Second graders go on Snake Sighting Expedition
The first time that the 2nd graders went to Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary in October,to study snake habitats, it was cold and rainy, so there was not a snake to be seen anywhere. Snakes come out when it gets warm in April. The warm weather came early this year, so another trip to do the field work was quickly organized. The biggest learning target was to carefully observe snake habitats and identify snakes based on their features. Students had a field journal with the four species of snakes they might see: Garter Snakes, Northern Water Snakes, Eastern Milk Snakes and Northern Ribbon Snakes. There were pictures and facts about the snakes to help identify them.
It was a warm morning and the first sightings were of multiple Northern water snakes in the marsh, where they were basking in the sun on trees and cottontails to warm themselves since they are cold-blooded. Some were camouflaged and hard to find, but students carefully and quietly observed, made sketches, and took notes. Later two spotted garter snakes, multiple turtles, ducks, a black-cloaked butterfly and a swan were sighted.
It was wonderful for the students to see the snakes in their natural habitats after months of their research.