If you can imagine more than thirty children from Kindergarten through Fifth Grade attending a high-needs urban school enjoying the outdoors, nature's own classroom, in a brand new after-school club devoted to teaching an appreciation of plants, animals and birds, then your mind's eye will see what I enjoy week after week!
I teach 22 second graders in a high needs school where 80% of our students receive free/reduced lunch. This year I started an after-school nature club. Over 30 students from Kindergarten to 5th grade signed up for the club. Interest is growing!
The favorite after-school club activity is bird watching. The two pair of binoculars I have are not enough to satisfy the incredible interest these 34 children have in this amazing activity. My second grade class created a large butterfly and vegetable garden right outside our room. We spend time everyday in the garden. Birds flock to the feeders and birdbaths we placed close to the classroom windows. All of the students enjoy keeping nature journals where they illustrate, label and comment on the wildlife and plants they observe outdoors.
Since the nature club only meets for an hour, I need more binoculars so the students can all get a chance to experience the thrill of birding. I have bird identification books in the classroom. My students and nature club members love to use these field guides to identify the birds they see in the garden and surrounding woods as well as documenting their findings in their nature journals.
With your help, these students can experience the excitement of watching a bird up-close. Learning to identify Cardinals, Mourning Doves, Nuthatches and other songbirds gives students a real sense of accomplishment. This will aid them in using the field guides for identification. Children feel like "real" adventurers whenever they use special equipment. I hope you can imagine the look on a child's face when they view a bird up close for the first time. Actually the thrill of bird watching never gets old to them. Please consider supporting this worthy project that will affect many children for years to come.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Plummer and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.