Signs of Spring

This past week, the kindergarten students explored the neighbourhood around our school searching for the signs of Spring.  

Using Twitter, we connected with @RangerRidley under the hashtag #KindergartenBioBlitz. Ranger Ridley is currently the coordinator for the Peel District School Board's Outdoor Education Sites for Environmental and Character Education Programs.  #KindergartenBioBlitz are week long events encouraging students and teachers to explore the outdoors.  The focus of #KindergartenBioBlitz during the week of February 17 to 21 was for students to look for examples of the season changing. 

Twitter page of @RangerRidley

It had just finished snowing quite a bit when we set out for our first walk in search of the season changing.  We weren't really sure if we would find any evidence of Spring.  Sure enough, our students did find some signs of Spring, and they also had some questions for Ranger Ridley.  

Question #1: @RangerRidley #KindergartenBioBlitz
Why is it cold and snowing if the sun is out today?

Response: @ElissaIagallo Hi! Good Q! The sun is out -
but not as long as we aren't getting the power of
the sun either... but it's getting warmer!

Question #2: @RangerRidley #KindergartenBioBlitz
We saw lots of nests, but no birds today. Where are all the birds?

Response: @ElissaIagallo Keep those eyes open - they are there!
I'm setting up the sugar bush & have seen lots - maybe more in the forest today?

Question #3: @RangerRidley #KindergartenBioBlitz
Why do pinecone trees have "leaves" and the other trees don't?

Response: @ElissaIagallo Evergreen trees lose their needles too -
just not all at once... great place for wildlife in winter to stay warm & hide.

The students were excited that Ranger Ridley replied to their outdoor wonders.  Many of the students in our class are not familiar with Twitter.  Being able to send and receive messages that students were interested in, helped students better understand and connect with this social media tool.  

What was so great about Ranger Ridley's responses was that he answered questions with questions!  This gave us the opportunity to have class discussions and further investigate the outdoors.  

For example, some students were curious about which animals stayed warm and hide in the evergreen trees during the winter months.  They made a list of guesses, and then we formed a question to ask Ranger Ridley. "@Ranger Ridley #KindergartenBioBlitz Who stays warm in the evergreen trees during the winter? We guessed birds, chipmunks, bunnies & wolves."  Ranger Ridley responded to us by saying "@ElissaIagallo All correct! Deer "yard" there as snow is not as deep. Chickaddes hide there for warmth as do squirrels #KindergartenBioBlitz"

Our Response to Question #2: "#KindergartenBioBlitz Hey @Ranger Ridley
we kept our eyes open & found lots of birds this afternoon, and a squirrel!"

Ranger Ridley Responded: "@ElissaIagallo Grey squirrels -
down south all are grey, up north all black - in our area few of each.
Black fur keeps them warm where colder?"

Our Response to Question #1: "@RangerRidley #KindergartenBioBlitz
Lots of puddles today! Does this mean the power of the sun is getting stronger?"

Ranger Ridley Responded: "@ElissaIagallo Good point! Where are puddles
forming the most? ie dark road or the lighter sidewalk?
Any ideas why? #KindergartenBioBlitz"

This coming week the kindergarten students will be busy investigating Ranger Ridley's responses and questions.  

Ms. Marrella and I both agreed that this has been a great experience for our students. #KindergartenBioBlitz encourages outdoor environmental education with a 21st Century twist to it.  Being able to actually connect and dialogue with someone like Ranger Ridley through twitter provides students with motivation to further explore, while creating a bond and relationship with a naturalist.      

Our kindergarten students reflected on their first
week communicating with Ranger Ridley through #KindergartenBioBlitz