|
Winter Doesn't Stop Students from Dipping Into Creeks by Beth Etgen, UCCS Vice President - Education
"Wow! I never knew that creeks could be homes These were some of the comments made by Jeannie Courters' third grade students as they were happily engaged in learning more about the importance of creek life and habitats. On January 16th, 2007, Beth Etgen of the Effie Yeaw Nature Center (EYNC) and assistant Susan Atkinson presented the first "Dipping Into Creeks in the Classroom" program at Carriage Elementary School in Citrus Heights. One of the highlights of the program is a wonderful creek costume made by EYNC staff member, Libby Harmor. On this day, Jasmine was the lucky volunteer chosen to wear the creek cape as the group discussed what makes a healthy creek. Realistic fabric models of plants, fish, insects, amphibians and mammals were added to the cape while discussion reinforced the concepts of interdependence and food webs. Colorful slides brought the outdoors into the classroom by showing sites along several Sacramento County creeks, both healthy and in need of restoration. Students saw examples of erosion, trash and flooding while discussing simple ways to restore creeks as beneficial components of the community. The students also saw aerial view slides of local creeks flowing into the larger watershed system. The kids loved the group stations. They were excited to work in smaller groups while continuing to focus on creek ecology. Favorites were "Creek Life Bingo," "Invertebrate Concentration," the "I Care For Creeks" game and making a take-home creek food chain. One enthusiastic girl thanked us for bringing all the "cool stuff" to her classroom and asked when we would be back. A grant from the Sacramento Chapter of Urban Creeks Council allowed the Effie Yeaw Nature Center to develop the "Dipping Into Creeks in the Classroom" program for students in 2nd through 4th grades. This program uses local creeks as an ideal focus for learning through experiential environment-based education. Research and classroom- based studies show that students learn better, are better citizens at school, and transfer their learning to new situations better in environment-based education programs. For more information about scheduling a classroom presentation at your school, please call the Effie Yeaw Nature Center at 489-4918 ext. 237.
Sacramento Urban Creeks Council |
||