Oakwood’s first-grade classes visited the Sweetbriar Nature Preserve in Smithtown last week. The students prepared for their trip by reading, writing, illustrating, and discussing ways that mammals and reptiles are similar and different, by learning the attributes of birds and butterflies, and by practicing how to walk quietly through the woods.
Once they got to Sweetbriar, and the quiet dense woodlands, they observed the deciduous and evergreen trees and listened to blue jays and woodpeckers. In a sunny meadow, students and their teachers found butterflies and bees enjoying the last of the milkweed and the black-eyed Susans.
Since Sweetbriar is a refuge for wounded animals, our first-graders also saw eagles, hawks, and owls that are being cared for by the Sweetbriar staff. It was a wonderful experience to see these magnificent birds up close.
In the reptile room, students got to compare and contrast the attributes of a box turtle and a painted turtle. They also got the opportunity to gently touch the resident corn snake. In the mammal room, everyone met a rabbit and an opossum and discussed ways that they are similar and different from human beings.
Everyone had an enjoyable and educational visit to the Sweetbriar Preserve and got to “adopt” a Sweetbriar animal and will contribute to its care.
You can learn more about Sweetbriar Nature Center at: http://sweetbriarnc.org/
Help support our wildlife!!!!
Saturday, October 17, & Sunday, October 18, 10am to 3pm
SweetbriarNatureCenteris holding a yard sale to support its mission of nature education and wildlife rehabilitation. Items include household goods, lawn furniture, collectibles, antiques, fabric flowers, bird houses and much more. Our volunteer gardeners will be having a plant sale also.
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