EEA RESOURCES
Wildlife Lessons and Activities
EEA Wildlife Viewing Project & Education Resources
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Congratulations to EEA's 2023 Wildlife Viewing Sub-Grant Winners!
Thanks to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources / Wildlife Resources Division for the Wildlife Viewing Grant that made it possible for EEA to provide this equipment to schools, parks and other environmental education providers.
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Alcova Elementary School
Athens Montessori School Big Haynes Creek Nature Center Cass Middle School Cirrus Academy Charter School Cloverleaf Elementary Double Churches Middle School EMBARC Community Youth Farm / DeKalb Co Recreation Parks & Cultural Affairs Euharlee Elementary / The Euharlee Grow Getters Fayette Environmental Education Center Gardens For Growing Community Ila Elementary Mason Creek Elementary School |
Mission Road Elementary
Okefenokee Swamp Park, Inc. Pike County Elementary School Pleasant Grove Elementary School Radloff Middle School Red Top Middle School Riverwood International Charter School Saddle Ridge K-8 Stockbridge Elementary Troup County 4-H Varnell Elementary School Walton County Master Gardeners Woodland Elementary School |
Teaching Resources
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Click to access species fact sheets from Georgia Biodiversity Portal
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Suggested Wildlife Learning SequenceObserve the plant and animal species that are evident in the schoolyard or nature area. Ask questions about why some species are present and others are not (or undetected).
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Birds, Bugs and Butterflies free activities from GA Author Steve Rich's: Outdoor Science
Click below to access free lessons and activities related to wildlife:
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Wildlife Lessons and Activities
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Habitat Lessons and Activities
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STEAM Teaching Activities related to Georgia Wildlife
This collection of lessons, activities, competitions, games and projects are related to Georgia wildlife species. Click here to review.
Fish Need to Move - a fish migration lesson and engineering challenge from NFWS Project WILD Program Resources for Teachers World Wildlife Foundation Teaching Toolkits for various (non-Georgia) species |
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Tools for Identifying Plants and Wildlife in the Schoolyard or Nature Area |
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Projects for Restoring Wildlife Habitat and Conserving Species of Concern in GA
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Georgia Wildlife Art Activities |
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Community Science Projects, Activities and Contests |
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Habitat and Wildlife Monitoring Activities
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Crosswalk: Wildlife Viewing Activities by GA Standards (GSES)When K-12 teachers and non-formal educators integrate outdoor learning with required standards at each grade level, environmental education can engage students in learning essential concepts. Outdoor observations, explorations, and investigations provide real world context for understanding core ideas and recognizing crosscutting concepts. This approach ensures that environmental education is baked into the curriculum rather than marginalized. Here are the Georgia standards related to wildlife and some ideas for teaching:
Georgia Standards of Excellence in Science: Correlation to K-12 Wildlife Standards |
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Professional Learning for Teachers related to Wildlife Conservation |
Wildlife Viewing Project
Overview
During 2023, the Environmental Education Alliance (EEA) provided wildlife cameras or bird feeders to 20+ schools or non-profit nature centers across the state to help students and the community investigate plant and animal species that frequent their schoolyards, nature centers and neighborhoods. The camera equipment was funded by a Wildlife Viewing Grant from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division.
Participating educators will commit to teaching science standards through outdoor learning activities, as well as in-person and remote wildlife watching. EEA will support educators by providing professional development on outdoor learning and by curating a collection of lesson ideas and learning activities that align observation of real-life phenomena (wildlife watching) to the Georgia Standards of Excellence in Science, and to species and habitats referenced in Georgia's State Wildlife Action Plan.
Goals
Wildlife cameras, nest cameras, and other viewing devices will be incorporated into learning activities in order to:
Project Timeline
Applications were accepted and cameras distributed in Spring 2023. Project activities with students took place in April and May and reports and images were submitted by wildlife viewing equipment recipients by the end of May, 2023.
Targeted Audience
The target audience for the wildlife viewing equipment was pre-K-12 students at school campuses or nature / environmental education centers in a variety of Georgia ecoregions.
Use of Wildlife Cameras
Wildlife cameras allow students to observe real world phenomena, including the presence, behaviors, and interactions among wildlife species on campus, as part of learning activities correlated to the Georgia Standards of Excellence in Science. Students may also collect data for community science projects and/or implement student-designed initiatives to restore wildlife habitat.
Expectations of Wildlife Viewing Equipment Recipients
Wildlife equipment recipients engaged students in wildlife viewing during spring of 2023 and provided images or videos of these activities by the end of the school year. Specifically, recipients used Georgia's State Wildlife Action Plan to identify their ecoregion, find listed plant and animal species of interest as well as high priority (vulnerable) habitats for that ecoregion, and selected at least one species. Learn more about species here if it is an endangered species; or here at the Biodiversity Portal.
Program Results
Among the anticipated project benefits:
During 2023, the Environmental Education Alliance (EEA) provided wildlife cameras or bird feeders to 20+ schools or non-profit nature centers across the state to help students and the community investigate plant and animal species that frequent their schoolyards, nature centers and neighborhoods. The camera equipment was funded by a Wildlife Viewing Grant from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division.
Participating educators will commit to teaching science standards through outdoor learning activities, as well as in-person and remote wildlife watching. EEA will support educators by providing professional development on outdoor learning and by curating a collection of lesson ideas and learning activities that align observation of real-life phenomena (wildlife watching) to the Georgia Standards of Excellence in Science, and to species and habitats referenced in Georgia's State Wildlife Action Plan.
Goals
Wildlife cameras, nest cameras, and other viewing devices will be incorporated into learning activities in order to:
- Engage more students and educators in outdoor learning
- Increase appreciation for and understanding of Georgia plants and wildlife
- Promote teaching of environmental science standards using local species and habitats instead of faraway examples
- Engage students in stewardship activities related to conservation of native plants, wildlife, and habitats
- Prepare students to become future decision-makers and caretakers of Georgia's natural resources
- Involve communities in wildlife watching
Project Timeline
Applications were accepted and cameras distributed in Spring 2023. Project activities with students took place in April and May and reports and images were submitted by wildlife viewing equipment recipients by the end of May, 2023.
Targeted Audience
The target audience for the wildlife viewing equipment was pre-K-12 students at school campuses or nature / environmental education centers in a variety of Georgia ecoregions.
Use of Wildlife Cameras
Wildlife cameras allow students to observe real world phenomena, including the presence, behaviors, and interactions among wildlife species on campus, as part of learning activities correlated to the Georgia Standards of Excellence in Science. Students may also collect data for community science projects and/or implement student-designed initiatives to restore wildlife habitat.
Expectations of Wildlife Viewing Equipment Recipients
Wildlife equipment recipients engaged students in wildlife viewing during spring of 2023 and provided images or videos of these activities by the end of the school year. Specifically, recipients used Georgia's State Wildlife Action Plan to identify their ecoregion, find listed plant and animal species of interest as well as high priority (vulnerable) habitats for that ecoregion, and selected at least one species. Learn more about species here if it is an endangered species; or here at the Biodiversity Portal.
Program Results
Among the anticipated project benefits:
- Interest in local, native plant and animal species by teachers, student, and their families
- More relevance of curriculum and increased student engagement as a result of swapping faraway examples for local ones when studying habitats, endangered and invasive species, human impacts on the environment, climate change impacts on habitat and range, ecological roles and interactions, and other environmental science topics
- Greater awareness that plant and animal species can only be conserved by protecting or restoring habitat
- Increased engagement of students outdoors, observing phenomena and participating in project-based learning
- Promotion of best practices in teaching outdoors
- Ongoing wildlife watching in future years
- Students who grow up interested in protecting Georgia habitats, who also possess the understanding, motivation and know-how to make responsible decisions to care for the state's resources
Guidelines for Ethical Wildlife Viewing
source: Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Division
- Observe animals from a safe distance, for you and for them. Use binoculars, a spotting scope or camera with a telephoto lens for a closer look.
- Move slowly and cautiously. Avoid nests and dens. Learn to recognize and respect wildlife alarm signals. If the animal’s behavior changes as you approach it, chances are you are too close.
- Do not feed wild animals. Put their safety and health first by leaving them to forage for natural foods. Note: This does not include feeders for birds and squirrels. Also: Be BearWise at home.
- Do not harass, chase or harm wildlife. Harassing wildlife is not only illegal, it can be dangerous for you and the animal. Do not disturb resting wildlife. This can cause them to expend energy needed to help survive winter or seasonal migrations.
- Be considerate. Respect wildlife, habitats, other people and property. Leave pets at home.
- Observe rules and regulations. Stay on marked trails and roads, and off private lands unless you have permission. Observe site and local requirements regarding dogs.
Join the team! EEA is hiring a Communications and Events Specialist.
Learn more and apply HERE
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Environmental Education Alliance, Inc.
P.O. Box 801066 | Acworth, GA 30101 EEA does not does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in its program , activities, or employment. For more information on EEA's non-discrimination commitment click here . Grievance officer may be contacted at [email protected] |