It’s here; the time of year where we inconspicuously look for signs that Spring is near. We long for signs, any sign of Spring, buds on the trees, an American robin, any sight, sound or smell that indicates Spring is coming! Spring officially arrives on March 20th, with the springing forward of the clocks we delight at the thought of warmer weather and extended daylight hours. Spring is the season of rebirth and renewal; although we may have our own favourite signs that announce Spring has arrived, the Late March Step Outside Nature Guide Spring Awakenings: Plants, Birds and Bugs reveals many more sights, sounds and smells out there!

One of the first smells of Spring comes from the Balsam Poplar buds, where the protective resin is softening in the warming sun. Find some, pinch the buds gently, then inhale the pleasant fragrance. Blooming flowers, earthy aroma after the rain, fresh cut grass, not all smells are fragrant, sneak a peek at the Late March Step Outside guide to find out who is attracted to the Skunk Cabbage plant and its overpowering scent of onions mixed in with a bit of skunk.



The Late March guide is all about Spring Awakenings. Check out the resources and activities below to learn more about plants and animals, invasive species and more! Step Outside with your students and see what nature is up to!

Grades K-3

A Spring Walk

This resource provides an easy-to-implement template for planning and guiding a spring walk. It encourages students to be on the lookout for daffodil blooms, students can be prepared to look for sightings of other species likely to be seen in their own neighborhoods. During their 'spring walk' students are asked to talk about what they can see, hear, smell and touch. They focus on those things specific to spring and record any animal sighting and/or plants in bloom.

Activities

• Print out a copy of one of our observation sheets, then take it outside! Use observation sheets for kindergarten to grade 3. You can take pictures of the plant(s) you see and use these for reference later
• Use the Nature Companion app or another plant identification app to identify the plants you observed on your walk
• Use a storyboard to draw and/or write out the story of your observations. This could be the story of one particular plant, the story of you going outside to observe every day, or the story of spring coming to your neighbourhood
• Be a Real Nature Detective! Can you find these spring treasures
• Read Sorting through Spring to learn how to look for patterns that occur in nature. The teaching guide provides a variety of math and science activities inspired by the book
• Get outside and try this Bursting Buds activity to learn more about buds on twigs and branches
• Learn about pollinators at home and discover some in your neighbourhood with these fun activities

Grades 4-8

Nature's Partners - Pollination, Plants & You

This resource introduces students to the fascinating relationship between plants and pollinating insects. Throughout the detailed biological investigation of bees, moths and butterflies there is an emphasis on developing a stewardship ethic in students by linking pollinators to food production. Students will participate in a variety of activities which examine and investigate insect and plant adaptations that aid in the pollination process.

Activities

• If spring has sprung in your area, bring your young scientists outside to observe pollinators in nature. If you’re still waiting on blooms, you can watch this short film instead
• Use the Pollinators and Plants Observation Sheet (p.43) to record your observations and questions
• Bees are the focus of this outdoor inquiry that engages students in learning about plant reproduction and remarkable insects
• Using photographs, examine several types of pollinators (e.g., bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, etc.) What different parts can you see? Which parts are important for pollination? What makes pollinators different from each other?
• Participate in a Pollinator Quadrant Study. Identify and record sightings of local pollinators, insects or small animals and submit to community science
• Explore and learn all about pollinators. Participate in Wild Spaces, a pollinator conservation program for schools or learn how to make your school grounds pollinator friendly
• Get outside to play Moving Pollen to learn the process of how plants become pollinated

Grades 7-12

The Hidden Beauty of Pollination

In The Hidden Beauty of Pollination, filmmaker Louise Schwartzberg introduces us to the intricate world of pollen and pollinators. Over a third of the fruits and vegetables that we eat are dependent on pollination. Schwartzberg argues that if the bee's disappear, so do we. This TED talk will take us up close to this high speed world of pollination and give us a glimpse of how this magical process takes place.

Activities

• Watch the Hidden Beauty of Pollination.  Come up with a list of questions the video made you think of. Then research the answers! How did plants and pollinators co-evolve? How does the decline in pollinators impact us? What is causing the pollinator decline and what can we do about it?
• Try this STEM lesson to learn more about the threats faced by bee populations around the world
• Research how high winds and heavy rain that may be caused by climate change could affect plants relying on windborne pollination.
• Identify possible threats to the pollinators and predict possible consequences of pollinators becoming endangered or extinct
• Plan and build a pollinator friendly garden in your schoolyard  
• Build a bug hotel to attract pollinators to your schoolyard or garden
• Learn more about the power of pollinators and how to grow a pollinator garden or pollinator patch. Register your pollinator patch with Journey North
• Head outside and look for pollinators. Log your sightings into BumbleBee Watch or Journey North