Grade 2 students from Jasper Elementary School (JES) recently walked up a frozen river, discussed flora and fauna and learned how an environment can shape who they are.

On March 21, Paulette Trottier’s Grade 2 French immersion class traveled out to Maligne Hostel as part of the ongoing series of trips the group does to the area to learn about the unique place they live in.

Trottier said that along with discussing the changes in the Maligne river, something the group has done on each trip, students also studied the birds in the area and how each season brings different feathered friends to the hostel.

“We talk about the differences in the birds depending on the season hoping to get them interested ahead of the outing,” she said. The class looked at photos of birds they might see at the hostel before heading out for the afternoon and discussed the differences so they would know what to look for.

“They really got it,” said Trottier, adding that when the students did drawings of their experiences the next day in class, it was evident by how many birds were painted that the students really identified with what they had learned.

As part of the day trip, the students walked up the river from the hostel, discussing the fact that the river virtually disappears at this time of year. Prior to the trip, students had been learning about the uniqueness of this ecosystem and discussed why there are no fish in that particular part of the river.

“It is special for them to be able to walk on the river at this time of year,” said Trottier. Because of the high amount of snowfall the area received this year, students were treated to an extra fun experience as they snowshoed up the river. “We also looked at the river bank to acknowledge what is under the water and while they walked up the river, we examined hummingbird nests. Then we could show them where the materials came from in the surrounding trees.”

The group walked all the way up to an old cellar that sits up river, and it was there that Trottier’s class took a few moments to be silent and listen to the sounds around them.

“We practiced in class first and examined differences in the sounds we hear now, to compare them with the sounds people might have heard (back in the days before technology),” said Trottier. “They were great. They laid on the ground listening and later we shared what we heard.”

After returning from their walk, students sat by the fire and were treated to some maple taffy, prepared by Trottier. As part of Native Studies, students have been discussing maple syrup, how native people may have come across it and subsequently used it for food and trade.

“I am trying to make them aware that our environment makes us who we are,” said Trottier. “The maple taffy also ties in with our science studies as maple syrup is created through evaporation and the students are studying liquids in science class and learning the importance of water.”

Since their last field trip to the hostel, the students have been marking the sunrise and sunset each day, so they can see and study the change. The next trip, in June, will again reveal new birds, and a different environment for the students to study.