Extensions

Deepen the Learning

Goal: Extend classroom understanding through research, creativity, and continued observation.

• Seasonal Revisit: Return to the same BioKit site in a different season. Compare what has changed (species, temperature, water levels, colours, sounds).
• Ecosystem Mapping: Create a large illustrated map or digital poster showing how living and non-living parts of the ecosystem connect.
• Species Profiles: Research one species observed in the BioKit activity. What role does it play in the food web? What adaptations help it survive?
• Soundscapes: Record natural sounds at the site and compare to urban (if using Nature BioKit) or indoor soundscapes. Discuss how sound reflects ecosystem health.
• Water Watch: If near a stream, wetland, or drainage area, monitor water clarity or flow over time. Connect to watershed learning.
• Community BioBlitz: Host a follow-up event where students invite families or community members to join in identifying species together.

Take Stewardship Action

Goal: Empower students to care for the ecosystems they explore.

• Habitat Helpers: Build bat hotels, bird boxes, insect hotels, or pollinator gardens to support local species.
• Litter Audit: Conduct a trash tally of human impacts around your site. Classify what’s found and create solutions to reduce waste.
• Plant Native: Work with a local garden club or Indigenous knowledge holder to plant native species in the schoolyard or community.
• Water Guardians: Trace your local watershed, identify where your water comes from, and brainstorm actions to keep it clean.
• Stewardship Pledges: Have each student write or draw a personal stewardship pledge – one small action they’ll take to protect local ecosystems.

Connect to Community and Culture

Goal: Link learning to local knowledge.

• Indigenous Perspectives: Invite an elder, knowledge keeper, or local community representative to share stories or teachings about the land.
• Community Collaboration: Partner with local parks, conservation authorities, or nature centers to continue student involvement.
• Local Stories Project: Research how your community has changed over time (forests cleared, rivers restored, parks created). Students can create a then-and-now visual display.
• Citizen (Community) Science: Submit species observations through platforms like iNaturalist or eBird. Discuss how data contributes to real research. Join a national program!
• Art in the Park: Create art installations or public displays (murals, poetry, photography) that celebrate biodiversity and encourage stewardship in partnership with this popular program.

Reflect and Share

Goal: Encourage metacognition, creativity, and connection.

• Nature Journals: Continue journaling observations, questions, and sketches over time.
• Class Museum: Curate a classroom display with photos, drawings, and student work about their BioKit experiences.
• Storytelling and Poetry: Have students write a story or poem from the perspective of a species they observed.
• Compare Sites: Visit both an urban and natural site. Compare biodiversity, human impact, and ecosystem health.
• Share Findings: Create a class presentation, short video, or social media post (if appropriate) highlighting what was discovered and learned.

Long-Term Projects

Goal: Build continuity across the school year or grade levels.

• Adopt-a-Site Program: Adopt a local park, schoolyard garden, or natural area to visit and care for regularly.
• Biodiversity Tracker: Create a long-term data set of species sightings to analyze patterns over time.
• Biodiversity Campaign: Students design posters or short videos encouraging peers to help enhance local biodiversity.
• Climate Connection: Explore how local biodiversity may shift with climate change and what can be done to build resilience.

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Learning Prompts and Reflection Questions

Sense of Place

Core Idea:
Every environment, whether in an urban or natural green space, has unique living and non-living features that make it special. Understanding place helps us see how people, animals, and ecosystems connect.

In-Field Teacher Prompts:

• What makes this place unique or important?
• How does this environment support life?
• How do humans shape or change this space?
• What stories could this place tell if it could speak?

Key Terms & Definitions:

• Place: A specific location with unique natural, cultural, or personal meaning.
• Ecosystem: A community of living things interacting with each other and their environment.
• Habitat: The home or environment where a plant or animal naturally lives.

In-Class Student Reflection Questions:

• What did you notice first about the space we visited? How did it feel different from other spaces?
• What elements (natural or human-made) made this location unique?
• How do people use or interact with this area?
• What might this place have looked like 50 or 100 years ago?
• What evidence did students find of change? Is it natural or human-caused?
• How might Indigenous peoples describe or connect with this place?

Observation and the Senses

Core Idea:
Using our senses – sight, sound, smell, touch, and even taste (safely, of course!) – helps us notice patterns, relationships, and changes in nature.

In-Field Teacher Prompts:

• What do you see, hear, smell, and feel?
• Which of your senses helps you learn the most here?
• How would another animal experience this place differently?

Key Terms & Definitions:

• Observation: Carefully watching or noticing details to gather information.
• Adaptation: A feature or behavior that helps a living thing survive in its environment.
• Sensory Awareness: The ability to use your senses to understand your surroundings.

In-Class Student Reflection Questions:

• Which senses did you use the most? Which did you forget to use?
• What sensory experiences stood out (sounds, smells, textures, light)?
• How did observation change when you sat quietly versus moved around?
• What do the senses reveal that photos or data might not?
• How could an animal experience this same environment differently?
• How might people sense and experience this place in unique ways? Consider accessibility – not everyone sees, hears or feels the world in the same way.

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Connections

Core Idea:
Biodiversity includes all living things and their relationships. Every organism plays a role in keeping the ecosystem balanced – some as food, some as decomposers, and some as engineers.

In-Field Teacher Prompts:

• How are the species you find connected in a food web?
• What adaptations help them survive here?
• Can you find any plants or animals that don’t seem to belong?
• What might happen to the ecosystem if a new species moves in, or if one disappears?

Key Terms & Definitions:

• Biodiversity: The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
• Species: A group of similar organisms that can reproduce and have offspring that can reproduce.
• Interdependence: The way living things rely on one another to survive.
• Food Chain: The sequence of who eats whom in an ecosystem, showing how energy nutrients flows from one living thing to another.
• Adaptation: A physical feature or behavior that helps a plant or animal survive and reproduce in its environment.

In-Class Student Reflection Questions:

• How many different living things did you identify (plants, animals, fungi, insects)?
• How do these species depend on one another? Can you build a food chain or web?
• What adaptations help species survive in the place we visited?
• What roles do decomposers (like insects or fungi) play in this system?
• How might this ecosystem change with the seasons?

Watersheds and Stewardship

Core Idea:
Water connects us all, from rainfall to rivers to the ocean. Understanding watersheds and human impact helps students see how small actions in one place affect the health of the larger system.

In-Field Teacher Prompts:

• Where does water flow in this area? Where does it go next?
• How do humans affect water systems and the land around them?
• What can we do to protect water, wildlife, and soil?

Key Terms & Definitions:

• Stewardship: Caring for and managing the environment responsibly.
• Conservation: Protecting and restoring natural areas and species.
• Resilience: The ability of an ecosystem to recover after disturbance or change.
• Watershed: An area of land where all the water drains into the same body of water, such as a stream, river, lake, or ocean. (e.g. The rain that falls on your schoolyard flows into a local creek that connects to a larger watershed; we all live in a watershed.)

In-Class Student Reflection Questions:

• In the place we visited, where does the water here come from? Where does it go next?
• What happens to rain that falls at this location?
• How do the landscape’s shape and materials (soil, rock, pavement) affect water flow?
• How does human activity (roads, storm drains, lawns) impact this watershed?
• What might the place we visited look like during a heavy rain or drought?

Human Connections

Core Idea:
People are part of nature too. Every community depends on natural systems for food, water, shelter, and our general wellbeing.

In-Field Teacher Prompts:

• How do people use or impact this area?
• What does this place provide for humans, animals, and plants?
• How can communities live in balance with the environment?

Key Terms & Definitions:

• Urban Ecology: The study of nature and living systems in cities and towns.
• Sustainability: Meeting our needs today without harming future generations’ ability to meet theirs.
• Cultural Connection: The relationships between people, their traditions, and the land.

In-Class Student Reflection Questions:

• What human-made features were visible in the place we visited? How do they affect nature?
• What small actions could help improve or protect the area we visited?
• What species or elements might be missing from this environment and why?
• How does the space we visited show resilience (signs of regrowth or recovery)?
• What would this area look like if left untouched for 50 years?
• How can you share what you’ve learned to inspire others to care for this place?

Exploration and Discovery

Core Idea:
Exploring and identifying local species helps us understand how rich our ecosystems are and how they’re changing over time.

In-Field Teacher Prompts:

• What living things can you find here today?
• How are these species connected to one another?
• How can we share what we discover to help others learn?

Key Terms & Definitions:

• BioBlitz: A community event where people work together to find and record all the living species in an area.
• Field Observation: Collecting data by observing and recording what’s found in nature.
• Citizen (Community) Science: When everyday people help collect or analyze scientific information.

In-Class Student Reflection Questions:

• What was surprising or unexpected about the field trip?
• How did being outdoors change the way you learned?
• How can you represent your learning – through art, writing, data, or storytelling?
• How did collaboration and discussion shape your understanding?
• How can this experience connect to your classroom learning in science, art, or social studies?

Optional Big Picture Guiding Questions

(For linking multiple Curious by Nature experiences together)

• What patterns are students noticing across different locations?
• How does biodiversity differ between urban and natural sites?
• What connections can students make between local ecosystems and global environmental issues?
• How do human and natural systems work together (or come into conflict) in their community?

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Resources & Toolkits

Curious by Nature Collaborators

Environment and Climate Change Canada (Bilingual)

Environment and Climate Change Canada is the federal department working to conserve Canada’s natural heritage, and ensure a clean, safe, and sustainable environment for present and future generations. This includes:

• Protecting and conserving natural areas and species
• Predicting weather and environmental conditions
• Preventing and managing pollution, and
• Promoting clean growth and sustainable development.

Nature Labs (English only)

Nature Labs is a free Canadian virtual textbook and complete learning platform that helps students challenge their assumptions and unlock their full potential​, today and every day. 

Nature Labs uses nature as a metaphor to enliven five subjects. Through balanced storytelling, it connects students to experts – from prime ministers to chefs – and to real-world issues. With hundreds of curricula-connected lessons, thousands of curated resources, and endless classroom tools, Nature Labs is a favourite resource for schools in every Canadian region, and is used daily by more than 150,000 students.

Field + Citizen Science Resources

Citizen Science Portal (Bilingual)

A searchable list of citizen science projects across Canada to find opportunities to get involved.

iNaturalist (Bilingual)

A community science platform where people can record and share observations of animals and other living things.

eBird (Bilingual)

A global citizen science project where people can record and share bird sightings. The observations help scientists track bird populations, migration patterns and species distribution.

Indigenous Resources

TRACKS (Trent Aboriginal Cultural Knowledge and Science) (English only)

A dynamic, land-based youth program that fosters environmental stewardship, cultural awareness, and leadership skills by connecting youth with nature and Indigenous perspectives.

Kian8at –Ensemble (Bilingual)

Their mission is to allow cultural reconnection among First Nations, foster the sharing of Indigenous cultures with everyone in the spirit of reconciliation and with respect for the Earth.

Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER) (English only)

Empowers Indigenous youth to become leaders in environmental stewardship, fostering a balance between cultural traditions and modern science.

Four Directions Teachings (Bilingual)

An audio narrated resource for leaning about Indigenous knowledge and philosophy from five diverse First Nations in Canada.

Place-Based Resources

Parks Canada (Bilingual)

Protects and presents nationally significant examples of Canada’s natural and cultural heritage. Fosters public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative integrity for present and future generations.

Outward Bound Canada (English only)

School and group programs; immersive adventures (wilderness days, multi-day trips) to build skills like leadership, resilience.

Leave No Trace Canada (Bilingual)

Seven principles adapted for children: respecting animals, minimizing waste, sticking to trails with a Stewardship Passport where kids collect stamps for demonstrating each principle in action.

Community-Building Resources

Canada Service Corps (Bilingual)

Canada Service Corps is a national youth service program that enables Canadians ages 12 to 30 to gain leadership skills, build networks, and make a difference in their communities by participating in diverse volunteer projects focused on civic engagement, reconciliation, and environmental stewardship.

Canada Helps (Bilingual)

Volunteer Canada provides resources, research, and expertise to strengthen volunteering, and supports over 1,100 organizational members in building accessible, inclusive volunteering opportunities for all Canadians.

Community Foundations of Canada (Bilingual)

Community Foundations of Canada’s Youth in Philanthropy program empowers young people to identify local needs, research charities, and grant funding to make a direct impact in their communities while developing teamwork and leadership skills.

Roots & Shoots (Bilingual)

Roots & Shoots Canada, founded by the Jane Goodall Institute, empowers youth to launch community projects for people, animals, and the environment, inspiring compassionate action and leadership across the country.

Science Resources

Exploring By The Seat Of Your Pants (English only)

This Canadian non-profit organization inspires the next generation of scientists, explorers, and conservationists by bringing free, live, interactive virtual lessons and field trips with leading experts into classrooms around the world.

École en réseau (French only)

L’École en réseau offre une infrastructure qui permet à la fois d’apprendre à enseigner en réseau à l’aide du numérique, de proposer et de participer à des activités en réseau et d’enrichir l’expérience d’apprentissage de ses élèves.

Water Rangers (Bilingual)
Community science platform offers data-gathering toolkits and guides for students interested in water quality monitoring.

Pollinator Partnership Canada (Bilingual)

Shows kids how to protect bees, butterflies, and other pollinators including a Pollinator Power Pack with wildflower seed balls, a bug ID sheet, and instructions for building a bee hotel.

Canadian Association for Girls in Science (CAGIS) (English only)

CAGIS is a STEM club for girls and gender-diverse youth aged 7–17 and offers hands-on, behind-the-scenes experiences in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM).

Hinterland Who’s Who (Canadian Wildlife Federation) (Bilingual)

Lesson plans and programs to help students understand the impacts humans have on our environment, and how they can help to conserve Canadian wildlife. Students will learn conservation concepts such as biodiversity, sustainability, ecosystem conservation, and endangered species recovery.

Let’s Talk Science (Bilingual)

Free online resources for educators and youth to enrich their understanding of climate change with related activities, events, projects, videos and resources.

Art Resources

Art in the Park (Bilingual)

Art in the Park local programs immerses artists in stunning natural settings to create and showcase works that celebrate the beauty of local landscapes, connecting art, community, and nature through residencies, exhibitions, and public workshops.

Art Institute of Canada (Bilingual)

Teacher resourcesto encourages students to observe and represent natural landscapes, fostering a deeper connection to the environment through artistic expression.

Language Arts Resources

Ripple Foundation (English only)

Empowers young Canadians to express their creativity and share their voices through writing. Their programs include the Kids Write 4 Kids contest and Wave Blog offering opportunities to transform outdoor experiences into stories that ripple outward to others.

Stewardship + Environmental Resources

Learning for a Sustainable Future (Bilingual)

LSF collaborates with educators, students, parents, governments, and communities to promote knowledge, skills, values, and practices essential for a sustainable future.

R4R Resources for Rethinking (Bilingual)

Is a free online database where educators can search for over 1,800 high-quality, teacher-reviewed, curriculum-matched resources (including lesson plans, videos, children’s books, outdoor activities and apps/games) on issues related to sustainability and climate change. Resources searchable by language, province, grade, subject, theme, Sustainable Development Goal, and Indigenous Knowledge theme.

EcoSchools Canada (Bilingual)
Frameworks, guides, and toolkits for schools to reduce waste/energy, develop outdoor classrooms, or implement sustainability plans.

Earth Rangers (Bilingual)

A national kids’ conservation club that offers missions like planting pollinator gardens, reducing plastic waste, and protecting habitats.

Canadian Wildlife Federation: WILD Education (Bilingual)

Training for educators to bring wildlife and environmental learning outdoors.

Nature Canada (Bilingual)
Offers programs and resources related to conservation education, including opportunities for youth and school‐based projects. Naturehood includes local Nature Passport with challenges like bird-watching, litter cleanups, or tree ID.

The Canid Project (English only)

The Canid Project is a creative and conservation initiative made up of photographers, educators, and biologists dedicated to documenting and protecting wild canids through coexistence, citizen science, and educational resources across the country.

Green Learning (English only)

Free online education programs about energy, climate change and green economy that engage and empower students to create positive change for our evolving world. There are also professional development resources to further your own knowledge about environmental sustainability.

Be the Change – Earth Alliance (English only)

The Student Leadership for Change contains a comprehensive suite of experiential and project-based curriculum material to inspire youth to connect, understand, and respond to the environmental and social challenges facing our planet. Students will learn to connect local solutions to global issues by taking specific, measurable actions with their classmates and families. The suite is also available in Distance Learning formats.