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Environment & Ecology in Your Classroom & How Wild Pennsylvania Can Help...
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Environment and Ecology is grounded in the complexity of the world we live in and our impact on its sustainability. The human interactions with the ecosystem and the results of human decisions are the main components of this academic area. Environment and Ecology examines the world with respect to the economic, cultural, political and social structure as well as natural processes and systems. This integration across systems is what sets this academic area apart from all others (Pennsylvania Department of Education, Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology, 1998, p. 1).
Students are naturally curious about the world around them. Including environment and ecology in the classroom curriculum is one way to engage students in meaningful learning -- learning which is motivating because it relates to their lives and to their interests. Environment and ecology is an academic area that relates to all other academic areas and can be used quite effectively as an integrating context in the classroom, as described in the reading included in this section of the teacher’s guide by Leiberman & Hoody (1998). Disinger & Monroe (1994) note that "environmental education...offers a rich and diverse array of meaningful activities and opportunities. The richness come from addressing topics that fall between subject areas (often science and social studies). The meaningfulness results from addressing events, issues, observations, and phenomena that are important to youngsters" (p.2). There are few events, issues, observations, and phenomena that captivate students’ interest more than those which revolve around wildlife. The Project WILD K-12 Activity Guide states that their program "is based on the premise that young people and their teachers have a vital interest in learning about the earth as home for people and wildlife. The program emphasizes wildlife -- because of its intrinsic, ecological and other values, as well as its importance as a basis for understanding the fragile grounds upon which all life rests" (Council for Environmental Education, 1992, p.vi). The Wild Pennsylvania television series, and the teacher’s guide and web page that support it, focus on wildlife and wildlife habitat for the very same reasons. It is important that students in Pennsylvania be aware of and knowledgeable about the wild resources in our state -- and for most of these students, their curiosity and desire to learn about wildlife is already there! Incorporating wildlife into the school curriculum can add interest and excitement for students, while satisfying the state standards required of teachers. Environmental education has been around for a long time, but it is recently becoming a more accepted and important part of the school curriculum. This is especially true in Pennsylvania, where environment and ecology is viewed as an academic area in its own right. Recently the Pennsylvania Department of Education has developed state environment and ecology standards for grades 4, 7, 10 and 12. For teachers who may be uncertain about how to satisfy these new environment and ecology state standards, or for teachers who may just be looking for some new ideas, the Wild Pennsylvania series, teacher’s guide, and website can help. The first video on "Wildlife Education" serves as an overview of some of the wildlife education programs that are currently taking place in Pennsylvania. It is meant as an introduction (and a source of inspiration!) for you the teacher, and is not necessarily a video that would be shown to your students. A brief summary of the program can be found on the preceding page. This section of the teacher’s guide is also meant to serve as an introduction to the series and to the remainder of the guide. For those of you who may wish to read more about the philosophy of environmental education and how to use it as an integrating context, two readings have been provided for you in this section of the teacher’s guide: "Closing the Achievement Gap: Using the Environment as an Integrating Context for Learning" and "Defining Environmental Education." Also included in this section of the guide is a list of organizations which are currently involved in environmental education in Pennsylvania; at least some of their programs and/or materials focus on wildlife and wildlife habitat. There follows a list and brief description of each of the environmental resource curricula from which activities were taken to include in this teacher’s guide. The activities that most closely matched the focus of the individual Wild Pennsylvania programs were chosen to include in this guide. However, each of these resources contain a large number of similar activities. If you like the activities you see here, you may wish to obtain the complete resources. Information for how to do so is included. Finally, brochures from some of the organizations highlighted in the "Wildlife Education" video are also included to provide you with additional information. The remaining nine sections of the teacher’s guide correspond to each of the nine remaining programs selected from the television series. They include: Black Bears, Otter/Fisher Reintroduction, Deer Management, Elk, Raptor Restoration, Habitat Management, Wetlands, Backyard Wildlife, and Wildlife Artists. Each section begins with a page of background information related to the theme of that individual program. The environment and ecology standards addressed by showing the program to your students and facilitating the suggested activities are then referenced for grades 7 and 10. While the teacher’s guide focuses at these grade levels, the information and activities included here can, of course, be adapted up or down to suit your needs. Each section also provides suggestions for how to use the program in the classroom, including key vocabulary words and questions for discussion. Following these first few pages in each section of the guide, you will find related brochures, pamphlets, booklets, etc. provided by a variety of organizations. Following these are the photocopies of the related activities, and finally there is a listing of additional related resources (these are usually available with an associated cost, and therefore not included as part of the guide). While each section does offer a "Suggested Sequence for Use of Video and Teacher’s Guide," it goes without saying that you know what will work best in your classroom and how much of what is suggested you have the classtime to include. While referring to the "suggested sequence," spend some time previewing the video and reading through the materials and activities provided -- then use your own creativity to adapt what is here to your teaching style and make it work in your classroom for you and your students. However you chose to make use of the Wild Pennsylvania programs, teacher’s guide and website, we sincerely hope that you enjoy your educational journey through Wild Pennsylvania!
References Cited Council for Environmental Education. (1992). Project WILD K-12 Activity Guide. Bethesda, MD. Disinger, J.F. & Monroe, M.C. (1994). Defining Environmental Education. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan School of Natural Resources (EE Toolbox -- Workshop Resource Manual). Leiberman, G.A. & Hoody, L.L. (1998). Closing the Achievement Gap: Using the Environment as an Integrating Context for Learning. (A report of the State Education and Environment Roundtable.) Poway, CA: Science Wizards. Pennsylvania Department of Education. (1998). Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology. Harrisburg, PA.
Environmental Education Curriculum Resources The majority of the activities included in the Wild Pennsylvania Teacher’s Guide were photocopied, with permission, from the following resources. These curriculum resources provide teachers with a wide variety of activities that can be incorporated into busy classroom schedules, often with minimal preparation. Most of these resources are available free of charge for educators who participate in a workshop which introduces the resource. A brief description of each activity guide, along with contact information, is provided below.
The mission of Project WILD is "to provide wildlife-based environmental education that fosters responsible actions toward wildlife and related natural resources." Project WILD’s interdisciplinary activities are separated into the following sections: awareness and appreciation; diversity of wildlife values; ecological principles; management and conservation; people, culture and wildlife; trends, issues and consequences; and responsible human actions. Project WILD is one of the most widely used environmental education activity guides, attesting to the interest in and appeal of wildlife to both students and teachers. The majority of the activities in the Wild Pennsylvania teacher’s guide have been taken from the Project WILD Activity Guide. Project WILD Activity Guides are available free of charge for educators who participate in a Project WILD workshop. Contact:
Project Learning Tree (PLT) Project Learning Tree (PLT) is an environmental education curriculum and a source of interdisciplinary instructional activities for teachers, park and nature center staff, and youth group leaders. PLT focuses on trees and forests, but encompasses the total environment -- land, air and water. Activities guide students through a process that begins with awareness, moves students toward understanding, enables them to challenge preconceived notions, and motivates them to seek constructive avenues for environmental action. Project Learning Tree Activity Guides are available free of charge for educators who participate in a PLT workshop. Contact:
Project WET is a curriculum and activity guide for K-12 formal and nonformal educators. It contains over 90 innovative, interdisciplinary activities that are hands-on, easy to use, and provide academic skill building. Designed with a commitment to state and national standards, the guide addresses the following content areas: water has unique physical and chemical characteristics, water is essential for all to exist, water connects all earth systems, water is a natural resource, water resources are managed, water resources exist within social contexts, and water resources exist within cultural contexts. Project WET Activity Guides are available free of charge for educators who participate in a Project WET workshop. Contact:
WOW! is an entire book filled with background information and activities specific to wetlands. Wonders of Wetlands uses a hands-on approach to introduce teachers and other educators to wetlands and their unique characteristics. The materials are K-12th grade, interdisciplinary, indoor and outdoor, and are conceptually designed to build on prior knowledge, as students become more familiar with wetland concepts. WOW! is sometimes included as a supplementary resource in Project WET workshops in Pennsylvania. However, unlike most of these other resources, WOW! can also be purchased separately without attending a workshop ($15.95). Available from:
Aquatic Project WILD In Pennsylvania, Aquatic Project WILD is offered by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission as part of a larger package, which focuses on the aquatic resources of the Commonwealth, called Keystone Aquatic Resource Education (KARE). While most of the curriculum resources summarized in this section stand alone and can be obtained by attending one six-hour workshop, KARE is comprised of three resources (Aquatic Project WILD, Living in Water, and Water Resources in Pennsylvania) and requires a fifteen-hour workshop. Aquatic Project WILD, Living in Water and Water Resources in Pennsylvania activity guides are available free of charge for educators who participate in a KARE workshop. Contact:
Food, Land and People (FLP) The mission of FLP is "to provide resources and promote approaches to learning which help educators and students in grades K-12 understand the interrelationships between agriculture, the environment and people." FLP contains 40 agro-environmental lessons which can be incorporated into all areas of the school curriculum. The program uses a variety of skills to make students more aware of their connection to agriculture, and to teach them how to apply the knowledge base about food and fiber that they have learned to their everyday lives. Food, Land and People Activity Guides are available free of charge for educators who participate in a FLP workshop. Contact:
This is the newest (1998) of a number of excellent resources on bats available from Bat Conservation International (BCI). BCI is a non-profit organization that protects bats and their habitats around the world. "Discover Bats!" is a multimedia educator package, which combines a 21-activity guide with a four part video, showing unique footage of bats in action. The activity guide contains background information for teachers and students, 21 integrated lessons, a glossary and bibliography. This multimedia kit can be purchased for $54.95; members price $39.95. Available from:
A List of Selected Organizations Involved in Environmental Education in Pennsylvania These are organizations currently involved in environmental education in Pennsylvania. At least some of the programs and/or materials these organizations offer focus on wildlife and wildlife habitat. Pennsylvania
Department of Education (PDE) The office of Environment & Ecology within the Pennsylvania Department of Education is an important source for curriculum development, teacher training, teacher workshops and planned course development. The new state standards in Environment & Ecology were developed under the leadership of the Department of Education’s curriculum advisors. The office sponsors several national teacher training programs, including Project Learning Tree (PLT), Project WET, and Food, Land & People (FLP).
Pennsylvania
Game Commission (PGC) The Pennsylvania Game Commission is the state agency responsible for conserving and managing the wild birds and mammals of the Commonwealth. The Game Commission offers a variety of educational programs, workshops and materials related to Pennsylvania’s wildlife; many of these resources are available free of charge or at minimal cost. The Game Commission also sponsors Project WILD in Pennsylvania and offers WILD Action Grants for schools and youth organizations (see organization brochure in the Wildlife Education section of the Wild Pennsylvania Teacher’s Guide).
Western
Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/PA_ENV-Her/western_pa_conservancy.htm The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) is a membership-based, not-for-profit conservation organization whose core mission is "saving the places we care about," which includes protecting natural lands in Pennsylvania, promoting healthy and attractive communities, and preserving Fallingwater (see organization brochure in the Habitat Management section of the Wild Pennsylvania Teacher’s Guide).
Rocky
Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) is an international wildlife habitat conservation organization that has played an important role in helping Pennsylvania with its elk management programs. RMEF offers a number of publications, including "Wild Outdoor World (W.O.W.)", a kids’ magazine that focuses on the natural world. RMEF also has a variety of free educational materials available for teachers.
Pennsylvania
Alliance for Environmental Education (PAEE) 4999 Jonestown Road, Suite 203 The Pennsylvania Alliance for Environmental Education (PAEE) is a non-profit organization "which promotes and supports environmental education activities and efforts throughout Pennsylvania." The organization publishes an excellent quarterly journal and hosts an annual conference each November in a different part of the state (see organization brochure in the Wildlife Education section of the Wild Pennsylvania Teacher’s Guide).
Pennsylvania
Center for Environmental Education (PCEE) The Pennsylvania Center for Environmental Education (PCEE) is a state-wide partnership of eleven organizations and is designed to assist with the environmental education needs of Pennsylvania. The services of PCEE are available to schools, nongovernment organizations, individual citizens, business and industry, and others. One of those services is to disseminate environmental education information and materials.
Department
of Environmental Protection (DEP) Office of Policy and Communications The mission of the Department of Environmental Protection is to protect the air, land and water in Pennsylvania from pollution and to provide a cleaner environment for Pennsylvanians. As part of this mission, DEP has developed environmental education materials which are available to teachers. DEP also administers an Environmental Education Grants Program.
Department
of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us Pennsylvania’s state parks have a strong environmental education program which includes the Water Quality Monitoring Program (WQMP) for high school students and teachers, student field learning experiences for preschool through 12th grade, in-service and pre-service teacher workshops, and curriculum development.
Pennsylvania
Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD) has materials available to teachers, as well as two grant programs available to help Pennsylvanians work toward the improvement of water quality in our state. There is also a wealth of resources available through the various County Conservation Districts across the Commonwealth.
Wild Resource Conservation Fund (WRCF) The mission of the Wild Resource Conservation Fund (WRCF) is to promote the support of native wildlife and wild plants. The organization has a variety of materials available free or at lost cost, as well as videos for loan or purchase. Teachers can request an educators’ list of materials available.
Audubon
Council of Pennsylvania The Audubon Council of Pennsylvania serves the 25,000 National Audubon members who reside in our state. The Council "promotes and encourages the conservation, preservation and protection of our natural resources." One way that it does this is by sponsoring environmental education programs and materials for both children and adults.
Pennsylvania
Fish & Boat Commission The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission is the state agency responsible for the protection and management of Pennsylvania’s fish, amphibians, reptiles, and aquatic invertebrates. The Commission sponsors KARE (Keystone Aquatic Resource Education) materials and teacher workshops. They also have a number of educational publications available for teachers, as well as an extensive audiovisual loan library.
Alliance
for the Chesapeake Bay The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is a partnership of citizens, organizations, and businesses working to restore the Bay. In Pennsylvania, the Alliance is working with local watershed associations to plant thousands of trees to help streams and rivers in the Susquehanna basin run cleaner. The Alliance also sponsors "Bayscapes," a program to promote environmentally sound landscaping.
USDA
Natural Resources Conservation Service http://www.pa.nrcs.usda.gov The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture which provides information to farmers and others to assist in improving the way we use and affect our natural resources. NRCS posters, pamphlets, and presentations are available by contacting the county NRCS office, or the Pennsylvania state information specialist at the phone number listed above.
Some Additional Resources (Books, Videos, Organizations, etc.) on Black Bears...
Video: On the Trail of the Pennsylvania Black Bear, $29.95; a teacher’s packet is being developed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission to accompany this video. Available from: Pennsylvania Game Commission (see "Educational Publications & Merchandise" pamphlet in "Wildlife Education" section of the Wild Pennsylvania teacher’s guide).
Program: The Pennsylvania Game Commission offers programs about black bears for students at your school. Available from: contact your local Pennsylvania Game Commission office; see listing of local offices in the "Wildlife Education" section of the Wild Pennsylvania teacher’s guide.
Some Additional Resources (Books, Videos, Organizations, etc.) on Otter / Fisher Reintroduction...
Book: Mammals of Pennsylvania by Joseph F. Merritt (1987), University of Pittsburgh Press, $9.43; a useful reference for any of the mammals covered in the Wild Pennsylvania television series. Available from: Pennsylvania Game Commission (see "Educational Publications & Merchandise" pamphlet in "Wildlife Education" section of the Wild Pennsylvania teacher’s guide).
Video: The Homecoming, $20.00; about the reintroduction of the otters into Pennsylvania. Available from: Wild Resource Conservation
Fund
Some Additional Resources (Books, Videos, Organizations, etc.) on Deer Management...
Journal: PAEE Journal, Vol. 4, No. 3 (1996), free while back issues are still available; a single issue devoted to deer management issues in Pennsylvania. Available from: Pennsylvania Alliance for Environmental Educ.
(PAEE)
Video: Pennsylvania Whitetails: Living with Change, $29.95; about deer and deer management in Pennsylvania. Available from:
Video: White-tailed Deer: Pennsylvania’s Most Controversial Animal, $35.00; about deer and deer management in Pennsylvania. Available from:
Some Additional Resources (Books, Videos, Organizations, etc.) on Elk...
Resource & Activity Guide: WILD About Elk, free; a resource and activity guide developed by Project WILD and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation with background information and activities specific to elk. Available from: Pennsylvania Game Commission (see flyer and order form in the "Elk" section of the Wild Pennsylvania teacher’s guide).
Booklet: The Elk of Pennsylvania by Ralph Harrison; background information primarily on the history of elk in Pennsylvania, as well as elk natural history information. Available from:
Some Additional Resources (Books, Videos, Organizations, etc.) on Raptor Restoration...
Book: Raptors: the Birds of Prey by Scott Weidensaul (1996), Lyons & Burford, $40.00; an excellent and comprehensive reference to the world’s diurnal birds of prey. Available from:
Video: Return from Forever, $20.00; about the successful recovery of the osprey in Pennsylvania. Available from:
Some Additional Resources (Books, Videos, Organizations, etc.) on Habitat Management...
Booklet: Enhancing Wildlife Habitat: a Directory of Wildlife Enhancement Demonstration Site in Pennsylvania, free; this booklet has the same general information as "Management Practices for Enhancing Wildlife Habitat" included in this section of the Wild Pennsylvania teacher’s guide, but also includes an impressive directory of sites where wildlife management practices have been implemented and can be visited. Available from:
Teacher Inserts: The Pennsylvania Forestry Association (PFA) publishes educational material for teachers on forestry topics. These teacher inserts are part of their quarterly magazine Pennsylvania Forests , but can also be purchased separately. Available from:
Some Additional Resources (Books, Videos, Organizations, etc.) on Wetlands...
Book: Swamp and Bog: Trees, Shrubs, and Wildflowers of Eastern Freshwater Wetlands by John Eastman (1995), Stackpole Books, $16.95; a field guide to the "common and typical" plants of eastern wetlands, but which also discusses the plants’ "roles as habitat and community dwellers." Available from:
Booklet: Wetlands and Wildlife (1993), $4.00; excellent background information for educators and others, on wetlands and the wildlife that live there. Available from:
Booklet: Nature Scope’s Wading into Wetlands by Judy Braus (1989; revised 1998), National Wildlife Federation, $9.70; first written when most people were still unaware of the beauty and vulnerability of wetlands; still an excellent source of background information and activities. Available from:
Resource Guide: Guide to Wetlands Education in Pennsylvania, free; includes background information on wetlands and an extensive list of resources available for teaching about wetlands in Pennsylvania. Available from:
Organization: Penn State Cooperative Wetlands Center; sponsors an "Adopt-a-Wetland Program" for Pennsylvania. Contact:
Some Additional Resources (Books, Videos, Organizations, etc.) on Backyard Wildlife...
Resource Guide: WILD School Sites, free; a resource guide developed by Project WILD with background and resource information on school habitat improvement projects. Available from:
Book: Woodcrafting for Wildlife, (3rd Ed.), $6.00; an excellent resource of background information and plans for building and placing houses for birds and small mammals that nest or rest in cavities; developed by the Wild Resource Conservation Fund and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Available from:
Book: Noah’s Garden: Restoring the Ecology of Our Backyards by Sara Stein (1993), Houghton Mifflin, $12.00; an inspiring introduction to the philosophy underlying planting our yards and gardens to benefit wildlife. Available from:
Book: Backyard Naturalist by Craig Tufts (1988), National Wildlife Federation; essays on attracting backyard wildlife with food, water and cover. Available from:
Book: Birds, Bats, Butterflies...and Other Backyard Beasts by Scott Shalaway (1992), Saddle Ridge Press, $15.00; a guide for how to attract the aforementioned critters to your backyard; includes some identification and natural history information. Available from:
Booklet: APATH (Audubon Protecting Animals Through Habitat): Native Plants in the Creation of Backyard, Schoolyard and Park Habitat Areas by Marci Mowery (1997), Audubon Council of Pennsylvania, $9.00; an excellent resource for creating habitat areas for wildlife with plant species native to Pennsylvania. Available from:
Fact Sheets: Bayscapes, $5.00; a set of seven detailed homeowners guides and other useful information about how to develop "environmentally sound landscapes benefiting people, wildlife, and the Chesapeake Bay. Bayscaping advocates a ‘holistic’ approach to landscaping through principles inspired by relationships in the natural environment." Available from:
Booklet and Tip Sheets: Backyard Conservation: Bringing Conservation from the Countryside to Your Backyard, one set free; color booklet and ten black-and-white tip sheets which cover various practices used to conserve and improve natural resources on agricultural land and in your own backyard (two of the tip sheets, "Wetland" and "Wildlife Habitat" are included in the Wild Pennsylvania teacher’s guide). Available from:
Video: Season of the Bat, $20.00; separates facts from the folklore which surround bats; a teacher’s guide is also available. Available from:
Video: Bat-free Belfries: a Guide to Bat-proofing, $35.00, explores the important role of bats in the northeast and how to provide alternative roosts for them by erecting bat boxes. Available from:
Program/Organization: Monarch Watch; "a network of students, teachers, volunteers and researchers dedicated to the study of the biology of the Monarch butterfly;" Monarch Watch participants are involved in a variety of activities, including rearing Monarchs in the classroom and tagging migrating adults. Contact:
Program/Organization: DCNR Bluebird Trails Program; a program "to coordinate the efforts and resources of parks and individuals interested in re-establishing the eastern bluebird population." Their booklet, "Bluebird Trails in Pennsylvania State Parks," is included in the "Backyard Wildlife" section of the Wild Pennsylvania teacher’s guide. Contact:
Organization: Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania, "BSP Members receive information on nesting preferences, plans for the four standard bluebird box designs, and access to people who can help you put boxes together and place them in appropriate bluebird habitat." Their publication "Notes from the Nest Box" is included in the "Backyard Wildlife" section of the Wild Pennsylvania teacher’s guide. Contact: Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania
Some Additional Resources (Books, Videos, Organizations, etc.) on Wildlife Artists...
Organization: Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art; "a nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging the worlds of art and science, fostering an appreciation for the central Appalachian region’s natural heritage, and furthering the legacy of its namesake, the nationally recognized wildlife artist Ned Smith." Contact: |
