June 20, 2025
Student Migration Challenge at Linden Meadows School
Elyce Periera (Conservation Outreach Ambassador)
What if every child walked just one kilometre—and we added all those distances together? Could we walk far enough to match the incredible journeys of the birds that live, grow, and pass through our community?
That’s the question that sparked the Migration Challenge at Linden Meadows School, thanks to a bright idea from Jayanna, at Linden Meadows School. Her vision turned into a school-wide initiative rooted in curiosity, creativity, and connection to nature.
Taking Flight with Learning
Using local bird species as mascots for each classroom, the Migration Challenge quickly became more than just a walk-a-thon. It grew into a cross-curricular project that wove together environmental justice, physical activity, and place-based learning. The goal? To “migrate” their bird mascot as far as possible—through physical activity, tracked and celebrated on a colourful and interactive inquiry board.
Each student contributed to their classroom’s migration totals by walking to and from school, playing outside, or running laps around the field. And as they moved, so did their birds—visually migrating across a map. The entire school quickly began looking for more ways to get active and move their bird further along, which sparked all sorts of questions related to migration, local bird species, and the impacts they may face.
Tracking the Journey
To create their Migration Challenge Board, students used their own drawings, pictures of maps, and even recycled and free materials, such as paint sample strips to practice place value, to record their measurements, and distance traveled. As each class covers more distance, whether that be walking to and from school or running around the field, their bird migrates further and further on the board.
Observations
As students watched their mascots progress, curiosity took off. How far do real birds migrate? What challenges do they face? What can we do to help them?
The project inspired research, discussion, and shared fun facts, like these:
- Mallard ducks migrate about 1,175km
- Salmon, although not birds, also migrate—swimming from freshwater to the ocean as part of their life cycle.
- The American white pelican, often seen in the schoolyard pond, travels an astounding 3,300 km to Florida!
- Arctic terns hold the world record for migration, flying a jaw-dropping 90,000 km from pole to pole every year.
Each class set their sights on matching the pelican’s journey. Step by step, they tracked their progress, cheered each other on, and celebrated movement, math, and migration all at once.
A Flock of Learning Opportunities
The Migration Challenge at Linden Meadows is a shining example of creative ways to braid together different learning styles and outcomes to teach young kids about an array of things that they can tie in to their previous knowledge and connection with natural spaces in their community.
It’s also a beautiful reminder that the spaces around us—like the schoolyard pond—are rich with stories waiting to be told. And sometimes, all it takes to begin is one question, a little curiosity, and a lot of steps.