2nd Grade Programs At RHEC

A Geocaching Adventure! Who doesn’t want to go on a treasure hunt? In this fun-filled educational activity students will go on a science treasure hunt! “Scavenger Hunt.” They will be broken into groups with an adult (RHEC teacher/classroom teacher/chaperone) assigned to each group. The adult will use the handheld GPS device to follow the map on the GPS unit leading the group to each waypoint, where they will find a science treasure! Each of the “science treasures” will contain scientific/STEM tasks in which students will participate, using science journal to record what they are learning “Science Treasures” include Whirly Bird (basic needs for plant survival, plant parts and function, life cycle, seed dispersal and an activity using anemometers, seeds, and meter sticks), Going Batty (characteristics of mammals and insects, parts of an insect, habitats), Making Tracks (habitats, basic needs for animal survival, animal track identification and measurement), and a Science Scavenger Hunt.

Do you like to go bird watching? This lesson starts with the students comparing and contrasting the characteristics of birds to other vertebrates. They will use magnifiers to examine bird feathers learning about how they work. Students will have the chance to play bird bingo while we move to a bird watching area where they will have the opportunity to learn the proper use of binoculars. Once the have climbed aboard the bird bus or entered the bird watching blind they will have a chance to see, identify, and hear woodland song birds, all only inches away!

Wouldn’t you like to stroll through the garden among butterflies as they flit, fly, and flutter all around? Students will learn the characteristics of insects, the difference in insects and arachnids, and about the metamorphosis of insects and butterflies. They will then tour the garden, searching for all types of insects, including beautiful butterflies. While in the garden might have the opportunity to see portions of the life cycle of the butterfly right in front of them observing live butterflies (adults), caterpillars (larva), chrysalis (pupa), and maybe even locating butterfly eggs on the leaves of plants!

Meet our friendly turtles, lizards, as well as our awesome snakes face-to-face! These ambassadors to the reptile world will help students discover and learn the characteristics that make them unique. They will learn about the four groups of reptiles: turtles and tortoises; alligators and crocodiles; lizards; and snakes. Students will also come to understand how these interesting creatures are adapted to live in specific environments.

Everyone loves to walk through nature! In this program students will become young naturalists! They will explore the natural world and all of the wonders and treasures that it holds. This activity will teach children to 

become keen observers, developing those all-important skills of observation and documentation, while learning plant parts, characteristics of animal groups, as well as the basic necessities that plants and animals need to survive. They will also observe and identify animals and plants found in nature understanding that there are plants and animals all over the world but each is adapted to live in a specific habitat.

 Is a spider an insect?  What about a crab?  This program will teach students the main characteristics of insects through the use of live specimens.  Participants will study the stages in the life cycle of the mealworm beetle while actually observing a live larva, pupa, and adult in a petri dish right in front of them! By the end of this lesson students will be able to easily identify insects as well as various arthropods (including crabs, spiders, scorpions, and more).  Fun insect rubbings are included!  

Have you ever been to the beach and wondered what in the world is "that"?  The beach program offers a hands on look at all types of specimens found at the beach.  Students will have live marine critters in tubs right in front of them!  They will get to examine, measure, describe, as well as compare and contrast the different animals.  They will also get to visit the touch tank allowing them the opportunity to touch all types of sea life!  Finally they will have the opportunity to visit the sand box and dig for things they might find on the beach - then they must decide if it is naturally occuring on the beach or not.  Discussions of the different marine environments will inform students of the unique characteristics that enable such diverse life in our watery world.

Take a walk through the woods and use your observation skills to learn about plants and animals!  Students hike our nature trail and learn about the plants found along the trail.  Using picture clues and their senses, second graders use analytic thinking skills to determine the names of different types of plants and to identify wildlife.