EARTH SECRETS

Overview

An environmental learning program recommended for Grade 4 students.

Earth Secrets is an environmental learning program specially designed for Grade four students; although the material is also relevant to other elementary school grade level curriculum. Students are encouraged to discover the many secrets of nature by learning about the flora and fauna of a lower foothills natural area. This engaging learning program is full of rich, first hand contact with the natural world.

Earth Secrets includes seven activities taught by parents and Kiwanis instructors. The activities include 'Home Sweet Home', that teaches students about successional change in a wetland environment and the many jobs and interelationships of the plants and animals. 'Food Factory' is a stimulating learning experience focusing on photosynthesis. 'Root Seller' examines the diversity and function of plant roots. Students learn about light and shadows through participation 'Earthwalk' activities such as 'Eye in the Sky' and 'Share a Shadow'. 'Succession in Progress' helps students to understand the recycling processes in nature, while 'Cradles to Coffins' helps students comprehend the soil cycle.

In a unique blend of 'camp' style fun and engaging environmental learning, students spend the day understanding some of the earth's secrets.

Many of the activities used such as the 'Home Sweet Home', 'Cradles to Coffins', 'Eye in the Sky', 'Share a Shadow', 'Food Factory', and 'Root Seller', come from The Institute for Earth Education (IEE). Kamp Kiwanis Calgary has purchased the copyright permission to use these activities as part of the Earth Secrets program. IEE creates many excellent environmental learning programs including Sunship Earth and Sunship III.