MS-8 (Grades 1-5)
What's in Your Backyard? A Hands-on Approach to Integrating Wisconsin's Natural Wonders Into Your Curriculum
Barbara Thompson, West Salem Elementary, West Salem, WI
bthomopson@wsalem.k12.wi.us
  

We live in a beautiful state with an abundance of natural wonders.  What do you and your students know about the state's natural resources and the challenges we will face in being good stewards of our air, water and land? This course will introduce you to a variety of Wisconsin's plants and animals and help you easily integrate teaching about them into your current curriculum.  Through hands-on experiences you will learn about wolves, cranes, trees, Wisconsin deer issues, environmental literature for children and more.

This workshop will be held at the West Salem Outdoor Education Center where you will immerse yourself in three different habitats as you learn about the plants and animals that live there as well as current threats to these special places.  You will be introduced to the most current teaching resources available to you.  Activities presented will allow you to integrate your new knowledge into science, reading, language arts, social studies and art classes.  You'll walk through a rare oak savannah and (hopefully) see wolf tracks and whooping cranes during a field trip to the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge.  Learn about the Crane Trunk available to you for use in your classroom.  There will be lots of time for networking and sharing ideas about how to bring environmental education activities into your classroom.