Our school programming continues to grow every year! We offer both in-school programming and programs offered here at Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. Our programs offer a great opportunity for students to learn and interact with nature and everything it has to offer. Areas of focus include archaeology, grasslands, ecosystems, pond life, microorganisms and many more!
About Our School Programming
In School Programs
Curriculum Connections
Kindergarten & Division One programs focus on the basic concepts of cultural identity; past, present, and future; and order in archaeology. The programs explore cultural diversity relevant to the curricula studied in each grade (including a variety of Canada’s historical and native peoples, as well as components from the international Grade 3 curriculum).
Division Two programs focus on local and regional cultural identities in Alberta and Canada. Grade 4 students are introduced to 11,000 years of life in Alberta. From native life, to the fur trade and European settlement, station work and excavations provide students with insight into Alberta’s history and ancestry from an archaeologist’s point of view. Through station work and excavations, Grade 5 students examine Canadian history and peoples through archaeology. Grade 6 students explore the science of archaeology. From survey to lab work, they look at how and why archaeologists make the decisions they do.
- Grade One: 1.2 Moving Forward with the Past
- Grade Two: 2.1 Canada’s Dynamic Communities
- Grade Three: 3.1 Communities in the World
- Grade Four: All outcomes in Alberta: The Land, Histories, and Stories
- Grade Five: All outcomes in Canada: The Land and Stories
- Grade Six: Science Topic D: Evidence and Investigation
Cost
- Kindergarten & Division One – In-class, half day, $175/class*
(max 32 students) - Division Two – In-class, half day, $175/class* and full day $330/class
(max 32 students)
*All in-class programs have transportation and set up fees. GST is added to the base price of all programs. Save by booking multiple programs! See below for details.
Additional Costs
We bring the programs to you! To cover this cost, there is a $100 set-up and travel fee per school when programs are booked on consecutive days.
Book Now!
For more information or to book your program please email edprograms@grpf.ca or call us at 403-851-9053!
At Park Programs
Curriculum Connections
Division Two programs focus on local and regional cultural identities in Alberta and Canada. Grade 4 students are introduced to 11,000 years of life in Alberta. From native life, to the fur trade and European settlement, station work and excavations provide students with insight into Alberta’s history and ancestry from an archaeologist’s point of view. Through station work and excavations, Grade 5 students examine Canadian history and peoples through archaeology. Grade 6 students explore the science of archaeology. From survey to lab work, they look at how and why archaeologists make the decisions they do.
- Grade One: 1.2 Moving Forward with the Past
- Grade Two: 2.1 Canada’s Dynamic Communities
- Grade Three: 3.1 Communities in the World
- Grade Four: All outcomes in Alberta: The Land, Histories, and Stories
- Grade Five: All outcomes in Canada: The Land and Stories
- Grade Six: 6.2 Historical Models of Democracy: Ancient Athens and the Iroquois Confederacy (and Science Topic D: Evidence and Investigation)
This program also includes a simulated archaeology dig where the students get to uncovers artifacts and findings in our archaeological pits!
Cost
Kindergarten & Division One – In-class, half day, $175/class* (max 32 students)
Division Two – In-class, half day, $175/class* (max 32 students)
Book Now!
For more information or to book your program please email edprograms@grpf.ca or call us at 403-851-9053!
Explore Grasslands: Field Study
Come visit the Park! Let our program leaders guide your students through activities and studies while immersed in the grasslands environment.
The Explore Grasslands programs foster good practices of environmental and cultural stewardship while using science-based activities to educate students about one of the most fragile and overexploited ecosystems in the world. During a hands-on field trip exploration, students will gain a deeper understanding of the dynamic nature of our grasslands environment. Human interaction, including issues related to management, overgrazing, fragmentation and the intrusion of invasive plants, is discussed. Students will also gain an appreciation for the native grasses, namely rough fescue, that are at the heart of the landscape and support a wide variety of life.
Discover Grasslands
Grade 4 – Field study, $330/class*, max 32 students
*All in-class programs have transportation and set up fees. GST is added to the base price of all programs. Save by booking multiple programs! See below for details.
Book Now!
For more information or to book your program please email edprograms@grpf.ca or call at 403-851-9053!
Explore Pond Program
This 2-hour Pond Invertebrates program starts with a short visual demonstration of our local pond’s inhabitants, the movement of water and the importance of secondary ecosystems. Afterwards, we take a short hike with nets, buckets, mini aquariums and identifier sheets to our local pond. The students are then tasked with collecting multiple species of pond invertebrates and identifying them. For some of the trickier ones we can examine them under a field microscope! From there we return the invertebrates back to the pond and hike back up to the parking lot where there are plenty of picnic tables to enjoy the beauty of our park!
Explore Pond Program Details
Great for Grade 2 and 5 Science!
Length: 2 hours
Cost: $150
Up to 15 children per program. Please contact us directly to discuss options to accommodate a larger class size.
- Before heading out to explore the pond (will vary in detail depending on age of group) we showcase a visual slideshow. Topics are as follows:
- Look, listen and smell… what do your senses tell you about this pond?
- Discussion about the importance of biotic and abiotic components of a riparian ecosystem
- What are the producers, herbivores and carnivores in this ecosystem?
- Discuss different zones of the pond: Littoral, Limnetic and Benthic… who lives in which zone?
- Intro to the types of invertebrates in the pond (Dragon/ Damselfly Nymphs, Water Striders, Leeches, etc.) and differences in their locomotion
- Discussion about life cycles
- As we walk to the pond:
- Discover some of our Parks’ local Fauna and Flora species along Tiger lily Loop
- Develop an idea of indigenous history/ Harvie family
- history
- Explore the pond! (Use nets to catch critters and put them in a pail to observe. Try to key out what type of organism it is using identification template.)
- Share unique/ interesting finds (usually salamanders/ frogs) with group
- Visually see the different forms of locomotion of insects
- Create Mini “Aquarium habitat” with as much varying species as possible
- Entertain group during trek back to VIC/ Classroom
- Identify species in Mini Aquarium using identification charts
- Offer use of common space for lunch/ snack
- Visit Interpretative Center
Please be advised this is an OUTDOOR program and you should be prepared for any changes in weather. Due to the nature of this program, personal rubber boots are REQUIRED.
Book Now!
For more information or to book your program please email edprograms@grpf.caor call us at 403-851-9053!
Want A Custom Program?
Contact Us Today.
Want to learn more about our Amazing Amphibians, Unbelievable Birds, Terrific Trees, and/or Identifying Animal Tracks? We have you covered! Select custom programs are available upon request. We can customize a program that fits the needs of your students, your class and your school. Customized programs in the past have included: school assemblies, shorter presentations for individual classes and topic focused presentations (for example “all about birds”). Please inquire if you wish to work with a programmer to design a unique experience for your students or groups. You can contact us via email at edprograms@grpf.ca or by phone at (403) 851-9053.
