Winter Ecology Field Trip (Grades 3 to 5)

Taking snow measurements

NPS/Shepherd Waldenberger

Non-living things in Glacier provide the foundation for all the plant and animal life which lives here. Students will explore the physical properties of snow completing tasks at snow stations. They will then investigate how those physical properties impact organisms in winter by participating in a snowshoe hike. The park provides all the snowshoes for students and chaperones free of charge.

Grades: 3–5
Locations: Apgar Village and St. Mary
Duration: 4.5 hours, view our Winter Ecology Field Trip Schedule to see a basic outline for the day
Group Size: 46 students, 2 groups of 23 students
Skills: Observe, compare and contrast, identify, classify

National and State Science Standards:
3-LS4-3 Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
4- LS1-1 Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.
5-PS3-1. Use models to describe that energy in animals’ food was once energy from the sun.

 

Objectives

(Depending on grade level and weather conditions)
Students will be able to:

• Tell what national parks protect and one reason Glacier National Park was established.
• Hike independently on snowshoes, while following safety procedures for a snowshoe hike in Glacier National Park.
• Describe, draw or act out, the 3 strategies animals use to survive winter.
• Describe (or draw) an outside activity that includes one way a tree or a plant might change in winter.
• Correctly identify living and non-living objects on the snowshoe hike and give an example of a cause and effect relationship between them.
• Use their body to increase heat (running, huddling, putting on more insulation).
• Describe the relationship between the sun, heat, light, energy, and food.
• Correctly measure and explain the existence of varying snow depths at different points along the trail.
• Measure and compare temperatures at different depths in the snow or at different places along the trail.
• Examine layers of snow, describe the differences, and infer what caused the layers.
• Explain the importance of snow as a natural resource and its role in the water cycle.
• Participate in stations to measure and record snow characteristics.
• Name the snow structure that has been used by different cultures as a temporary shelter (quinzhee), describe how to build it, and explain why it is warmer inside than outside one.

 

Field Trip Logistics

Maximum group size for snowshoe hikes is 40 students. Students will stay together as one group for the introductory and closing activities. Large groups will be divided into 2 smaller groups (one class each) for the ranger-led hikes, with one ranger leading each group.

 

Reserve Your Trip

Visit the Scheduling & Guidelines page to find the reservation form as well as tips for a successful day in the park.

If you have questions, email or call the Apgar Education Center at 406-888-7899.

 

Preparing for Your Trip

Students that spend time preparing for their visit get more out of a field trip to the park. Activities post-visit also help to reinforce information learned during the trip.

Once registered for a field trip, we will email you a complete curriculum guide, including the following lessons:

• Pre-visit Lessons:
  • What is Winter?
  • Winter is Coming!
  • Snow Characteristics
• Post-visit Lesson:
  • Snug in the Snow

Suggested supplementary materials:

• Background Information for Teachers
• Bonus Activities: Vocabulary, songs, coloring pages, etc