We all have school experiences that we still remember because of the positive impact they had in sparking our interest and fostering our passions. To make this possible for the next generation of environmental stewards, Watersheds Canada delivers Ontario-curriculum linked programming for grade 1-6 English as a learned language and new Canadian students at two inner-city Ottawa schools. This program includes video lessons, handouts and games, and a take-home native wildflower seed kit. Students learn about the importance of plants to all living things, what plants and animals need to grow, and saw how different urban conditions can threaten plants and freshwater health.
If you are a formal or informal K-12 educator interested in having an educational program delivered in-person or online, please email info@watersheds.ca
Resources
Module #1: Native Plants (grade 3-4)
VIDEOS
Native plants: main video lesson
Plant video update #1 video
Plant video update #2 video
Plant video update #3 video
LESSON PLANS & MATERIALS
Wildflower Field Guide Scavenger Hunt lesson plan PDF
-> Plant Identification Guide table PDF
-> Favourite Tree Handout PDF
-> Tree-Field-Guide-Scavenger-Hunt-lesson-plan PDF
-> Tree identification activity cards PDF
-> Wildflower identification activity cards PDF
-> Favourite Wildflower table PDF
Journey of a Seed lesson plan PDF
Planting Native Wildflower instructions PDF
HANDOUTS
Module #2: Freshwater (grade 3-4)
VIDEO
Freshwater: main video lesson
LESSON PLANS & MATERIALS
Frog Call Lesson and Game PDF
-> Set of frog cards PDF
-> Frog identification guide (adapted from the Toronto Zoo) PDF
Plants Activity Booklet PDF
Service Learning Project PDF
HANDOUTS
Design a Natural Shoreline PDF
Journey to Find Water PDF
Module #3: Fish and Fish Habitat
VIDEO
Fish habitats: main video lesson
LESSON PLANS & MATERIALS
Flying Fish Race Lesson Plan PDF
-> Relay Race station signs PDF
-> Plush Fish Name Tags PDF
Fish Habitat craft lesson PDF
Something’s Fishy Puzzle Lesson Plan PDF
-> Fish Puzzles PDF
-> Fish Puzzles cards PDF
My Favourite Fish Lesson Plan PDF
Teacher Information Sheet – Fish Habitat Lesson PDF
Fish Activity Book PDF
Service Learning Project
HANDOUTS
My Favourite Fish PDF
Fish Identification Matching handout PDF
Teacher Testimonials
“The content covered in this module was relevant to my classroom and was interesting to my students. Everything was very clear and well organized. My students really enjoyed the hands-on elements.”
“Given that most of my students are ESL and very new to Canada/Ottawa, the program was easy for them to understand and follow along. I was incredibly impressed with the flower guide and how my students were able to understand it and use it to identify different species, despite their limited knowledge/experience with species native to Ottawa and the surrounding area. I would encourage other teachers to participate in this program and would reassure them that if they have a large ESL population, the program is VERY accessible and provides the students with lots of information about habitats unique to Ottawa and the surrounding area that their students may not be as familiar with.”
Funders
This program is possible thanks to generous funding from the Ottawa Community Foundation, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, and the Living Cities Canada Fund of Green Communities Canada.
