The Education department at rare has created FREE virtual field trips for educators to use in the classroom. These self-guided field trips cover a number of different topics including birding, vermicomposting, winter animal adaptations, microplastics, benthic invertebrates and more! To access each virtual field trip, please click the images below. Be sure to revisit this page for more virtual field trips in the future.
Exploring nature doesn’t mean we need to travel far away into the woods. Connect with the ‘near-nature’ and the local environment by learning to identify some common birds, then test out your new birding skills in the bird ID quiz and learn how to do some fun activities like making a birdfeeder at home!
This virtual field trip is appropriate for Primary students from Kindergarten – Grade 3 and is aligned with the Ontario Science curriculum in the following areas:
Dive beneath the soil surface and explore the wonderful world of worms! Learn about the role earthworms and other creatures play in the decomposition process and how they help to cycle nutrients back into the ecosystem. Then, learn how you can harness this amazing worm power to begin to compost your own organic and paper waste!
This field trip will give you and your students the information and resources needed to set up your own vermicomposters (small, portable worm bins to turn organic scraps into rich garden soil) at home or in the classroom, and as well show how we use this system at the Springbank Farm at rare to compost food waste from the Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank, and turn it into fresh soil to grow produce that then goes back to support food bank users!
This virtual field trip is designed for Grade 3 Students and is aligned with the Ontario Science curriculum in the following areas:
Learn about various adaptations that allow animals to survive during the winter. Through a series of interactive activities, explore different strategies that animals use including migration, insulation, hibernation, food caching, freezing, and camouflage.
This virtual field trip is appropriate for Primary students in Kindergarten to Grade 4 and is aligned with the Ontario curriculum in the following areas:
Learn how to identify benthic invertebrates in this virtual edition of our Mirrored Research Benthic Invertebrate Sampling module. Learn how samples are extracted with D-nets, sieved, prepared for identification, and how the final health rating of a sample site can be assessed.
This virtual field trip is appropriate for Secondary students and is aligned with the Ontario Science curriculum in the following areas:
Learn about microplastics and the effect they have on aquatic animals from microplastic researcher Dr. Kathleen Church.
This virtual field trip is appropriate for Secondary students in grade 11 Biology and Chemistry and is aligned with the Ontario curriculum in the following areas:
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Learn about invasive plant species in Ontario, their effects on various ecosystems, and how some of these species are managed.
This virtual field trip is appropriate for Secondary students and is aligned with the Ontario curriculum in the following areas:
Learn all about trees by investigating the parts of a tree, the difference between coniferous and deciduous trees, and several tree species found at rare. Discover the many ways trees provide for people and wildlife.
This virtual field trip is appropriate for Primary students in Grade 1 and Grade 3 and is aligned with the Ontario curriculum in the following areas:
There is so much to learn out in Nature! In our Nature Activity Videos, parents and children can learn about nature through fun and easy-to-follow crafts, activities or experiments. It doesn't matter what the season, it's always a fun learning time out in nature!
The Buzz: a colouring story inspired by bee research at rare
Illustrated by Suzanne Matheson, inspired by the research of Janean Sharkey, this book includes drawings of several native species of plants, bees, and other insects. Kids and their parents are encouraged to research these species online and colour them in based on their real-life appearance. Download Now!
Paw Prints: home activities to engage children
These activities have been compiled by our rare Education Department just for kids to keep them engaged an entertained. If you happen to do any of these activities, take photo and tag rare on social media. We would love to see what activities you choose!
rare Scavenger Hunt
Paw Prints Activity 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7
How do Animals Stay Warm in Winter?
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