Wild Words for Wild Wings
at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
 
A project that opens young eyes to new worlds.
 
Sandy Beck,
Education Director
The Wild Classroom
St. Francis Wildlife Association
 
RATIONALE
Tallahassee's proximity to the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge, the dedicated "Gateway to the Panhandle Section of the Florida Birding Trail," offers unique and spectacular birdwatching opportunities.
 
Birding is a great way to introduce children to the wonders of wildlife diversity. Ideally, teaching children to identify birds and what they need to survive moves children closer to caring about them and ultimately to caring about the lands the birds need.
 
From The Orange Dove of Fiji: Poems for the World Wide Fund for Nature:
"Poetry can reach parts of the mind that simple facts and statistics cannot reach. The will to conserve our fellow plant and animal inhabitants depends on two things: an understanding of the problems and a commitment to do what is necessary to solve them. The facts are easily established; it takes the language of the poet to stimulate commitment."
PROJECT SUMMARY
Through classroom presentations with permanently disabled birds, teacher workshops, three seasonal (fall, winter and spring) birding field trips to the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge and a student presentation at the Wakulla Wildlife Festival of a collaborative, student-created "Guide to the Birds at St. Marks," this project provides fourth grade teachers with engaging interdisciplinary instructional activities which focus on both resident and migratory bird species at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and the habitats we share. Teachers are also provided with appropriate resources and support that enable them to develop and field test relevant content-based extensions to teach both critical and creative thinking and basic skills.
 
GOALS
Teach responsible stewardship of our natural resources, specifically birds at St. Marks and the habitats upon which they depend.
Develop engaging, interdisciplinary instructional activities for fourth graders in Leon and surrounding Florida counties, to be used in conjunction with trips to the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and outreach programs presented by the The Wild Classroom.
 
As a result of participating in these activites, students will:
 
1. Acquire skills associated with birdwatching such as: observation, classification, listening, patience and inference making.
2. Use these skills and predetermined clues to identify birds, adaptations which enable them to survive and the different habitats in which they live.
3. Use visual arts and poetry to articulate their experiences, observations and perceptions ­ particularly as these relate to their birding trips to the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.
4. Create a Powerpoint guide to the birds at St. Marks that empowers the students to share what they learn and inspire others to become birders.
 
PRESS
"Kids connect with nature through bird watching," Tallahassee Democrat, April 11, 2007
"Bird-watching intrigues kids," Tallahassee Democrat, March 24, 2007
 
ACCOLADES
Letter from United States Senator Bill Nelson, November 7, 2006
Birds at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
by Fourth Grade Classes at Hartsfield Elementary
Tallahassee, Florida
2004 - 2005
 
Birds at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
by Fourth Grade Classes at Astoria Park Elementary

Tallahassee, Florida
2005 - 2006

Birds at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
by Fourth Grade Classes at Rueidger Elementary

Tallahassee, Florida
2006 - 2007

March 13, 2007:  Ruediger Elementary School
Fourth-grader Sydney, 9, left, sketches a bird that Angelina, 9, center, points out to Alea, 10, during their bird-watching outing to St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.
Photo by SCOTT HOLSTEIN /Special to the Democrat

Oakridge Elementary School's W.I.N.G.S. Program, Spring 2006

 

 

 

This project was made possible thanks to A Nature of Learning Grant from the
National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
and additional support from our Partners:
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Association, Inc.
St. Francis Wildlife Association
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Leon County Schools
Tall Timbers Research Station
Pinewoods Bird Festival
Wakulla Springs State Park
Wakulla Wildlife Festival
 
The Wild Classroom
The St. Francis Wildlife Association