We have found the Math Science Nucleus programs very educational and I have blogged about some of them here and here.
Today they had the Nature Safari program. The main activity was a 1.5 mile nature hike around the Tule pond.(Tule pond is located on top of the Hayward Fault and last time we visited the place, it was flooded and we could not take the walk.) There were 6 stations set up around the pond and kids were given a scavenger hunt activity. There were arrows placed at multiple points to guide on the right path.
Station A: It was near a tule hut. There are few stumps for kids to play on in this. The activity was to find worms in the ground.The kids had to write down the place where they found the worms.
Station B: The activity here was to collect the leaves or Arroyo, Red and Sandbar willow trees. The trees were labeled of course!
Station C:The activity here was to collect the leaves of Coast Live Oak, western sycamore and Red bud. During the indoor activity we got to touch the leaf of the western sycamore. Its texture is very soft and hence was used by native people as a "bathroom tissue"!
Station D: This station was at the butterfly meadow and the kids had to bring back a milkweed leaf. Milkweed can be identified by folding the leaf which causes white fluid to ooze out.
Station E: This station was set on top of Hayward fault and from here we could see the Tyson Lagoon which is a sag pond, a feature of the earthquake zone(we just learned this last week!).
Station F: At this station the kids had to describe a bird that they saw flying and a bird that was swimming.
On our walk we explored eucalyptus tree, clover leaves, mushrooms, egrets etc. Children who completed the Nature Safari got a pencil and a magnifier as gifts.
There were indoor activities such as 1) Removing the soft core of elderberry branch to make an ornament, we learnt that the native americans used them to make tools, musical instruments and ornaments."A" and "I" both made ornaments out of the elderberry branch. 2) Counting the number of rings on the cross-section of tree truck to determine its age. 3) Making dragonfly arm band. 4) Tape the needle and broadleaves to a cardpaper, cover them completely and keep as a keepsake.
Overall a well spent 2 hours.
No comments:
Post a Comment