Exploring Nature at Springfield Lake
Today our class visited the Lake Springfield Boathouse for a field trip that connected with many of the science topics we have been studying in class. It ended up being a beautiful day in the Ozarks, and the students had a great time learning outside.
We split into two groups for the day’s activities. One group started with kayaking while the other group went on a nature hike, and after about an hour we switched so everyone could do both activities.
While kayaking, students spotted wildlife around the lake and enjoyed spending time out on the water.
On the hike, students completed a scavenger hunt where they searched for producers, consumers, decomposers, and animal habitats. Along the trail, we talked about ecosystems, food chains, and animal adaptations.
One of the highlights of the hike was taking a few quiet minutes to simply sit and listen to nature around us. Students shared observations about the sounds they heard, including birds, insects, leaves blowing in the wind, and water nearby.
After hiking and kayaking, we ate lunch at the pavilion and spent some time on the playground before heading back to school. It was a fun day full of hands-on learning and time outdoors together.