⚖️🐻🧠 How long can you stand on one foot? If you’re a great blue heron, the answer is up to an hour!
Second grade students at Haw Creek Elementary School learned that and many other wild facts when rangers from Great Smoky Mountains National Park led them through interactive guessing games about the unique abilities of animals that inhabit the park. Students compared their own abilities to animals found in the Smokies, testing balance like a heron, jumping like a frog, smelling like a bear, and holding their breath like a beaver. The activities sparked excitement, teamwork, and curiosity, while helping students understand the importance of protecting the natural world and seeing national parks as places for exploration and learning.
“I enjoyed the ranger’s visit because they did really fun things with us,” said Claire, one of the second graders. “My favorite was the heron stand!”
“I enjoyed the ranger visit because the challenges were fun, especially the bear smell,” added fellow second grader Eden.
Second grade teacher Katelyn Fullbright thanked the rangers for visiting her classroom.
“Not only do students get a hands-on demonstration of the concepts they are learning in the classroom, but they also build a deeper understanding of the natural world and their role in exploring and protecting it,” she said. “This experience helped students see national parks as a place full of learning and curiosity. Working through activities as a group encourages teamwork, curiosity, and respect.”
