April 2019
Spring has finally arrived. Look for this month's Bark! magazine after Easter n your school library. It has something for everyone.
Did you know that BC is home to the rubber boa snake? How about the tiny sharp-tailed snake? Snakes can sometimes be a misunderstood animal but they are an important part of our ecosystem, and there are several species that are threatened or even endangered. Dive into Bark! to learn about seven snakes that live in BC and how you can be a snake hero.
If snakes aren’t your thing, we also explore what to do if you come across a baby deer or seal on his own. Although these babies appear orphaned, humans often do more harm than good when trying to “rescue” them. Learn what to look for to determine whether you should leave the baby alone, or if he truly needs help.
These are just a few highlights in this month’s Bark!.
If you are a teacher in BC and would like to receive a class set of this issue, send us an email including your school, grade and number of students, and we’ll send the issues directly to you.
You can also use Bark! to encourage students to create inquiry projects about animals.
The Summer We Saved the Bees by Robin Stevenson Reading Level: Grades 3-6
When twelve-year-old Wolf is inspired by a project at school, he and his family embark on a journey to bring awareness to the collapse of honeybee colonies. Donning bee costumes and painting their van to resemble a bee, the family sets off from Vancouver Island to travel across British Columbia, educating people on the importance of pollinators and what they can do locally to prevent bee extinction. This fascinating story captures how a family unites their passion to save bee colonies in North America, and how education plays a vital role in spreading this message. The family’s journey unfolds with laughter, adventure and compassion, concluding that making a difference can take many forms, but as long as the world has hope, the future for bees can be bright.
Read more reviews of our recommended books.
Spring has sprung and pollinators will soon be coming out to bring our gardens back to life! Pollination is a very important part of the life cycle of plants, which cannot produce fruit or even seeds without this process.
Did you know that honey bees pollinate more than any other insect? They are ‘busy bees’ who need fresh water to drink during their hot days of work. Bees and other pollinating insects like ladybugs, butterflies and predatory wasps all need fresh water but most can’t land in a conventional bird bath without crashing. They need islands in the water to touch down.
So how can you help? Get your school club together this spring and make bee baths for pollinators in your own backyard! The bees will certainly thank you!!
Fish are the third most popular pet in Canada. Nearly 20 million are caught recreationally in British Columbia each year. But do fish have feelings? New research has discovered that fish have social lives and are good communicators. Many live in families and even have great memories! Who knew?
So what does this mean for fish welfare? Fish are by far the most used vertebrate on earth. Now that we have scientific evidence that fish are thinking, feeling creatures, maybe it’s time to start thinking about ways to improve their everyday lives.
Read more on this story here. Share it with your class and check out our other news items!
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The BC SPCA has classroom resources for grades K-7. The lessons integrate animal issues and information into existing provincial learning outcomes. Click on a lesson plan below to learn more.
Kindness counts (Primary)
Bite free (Primary/intermediate)
Making the right choice (Intermediate)
You can make a difference (Intermediate)
The farm-food connection (Intermediate)
Cats in the community (Intermediate)
Including animals in social justice (Intermediate/Secondary)
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