Level 6: Forest Lane
Section A
Exhibit: Can You Name These Trees?
Topic: Habitats and Communities
A1. Answers will vary. Examples of deciduous trees are oak, maple and beech trees. Coniferous trees include pine, fir and cedar trees.
A2. In higher latitudes with less sunshine year-round, plants have less time for photosynthesis. Coniferous trees already have leaves in spring, so they can start photosynthesizing right away to produce as much energy as possible.
The structure and shape of coniferous needles also prevent water loss. Additionally, snow can build up on coniferous leaves and branches without breaking them.
Section B
Exhibit: Bigger Isn’t Always Older
Topic: Habitats and Communities
B1. The 40-year-old tree section has a larger diameter with widely spaced rings. The 200-year-old tree section has a smaller diameter with tightly spaced rings.
B2. One set of rings (one light, one dark) represents one year.
B3. The older tree’s rings are closer together.
B4. The closeness of the rings might mean that the growing season was very short, so the tree had less time to accumulate wood. This would result in a smaller tree with more tightly spaced rings.
Level 6: Cohon Family Nature Escape*
*Outdoor area, open seasonally
Section C
Exhibit: Urban Forest
Topic: Habitats and Communities
C1. It is located in a city with lots of buildings and people, but it has the natural features of a forest.
C2. Answers will vary and may touch upon the following points:
- Raccoons can easily get food from garbage bins and houses, but it may not be healthy.
- Shelter is readily available in an urban setting.
- Some people dislike raccoons and try to hurt them.
- Sometimes, raccoons get run over by cars.
Level 6: Weston Family Innovation Centre
Section D
Exhibit: Take a Look
Topic: Rocks, Minerals and Geological Processes
D1. Answers will vary. For example, a piece of copper could be described as having a small size, reddish-brown colour, uneven shape, opacity and a metallic lustre.
D2. The sample from the stream has a different colour, shape and lustre. The water has worn down its sharp edges. In comparison, the other two samples are shiny and angular.
D3. The sand contains small pebbles, a piece of smooth beach glass, even smaller shell fragments and many small rock and mineral particles. The quartz grains are clearer than the other darker particles.
Level 6: The Bruce Poon Tip Living Earth Hall
Section E
Exhibit: The TELUS Rain Forest
Topic: Habitats and Communities
E1. The Rain Forest is warm and humid. There is a waterfall, as well as many tall trees and climbing vines.
E2. Answers will vary. Examples of differences include:
- The Rain Forest is warm all year round and much more humid.
- The Rain Forest trees keep their leaves all year long, unlike deciduous trees in Ontario.
E3. Examples of plant adaptations include having large leaves, growing very tall and climbing vines.
Section F
Exhibit: Cool Formations
Topic: Rocks, Minerals and Geological Processes
F1. Cave Bacon and Cave Pearls.
Section G
Exhibit: Fossilized Limestone
Topic: Rocks, Minerals and Geological Processes
G1. The limestone indicates that Ontario used to be under water, and coral reefs thrived in what is now dry land.
Section H
Exhibit: Caves Capture Our Changing Climate
Topic: Rocks, Minerals and Geological Processes
H1. The bands inside stalagmites accumulate yearly, so they show annual growth just like tree rings.
Section I
Exhibit: Scalloped Limestone
Topic: Rocks, Minerals and Geological Processes
I1. Answers will vary. The limestone sketch should clearly show the dimples.
I2. The dimples in the limestone were caused by fast-flowing water.
I3. Sedimentary rocks are created from small pieces of rocks or minerals that have been compacted by pressure. Limestone is commonly composed of calcium carbonate, which comes from the shells and skeletons of marine life.
Level 6: Science Arcade
Section J
Exhibit: Pulleys
Topic: Machines and Their Mechanisms
J1. Load C takes the least amount of force to lift.
J2. Load A takes the most amount of force to lift.
J3. (i) 30 cm (ii) 60 cm (iii) 90 cm
J4. Having a greater number of pulleys in a system increases the mechanical advantage, which decreases the force needed to lift the weight. Load A has two pulleys, while Loads B and C have three and four pulleys, respectively.
J5. Answers will vary. Examples of other pulleys include the elevators and flag poles outside.
Section K
Exhibit: The Shadow Maker
Topic: Light and Sound
K1. Answers will vary.
K2. Examples of answers may include glow stars, glow-in-the-dark toys, paint or clothing.
K3. If the walls reflected light energy, no shadows would be left behind.
Section L
Exhibit: The Quiet Tunnel
Topic: Light and Sound
L1. Inside: ~30 db (with some variation)
Outside: ~65 db (with some variation)
L2. Your voice sounds much quieter inside the tunnel because the foam behind the tunnel walls absorbs the energy of the sound waves.
L3. The floors and walls in these spaces are made of hard material. Sound reflects off these surfaces instead of being absorbed.
Section M
Exhibit: Musical Metal
Topic: Light and Sound
M1. The largest (tallest) rod will have the lowest pitch, similar to how larger instruments (e.g., cellos, tubas, bassoons, etc.) have lower pitches.
M2. Answers will vary.
M3. Answers will vary but may depend on each student’s familiarity with the instruments.
