Grades K-2 | 1.5 hours
Students explore the concept of biodiversity by comparing and contrasting museum specimens. Using their senses to make observations, they will begin to classify familiar animals according to similarities and differences in appearance, behaviour, and life histories. Students will examine a variety of specimens, including insects and birds, and participate in hands-on and kinaesthetic activities.
Curriculum Links
- Kindergarten: Characteristics of living things, using five senses to make observations, sharing information, compare common animals
- Grade 1: Needs of living things, classify organisms, communicate observations
- Grade 2: Animal growth and changes, use senses to interpret observations, make inferences, describe how animals are important to other living things and the environment
Suggested Resources
Many of our Educator Resources can support your visit. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Pre-Visit Resources
- Colouring Sheets
- Origami
- A Day in the Life of our Classroom Invertebrate
Scavenger Hunts and Museum Activities
We suggest using a scavenger hunt before or after your program to help students explore the museum in a guided way.
- Creature Features
- Describing and Drawing Organisms
Post-Visit Resources
- Adaptation Exploration: Bird Beaks
- My Beaty Pet
- Nature Guides and Logs
Please visit our Educator Resources page to download these materials.