Teaching in Lander, WY

John, Liz H., and Dale headed to Lander, WY for the weekend (Feb. 23-25) to teach students from local elementary schools. Liz H. had the little kiddies, grades K-1, John with the 2-3rd graders, and Dale with 4-6th grade. We met at the Children’s Museum in town and then headed out to the field for most of the day Saturday, and then Sunday morning. Lessons focused on animal and plant adaptations to winter and were spent on the trails at Sinks Canyon State Park.

My (Liz H.) kids were adorable! Most of their parents tagged along as well and were able to spend the field-time with the group. Saturday was spent outside all morning and early afternoon. We focused on plant communities in Sinks Canyon (juniper, conifer, sage, riparian, aspen), where kids were able to “meet the tree” by looking closely, touching, smelling and receiving letters with a message and facts from the plants themselves. In the conifer community, one of the kids was able to share with the group what they knew about the story of why Douglas Fir cones have tails. The kids were also detectives, looking closely at the plants with Private Eye magnifyers. Sunday, we started the day indoors at the Children’s Museum with exploration-stations for kids to think about animals in the winter through observing and touching different animal pelts and wings, pondering what bears do in the winter, concluding why weasels change color, and making their best guess of where a frog goes in the winter. After spending some time inside, the kids were eager to get out on the trails to use snowshoes! We spent the day reviewing plant communities with a scavenger hunt and a game of “Ursus Says” (similar to Simon says) where the kids acted out what animals do in the winter (led by their very own bear mascot, Ursus americanus, can you find him in the picture?). These kids were troopers! Thanks to Dale and John for a fun teaching weekend!