pile in
search of insects, spiders and other arthropods. Explore and
discover the lifecycles, adaptations, and habitats of these
incredible insects. 6 legs, antennae, and 3 body parts: Do you
have what it takes to be an insect? Visit our hissing
cockroaches in the Critter House
and see for yourself. Fall and spring. 1.5 hours.
Appropriate
grades 1-5.
tremendous
trees
Discover the tremendous world of trees as students use
their bodies and imagination to build a tree from the inside
out. Working in a small group we will hike through the forest as
tree detectives, investigate the requirements for plant growth
through a maple seed mix up game and learn to identify these
amazing forest sentinels using a dichotomous key. 2 hours.
Appropriate
grades 1-5.
beaks,
feathers, and talons
Discover what makes our feathered friends unique by
observing our live birds of prey up close. We'll learn
about bird specimens and special adaptations. Students will
experiment with beak design, play running games to understand
food chains and the difficulties of migration. Using binoculars,
we'll put our field observation skills to work during a nature
hike. 2 hours.
Appropriate
grades 1-5.
exploratory trip to the
black pond
Investigate the habitats of native plants and animals on
a hike through our beautiful woods. Walk out on our floating
boardwalk to discover who is living in the pond with nets and
containers. You may see pond animals from salamanders to fairy
shrimp, viewing the smallest on our video microscope. Activities
may include identifying habitat components, simulating food
chains, and playing an animal classification game. 2 hrs.
Fall and spring.
Appropriate
grades 1-5.
let the sun shine
Ponder producers and contemplate consumers as students explore
the pathways of energy in systems that range from food chains to
solar panels. Through hikes, games and scientific investigation
students will discover complex interdependencies and ways that
people can reduce
their environmental impact by collecting power from the sun. 2
hours. Appropriate grades 2-4.
Interested in having Leslie
Science & Nature Center bring our programs to your classroom?
Check out our Outreach Programs! |
