Birds FIRST (Facilitate Interest in Reading, Science & Tech)
My students need to explore the world of birds with an iPad, bird themed books and hands-on science activities, like owl pellets and a raptor study kit.
By the end of this school year, my students will have completed an in-depth study of birds and planned a school-wide bird festival. They are eager to research and explore, but they need more access to resources.
I teach in a public school with a high percentage of economically disadvantaged children.
The majority of my students speak a language other than English at home. These children are considered "at risk" by the state, but I know how capable they are and what they can accomplish when they are stimulated by an activity. They are second-graders, so they have a natural curiosity about the world around them and are highly motivated by animal studies. When I was asked to teach an enrichment group, I wanted the kids to work on a project that would involve using skills from all subject areas and include my passion for wildlife. Children from other teachers' rooms join students from my class four days a week for this project. Each 9 weeks, I will get a new group of students, so there will be about 100 children directly involved with the event.
My Project
My project, Birds FIRST (Facilitate Interest in Reading, Science and Technology), is designed to motivate them intrinsically with the beauty of nature. It is meant to get them involved in reading, researching and creating artwork and displays based on birds and their contribution to our environment. The project will culminate with a bird festival, so they will be able to share their knowledge with the rest of the student body around the time of International Migratory Bird Day.
With the iPad, they can explore maps and data for bird observations reported in our county, view live bird cams and have access to field guides and other useful apps. The themed books will help them with their research and literacy skills, while the science displays and hands-on activities will provide them with interesting alternatives to textbooks.
Students will inquire about how birds influence our community and culture.
They will use critical thinking skills, collaboration, communication and creativity to put together a celebration of birds that they will share with others. They will become the experts who will teach family members and friends. This will be an educational and fun event that they will not forget. I hope that it leads to a lifelong interest in and respect for birds and ecology.
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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 Mrs. Womack and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
