 |
|
A Wedgwood Elementary student
records her observations of the
schoolyard habitat. (SAS Stock Photo)
|
Seattle Audubon's Elementary School Programs bring students closer to the natural environment outside of their schools and in their neighborhoods.
Since 1988, the Elementary School Programs have earned rave reviews from students, teachers, and parents. The programs are a partnership between Seattle Audubon and Seattle Public Schools (SPS) and spark an interest in science and the natural world. With hundreds of trained volunteers, in as many as 24 Seattle Public Schools, these programs reach thousands of 3rd–5th graders each year, at no cost to SPS classroom teachers.
These urban habitat activities help teachers meet requirements for teaching environmental education and science inquiry. All lessons address the essential learning requirements (ELR) of the Seattle Public School District K-5 Life Science Framework.
"I liked how every time there was a new lesson and how it always involved thinking."
—FUN kid comment
"FUN—one of the hot programs in the Seattle public schools."
—Seattle Weekly
Finding Urban Nature (FUN) -"Understanding Environmental Connections"
FUN lessons facilitate an understanding of environmental connections through hands-on, inquiry-based science. The lessons allow students to discover and appreciate birds and nature within their schoolyard habitat throughout the school year.
-
Neighborhood Birds - With hand lenses and measuring tapes, students compare a variety of stuffed birds and learn about beaks, feet, size, colors and habitats.
-
Worm Worlds - Young naturalists predict the number, density and maturity of worms in a site and the reasons for those results, using sticks, string, mustard, and charts.
-
Web It - Students discuss webs and spiders and where to find them before searching them out with hand lenses and spray bottles, and watching their activity.
-
Other Lessons - Bird Nests, Envirolopes, Litter Critters, Roots and Shoots, and Habitat Detectives.
The Fall 2008 FUN curriculum includes the following activities: Envirolopes, Web It, Roots and Shoots, and Neighborhood Birds. The Spring 2009 curriculum includes Bird Nests, Litter Critters, Worm Worlds, and Habitat Detectives.
FUN Explorers - "Caring About Birds and the Environment"
The Explorers program, for 5th-grade students, expands on the habitat discovery theme from the 3rd-4th grade FUN program, focusing on birds as a key component in a habitat. Students learn how to identify birds using scientific equipment like binoculars, field guides, and microscopes. They discover how studying birds gives scientists important information about the health of a particular habitat. The Explorers program is designed to empower students to make a difference by introducing ways for them to help create a bird-friendly habitat around their schools and neighborhoods. This program is only available to 5th-grade classrooms in Seattle Public Schools.
Volunteer with the Elementary School Programs
Work with students as a volunteer guide during the school day. For each FUN lesson, a trained volunteer leads a small group of six 3rd- or 4th-grade students. There are eight separate lessons during the year, each lasting about one hour per classroom. Equipped with hand lenses and other tools, students are led outside to their school grounds by a volunteer guide to observe, investigate, question and share their discoveries. They learn that nature is everywhere— not just in a wilderness area or a television nature program. Volunteers are also needed to help assemble FUN lesson materials during non-school hours. Volunteers do not need any previous experience. Training will be provided.
Donations welcome! The Elementary School programs are free of cost to Seattle Public School classrooms and are funded by grants and donations. If you would like more information about donating to these programs, contact Leah Lee, Director of Membership and Development at Seattle Audubon, at leahl@seattleaudubon.org.
As an additional fundraising effort, Seattle Audubon offers personalized address labels at the cost of $15 for 160 labels. These attractive labels include the Seattle Audubon cormorant logo and can be ordered through the Elementary School Programs Manager, Janelle Shafer.
For more information about the Elementary School Programs, volunteering, or donations, please contact Janelle Shafer, Elementary School Programs Manager, at 206-523-8243 ext. 19 or janelles@seattleaudubon.org.