Download a printable brochure about our education programs that
contains all the information on this web page:
Elementary Programs (.pdf - 338 KB)
Junior & High School Programs (.pdf - 338 KB)
Please note that we would be happy to offer
indoor and outdoor presentations on other subject matters (e.g.
winter adaptations, biology of cells, human organ systems). We are
quite flexible and we can try to accommodate any of your educational
needs. Programs can take place at your school, at Cooper
Marsh, or at another place of your choosing.
 Click here for Program
costs and other details.
* = These programs can also be presented
in-class or in-school by our staff.
Elementary School Programs
Build a
Beaver Lodge
(Winter)
Recommended for grades: JK-6
Students will learn what it is like to live as a beaver by building
and “living” within their own beaver lodge. They will learn
about the life cycle of the beaver and discover some of its
adaptations. The program ends with a visit to a real beaver
lodge. (This program can be done in snowshoes if there is enough
snow.)
Nature Hike
(Fall, Winter, Spring)
Recommended for all grades
During
a guided walk students will learn about various plants and animals
and their amazing adaptations for survival. This program can
be modified to fit the students’ and teachers’ needs. (This
program can be done in snowshoes if there is enough snow.)
Plants and More (Fall and Spring)
Recommended for grades: 1-4
Topics explored include plants' adaptations to
their habitats and basic plant identification. Emphasis will
also be placed on learning the proper terminology for the various
parts of plants.
Move like the Animals
(Fall, Winter Spring)
Recommended for grades: JK-2
Students explore animal
locomotion and learn how different animals are adapted to move in
their habitat. (This program can be done in snowshoes if there is
enough snow.)
Pond Life
(Fall
and Spring)
Recommended for grades: JK-6
Students use nets, magnifying glasses and microscopes to observe
the plant and animal life in the marsh water. Older students can
identify “critters” into different taxonomic groups using scientific
keys.
Frogs
and Friends
(Fall and Spring)
Recommended for grades: JK-4
Students
will go out with nets and try to catch frogs. They will learn how
frogs change during their life, some aspects of their biology and
also discover why they are important to our local ecosystem.
Predators and their Prey
(Fall and Spring)
Recommended for grades: 4-6
Students
will learn about predators’ adaptations for capturing prey as well
as the defensive strategies (e.g. camouflage, distastefulness) that
prey have developed to avoid being eaten.
Biodiversity
(Fall and Spring)
Recommended for grades: 2-6
Students are introduced to the concept of biodiversity and
discover the astounding array of life at the marsh. They will
learn about some of the major threats to biodiversity and what
biologists are doing to protect it.
Cooper Marsh
Biodiversity Project
(Fall and Spring)
Recommended for grades: 4-6
Students will take part in an ongoing research project and discover
the incredible biodiversity of Cooper Marsh. Students will also have
an opportunity to become “junior biologists” and use scientific
equipment to help scientists to collect and catalogue specimens.
Insects and Impostors
(Fall and Spring)
Recommended for grades: JK-6
Students
will catch real live insects and learn the differences between
insects and other “creepy crawlers”. They will also learn some of
their amazing adaptations that allow them to be one of the most
bio-diverse groups of animals on Earth. Older students can learn to
identify insects using taxonomic keys.
In-Class or In-School
Presentations
If you can’t make it to Cooper Marsh, let Cooper Marsh come to you!
We offer several in-school programs:
Pour-a-Pond
(Fall
and Spring)
Recommended for grades: JK-6
Students
will observe and handle aquatic animals in a pond that we create in
the middle of the classroom floor. Students will learn about the
amazing biology and adaptations of these aquatic critters.
Bats: Natural
History and Conservation
(Fall,
Winter and Spring)
Recommended for grades: JK-6
This
slide show explores the myths and reality surrounding these gentle
but often misunderstood animals. Students may also get to see a
live bat! (Availability of a bat may vary.)
Endangered Species
(Fall,
Winter and Spring)
Recommended for grades: 1-6
During
this slide show, students will learn about some of our endangered
species and discover the reasons why they are endangered.
Junior & High School Programs
Nature Hike
(Fall, Winter, Spring)
Recommended for all grades
During a
guided walk, students will learn about various plants and animals
and their amazing adaptations for survival. This program can be
modified to fit the students’ and teachers’ needs. This program can
be done in snowshoes if there is enough snow. Let us know if
there are particular objectives you would like included in this
guided walk (e.g. value of wetlands, exotic species, etc).
Pond Life
(Fall
and Spring)
Recommended for grades: 7 & 8
Students
use nets, magnifying glasses and microscopes to observe the plant
and animal life in the marsh water. Older students can identify
invertebrates into different taxonomic groups using scientific keys.
Amphibians and Reptiles
(Fall and Spring)
Recommended for all grades
Students
will learn about the differences between amphibians and reptiles and
learn about their incredible adaptations. They will learn how these
cold-blooded animals survive in northern regions and their
importance to our local ecosystem.
Predators and their Prey
(Fall and Spring)
Recommended for grades: 7
Students
will learn about predators’ adaptations for capturing prey as well
as the defensive strategies (e.g. camouflage, distastefulness) that
prey have developed to avoid being eaten.
Biodiversity
(Fall and Spring)
Recommended for all grades
Students are introduced to the concept of biodiversity and discover
the astounding array of life at the marsh. They will learn some of
the major threats to biodiversity and what biologists are doing to
protect it.
Insects and Impostors
(Fall and Spring)
Recommended for grades: 7 & 8
Students will catch real live insects and learn the differences
between insects and other invertebrates. They will also learn some
of their amazing adaptations that allow them to be one of the most
bio-diverse groups of animals on Earth. Older students will learn
to identify insects using taxonomic keys.
Cooper Marsh Biodiversity Project
(Fall and Spring)
Recommended for all grades
Students
will take part in an ongoing research project and discover the
incredible biodiversity of Cooper Marsh. Students will also have an
opportunity to become “junior biologists” and use scientific
equipment to help scientists collect and catalogue specimens.
This
program can include a variety of classroom and field-based modules.
Students can participate in individual or class experiments where
they can be exposed to more advanced sampling and data analysis
techniques. This program is very flexible and can be adapted
to fit the interests and needs of classes.
Experimental Units
Fall,
Winter and Spring
Recommended for grades: 10-12
Small
groups of students will work together to collect experimental data,
test hypotheses, analyse data and draw conclusions. Students can be
requested to produce a written report for grading.
Depending on the grade level and wishes of the teachers, these units
may include one classroom session of background theory followed by
one or two experimental sessions. These units are very
flexible and can also be used as independent studies or science fair
projects. Some of these units can be done in the classroom or
at Cooper Marsh. Here are a few examples:
-
Mate choice in Siamese fighting fish
-
Parental behaviour of Red-winged Blackbirds
-
Feeding behaviour of birds
-
Ecological assessment of wetlands - measuring and interpreting
the
biological,
chemical and physical parameters
In-Class or In-School Presentations
If you can’t make it to Cooper Marsh, let Cooper Marsh come to you!
We offer several in-school programs:
Bats: Natural History and Conservation
Fall,
Winter and Spring
Recommended for all grades
This
slide show explores the myths and reality surrounding these gentle
but often misunderstood animals. Students may also get to see a
live bat! (Availability of a bat may vary.)
Endangered Species
Fall,
Winter and Spring
Recommended for
all grades
During
this slide show, students will learn about some of our endangered
species and discover the reasons why they are endangered.
Program Details
The cost of a single
two hour program is $250 (limited to a maximum of 30 students).
Reduced rates are available for schools booking multiple programs
Please note that schools located over 30 km away
from the River Institute may be charged an additional travel
surcharge for programs done at the school.
For more information or
to book programs:
Jordan Ann Kevan, Education Program Coordinator
Tel:
613-936-6620 ext 224
jkevan@riverinstitute.ca
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