Project: Wetland Habitat Investigation Program
Resources Needed: 10 waterproof digital thermometers
School Poverty Level: High
Location: Pathways Elementary School, Ormond Beach, FL
Total Cost: $399.31
Still Needed: $74.01 Completed! Please move on to a cooling project below.
Expires: Dec 17, 2013
Teacher's Comments from Mrs. Best:
My Students: Many students have never experience the joy and beauty of our native environment. The look on a child's face when they catch their first crab, observe an animal they have only seen in pictures, and witness the environment changing is exciting and enhances their learning and love for the environment.
Our school is an urban school in Central Florida with 750+ students. Along with general education classes, we are an Exceptional Student Service site. Our Exceptional Student program ranges from Pre-K, mild varying exceptionalities, exceptionalities, and gifted. My students, The Challengers, are a 3/4/5 multiage class. Our year long environmental unit, allows students to use concepts in real world applications. My class works directly with Park Rangers from a local State Park to learn about Florida history, native and evasive plants and animals, and the importance of saving our environment.
My Project: A student breathlessly describing watching a bald eagle feeding in the marsh, while hearing the fledglings calling for her from their nest, excitedly describing their observations and data of their plot of land after a control burn: these experiences allow students to understand that our earth is beautiful and ever changing. The students work with partners monthly, taking readings and monitoring the soil changes in small plots of land. Our temperature readers are key in gathering this information. They record the data and it is analyzed, graphed, and compared in the classroom. Students make first hand observations with microscopes and perform crabbing, bird watching, and writing of field guides with professionals at hand. We also work with the Park Rangers to help in eradicating the invasive Brazilian pepper-tree. We apply the information we have observed and use it in our school garden along with sharing our journals with other classrooms.
Our children will one day be making decisions about our world. If we are not responsible for giving them a solid understanding that our earth needs care and attention, our future environment will surely suffer. This early experience with environmental professionals, who have a passion for our earth, and the ability to directly apply skills they have learned in the classroom will be their first step in being responsible citizens. Please, help us achieve our goal.
COMPLETED
Donations of ANY size DID make a BIG difference!