Miss A went on her Rabbit Camp this week.
Last year, you might remember Miss G going on her Rabbit Camp in November.
It was so memorable for her; she still talks about it all the time.
This year, I also went on a Rabbit Camp with my own Kindergarten class.
We went last Thursday.
Eli went with Miss A on Tuesday, and he took some great pictures of her and her classmates learning about the snowshoe hare.
Daddy arrived at school before the bus arrived, and got to see all the Kinders getting their snow gear on.
It was COLD. Below -30. COLD.
They left at recess time, so I ran down to say "Have fun!" to all of Miss A's classmates, and especially Miss A and Daddy.
They arrived at the ski club by bus, which was exciting for most of the kids, Miss A included, because many of them do not take a bus to school.
Immediately, they went inside for snack because it was far too cold to stay outside.
-30 is our district-wide cut off for outdoor activities and recess. I think it is -10 in Halifax, which does crack me up... we'd never be outdoors from October to April with that cutoff!
Miss A decided to draw while the other kids finished up snacks.
Blake started the Rabbit camp off with an introduction to the snowshoe hare, how it adapts to its surroundings, and the predators in the North, complete with lynx and wolverine fur!
The kids also learned about the difference between a hare and a rabbit.
It's crazy, the difference.
See the white tape on the ground? They taped off 3 metres, so the kids could try to jump as far as a snowshoe hare can jump in one bound!
Miss A sure did like having Daddy there!
When asking the Kinders what predators the snowshoe hare might have, Miss A rose her hand and said,
"The Pink Berets."
Eli almost fell over, he thought it was so funny!!
For those of you who don't have kids at home, the Pink Berets are like the secret service of bunnies, and are sent out to find E.B., also know as Easter Bunny Jr., in the movie Hop... she is so clever!
Here is Miss A in line to try to jump as far as a snowshoe hare.
The kids learned how to set traditional snares, how to spot hare tracks in the snow, and how high to set the snares from the ground.
It always amazes me how much the Kindergarten kids get out of field trips like this.
A Dene elder, Lawrence, show the Kinders how to set a snare that will pull the hare into the air and out of reach of other scavenger predators, so that the game is safe until you arrive to check the snare.
It's pretty clever.
After lunch of bannock and stew, the kids bundled up to go outside. It JUST squeaked above -30.
Eli helped Miss A and her friends set a snare by these hare tracks.
The snares were taken down before the students left... no hare would be caught near that many loud kids stomping through the snow!
Miss A has really adapted to the winters here.
She hated the coldness in Halifax and even at the beginning of last winter, but she's really adapted.
I think it's the snazzy Nova Scotian tartan scarf that Monique sent her that helps her out!
Snares and snowshoe hares...
Oh, Miss A was thrilled to learn even more about the snowshoe hare.
And, now, the Dene know they should also include the Pink Berets among the hare's natural predators.
- - -
Well, it's -35 outside tonight, so I'm going to snuggle in after I tidy up the house. It's a bit messy right now, but that's OK because I finighed my report cards today. Oh, it's a happy day in the life of a teacher when report cards are written!
No comments:
Post a Comment