Sensory Exploration Field Trip

Grade: Kindergarten
Subject: Science
Skills: Observe (using all senses), sort/classify, compare & contrast, match, count, communicate findings
Duration: 3 hours
Group Size: 40 students total, 2 groups of 20 students
Location: Apgar Village
Available Dates: Fall and Spring
Vocabulary: See the bolded words in the objectives below.

Summary: Students will participate in ranger-led activities that focus on using our senses. Students will be at the Discovery Cabin, in the forest next to the cabin, and take a short walk along the Apgar Bike Path. **This is a ½ day ranger-led program with the option to spend the afternoon doing independent class activities.**

Objectives: (These are some of the objectives that can be achieved on an Sensory Exploration program. Many others are possible depending on teacher's focus and the ranger).

Students will be able to:

• Tell what all national parks protect and one living and non-living thing protected in Glacier.
• Name one wild animal and one type of pet and tell the difference between wild animals and pets.
• List our 5 senses and identify the body organ associated with each sense.
• Use all 5 senses to explore the outdoors and make observations as a “Nature Spy.”
• Give an example of how an animal or insect in Glacier National Park uses its senses to live.
• Give an example of how people use their senses to live.
• Differentiate between living and non-living things in Glacier and their needs for air, water, food, etc…
• Recall hidden objects viewed under a bandana and then identify those objects along the trail.
• Sit quietly to observe and count natural sounds in the forest.
• Match pictures of insects and animal “babies” to the correct pictures of their full grown “parents.”
• Use their sense of smell to find their “mother” or “siblings” who have the same scent.
• Name (and possibly see!) several animals that are found in the forest and describe why they choose this area as their home.
• Define objects by simple attributes: sort, count, label and describe various natural objects.

Montana Content and Performance Standards:

10.54.5010 Science Standard 1= Design, conduct, evaluate, and communicate scientific investigations.

10.54.5020 Science Standard 2= Demonstrate knowledge of properties, forms, changes, and interactions of physical and chemical systems.

10.54.5030 Science Standard 3=Demonstrate knowledge of characteristics, structures and function of living things, the process and diversity of life, and how living organisms interact with each other and their environment.

Making Connections to Glacier National Park:

Glacier National Park protects living and non-living things with little human interference. People, animals, and insects are all living things that use their senses to help them to live here in Glacier National Park.

 

 

Field Trip Logistics:

Teachers wishing to have their students participate in the sensory field trip must have their classes divided into groups of no more than 20 students.

For example, a bus of 40 students would be divided into 2 groups, of 18-20 students each. Each group would hike with a ranger and participate in stations at the Discovery Cabin. Everyone must be prepared to be outside for at least half the day and be ready to hike 0.75 miles on fairly level terrain.

***The ranger-guided portion of this field trip is ½ day only. Teachers may remain in the park for the afternoon to do independent activities. Rangers will be able to suggest ideas and provide materials for activities such as coloring, leaf prints, songs, and exploring with magnifying glasses. ***