This week's LIO is all about Loons - Canada's iconic bird! Around this time of the year, you may have already seen the arrival of loons in your area as the birds continue to migrate and make their way north. Be sure to check out our Early-May Step Outside Nature Guide to learn more about Loons and their amazing characteristics!

The activities below introduce students to exploring the various insects and birds we can see outside in our ecosystem during this time of the year. Learn about the incredible lifecycle of butterflies and how they get their wings, and explore the local birds you can find outside in your area!

Grades K-2

Waiting for Wings

This book takes the young reader through all of the life stages of a butterfly from egg to adult. Once the butterflies have emerged, the story follows the insects as they look for the flowers that provide them with the nectar they need. Along the way, students will also meet some of the other fascinating creatures in the garden. The book also contains a simple field guide that young children can use to identify butterflies and caterpillars.

Activities

• Read Waiting for Wings by Lois and access the teaching guide for discussion questions and activities
• Complete the butterfly life cycle diagram on page five
• Try this butterfly craft or have students design their own butterfly mask
• Step outside and try to spot caterpillars or butterflies in your neighbourhood
• Get outside and play Flutters and Flowers, an interactive game involves learning about human impacts on pollinators
• Explore the activities in this multi-lesson unit about the Monarch butterfly and ways humans interact with this species
• Get outside and play Bees and Butterflies Tag

Grades 3-4

Butterfly Life Cycle

This resource consists of a series of lessons designed to teach students about the life cycle of a butterfly and the range of current threats facing this creature. Students will discuss some of the habitat requirements of butterflies in their area and look for ways to provide them.

Activities

• Watch the butterfly life cycle video to see a monarch butterfly at each stage of its life
• Identify a butterfly's main activity at each stage of its life cycle
• Have students design a poster depicting the different stages of a butterfly's life cycle and what kinds of conservation threats butterflies face at each stage
• Learn to make your own butterfly house so butterflies can shelter from bad weather and predators
• Have students explore the life cycle of a monarch butterfly, investigate why their population numbers are decreasing and design a butterfly habitat with Flutter By
• Make simple butterfly feeders to encourage butterflies to visit your schoolyard

Grades 3-6

Common Loons in the Classroom

Loons are perhaps Canada's most iconic bird. Their distinctive calls are a hallmark of summer for many, and you can recognize them from our dollar coin—the "loonie!" The six lessons in Common Loons in the Classroom are to foster an appreciation of loons with the students while also proving the importance of clean water and healthy aquatic systems.

Activities

• Start by reading about loons in our latest Step Outside Guide. Follow the links in the guide to hear the different sounds they use to communicate and watch the short video clips of loon behaviour 
• Learn more information about loons here
• Next, play the Incredible Loon Journey board game. Click to find the printable game board and migration challenge cards, as well as the instructions. If you have enough space and materials, there's even an option to turn the game into an obstacle course 
• Read these loon legends, then write your own legend about the loon

Grades 7-12

Schoolyard Bird Blitz

Bird Blitz is an engaging outdoor activity where students across Canada join together each May to count and identify local birds. Once that task is done, they share their findings through an online portal. The best part is that their observations help scientists monitor Canada's birds! Bird monitoring programs can connect students with the natural world, help them gain important scientific monitoring skills, and provide opportunities to contribute to conservation through authentic, hands-on learning projects.

Activities

• Get outside and participate in the Schoolyard Bird Blitz activity
• Print or recreate a Bird Tally Sheet to record your observations
• Complete your bird observations on any day in May—you can do them as many days as you like, for as little as 1 hour, or all-day
• Become a citizen scientist and submit your observations to Birds Canada to contribute to their data! Share pictures of birds in your area with us at #LearningInsideOut
• Get outside and identify some human activities that can improve, disrupt, or destroy habitats for birds and other wildlife in your community. Develop a map-based plan of recommended action
• Learn about the different life requirements of the Common Loon with A Loonie For Your Thoughts