Winter Ecology Field Trip (Grades 1 to 2)

Strap on snowshoes and join a ranger

NPS/Shepherd Waldenberger

Winter in Glacier National Park a special time of year when animals must make changes just like humans.

Students will conduct a simple snow experiment, view a puppet show of how animals in Glacier survive winter, and take a short snowshoe hike to a beaver lodge with stops to investigate animal signs and snow characteristics. The park provides all the snowshoes for students and chaperones free of charge.

Grades: 1–2
Location: Apgar Village
Duration: 4.5 hours, view our Winter Ecology Field Trip Schedule to see a basic outline for the day
Group Size: 46 students, 2 groups of 23 students
Skills: Observe, compare and contrast, identify, classify

National and State Science Standards:
1.LS.1 Use materials to design a solution to human problems by mimicking how plants and/or animals use their external parts to help them survive, grow and meet their needs.
1-ESS1-2 Make observations at different times of year to relate the amount of daylight to the time of year.
2-LS4-1 Make observations of plants and animals to compare and contrast the diversity of life in different habitats.
2-ESS2-3 Obtain information to identify where water is found on Earth and that water can be solid, liquid, or gas.

 

Objectives

(Depending on grade level and weather conditions)
Students will be able to:

• View the national park service symbol and tell some of the things national parks protect.
• Describe, draw, or act out the 3 strategies animals use to survive winter (hibernate, migrate, or resist) and classify pictures of Glaciers animals according to their adaptation.
• Give one reason winter is harder for animals than summer.
• Describe the relationship between the sun, heat, light, energy, and food.
• Predict how the shape and volume of snow in a cup will change when brought indoors.
• Describe one way that water changing from a liquid to solid (or solid to liquid) could help a wild animal, and a way it could hurt a wild animal.
• Dress appropriately for and hike on snowshoes in Glacier National Park.
• Follow safety procedures for a snowshoe hike in Glacier National Park.
• Recognize signs of animal activity or tracks along the trail.
• Feel an evergreen tree branch and role play what happens to the branch when snow collects on the tree.
• Describe (or draw) an outside activity that includes one way a tree or a plant might change in winter.
• Use their body to try to increase heat (by running, huddling, putting on more insulation).
• Search for snowshoe hares with white fur and with brown fur, then state which kind is easier to find in the snow and how changing color could help the snowshoe hares through the seasons.
• Correctly measure, compare, and explain the existence of varying snow depths at different points along the trail. Discuss how snow can help or hurt different animals in winter.

 

Field Trip Logistics

Maximum group size for snowshoe hikes is 46 students. Students will stay together as one class for the introductory and closing activities. Large groups will be divided into 2 smaller groups (23 students each) for the ranger-led hikes, with one ranger leading each group.

 

Reserve Your Trip

Visit the Scheduling & Guidelines page to find the reservation form as well as tips for a successful day in the park.

If you have questions, email or call the Apgar Education Center at 406-888-7899.

 

Preparing for Your Trip

Students that spend time preparing for their visit get more out of a field trip to the park. Activities post-visit also help to reinforce information learned during the trip.

Once registered, we will email you the complete field trip curriculum, which contains the following lessons:

• Pre-visit Lessons:
  • Dressing for Winter
  • The Story of Snow
  • Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
• Post-visit Lesson:
  • Write Your Ranger!

Suggested supplementary materials:

• Background Information for Teachers
• Bonus Activities
  Vocabulary, songs, coloring pages, etc