Presenter: Mona Davis, Fergus Falls Public Schools and Molly Stoddard, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Prairie Wetlands Learning Center

Target Grade/Age of Students: Upper elementary but adaptable to all

Details: Search for evidence of 3 strategies animals use to survive winter right outside your door. You will need a notebook or journal, pencil, and outdoor clothing. MN science standards alignment will be provided.

Video Recording of the Presentation

The Chat from the presentation

Additional Resources Shared:

• Compass to Nature

• Field Investigations using KWHL

• iNaturalist and eBird

• Check out our Winter Resources Page for more activities and lessons related to animals in winter.

Presenter: Karen Harrison, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources School Forest Program

Target Grade/Age of Students: Elementary

Details: Connect students to the natural world using estimation and measurement. You’ll learn how to properly measure tree circumference using a standard unit of measurement.

Please come prepared with a pencil, paper, flexible measuring tape*, and tape (masking, painters, or duct tape will work). *If you don’t have a flexible measuring tape you can also use string, yarn, or ribbon with a standard ruler or measuring tape.

Video Recording of the Presentation

Standard Unit of Measurement Student Video

Standard Unit of Measurement Lesson and Student Worksheet

Additional Resources Shared:

• Minnesota School Forest Website

• Minnesota DNR's Outdoor Lessons Website

• Growth Factor Worksheet from Minnesota Project Learning Tree

Presenter: David Grack, Jeffers Foundation

Target Grade/Age of Students: Elementary

Details: Provide opportunities for your students to develop as scientists as they observe, discuss, and document natural patterns outside (at home and/or at school) throughout the year. Multiple lessons will be experienced and shared that focus on science practices and literacy skills.

Video Recording of the Presentation

Additional Resources Shared:

• Jeffers Foundation Website: Calendar in the Classroom

• Compass to Nature (has a section on phenology)

• Wheels of Time and Place

• Phenology Books:

  • Journal of a Prairie Year by Paul Gruchow

  • Backyard Almanac by Larry Weber

  • Nature at Our Doorstep by Matt Schuth

  • Claire Walker Leslie (books for supporting Nature Journaling)

• MN Phenology Network

• Aldo Leopold - Phenology

• GLOBE: Green up/Green Down

• Teaching with the Seasons Article

Presenter: Sue Mohn, Naturalist and Elementary Educator

Target Grade/Age of Students: Elementary

Details: Let’s have some fun connecting science, math, and literary standards to a nature-based celebration of sunlight--Groundhog’s Day! We’ll explore connections with the new MN science standards and how to help learners plan and carry out their own investigations.

Video Recording of the Presentation

Additional Resources Shared:

• Sue Mohn's Powerpoint Presentation (links to the resources in the slides are shared in the speaker notes section)

County Soil Frost Graph

NSTA article about an Early Childhood Program's Shadow Exploration

Article explaining the term resistance (tolerance) to explain one way animal's adapt for winter.