For the Birds...
10/10/2020
Our most current PBL project had us learning all about our feathered friends in Alaska. Our driving question "How do we create a safe winter habitat for some Alaskan birds?" guided us in our explorations. The second graders first reviewed what a habitat was and what specific components of the habitat needed to be present for different species of animals. To challenge their thinking, they were given a choice of what Pokemon creature to build a proper habitat for. They had to think about climate, landscape, vegetation and food and water sources as well as how to keep their creatures safe from predators. Once they had a good understanding of what a habitat is comprised of, they began to focus their studies on birds. They learned about different species of Alaskan birds and which birds winter over here. The students then each chose a bird to do further research on, working on getting information from various sources, learning how to use kid-friendly search engines online and heard from a local bird expert from the Anchorage Audubon Society. They even learned how to draw different types of birds. Since the second graders knew that birds need food, water and a safe place to rest and keep warm, they agreed that building birdhouses and adding some feeders would be a good plan in helping to create the nice winter habitat for the birds. They tackled this building project with courage (some had never used a hammer or screwdriver before), collaboration (how should we fairly use the tools, who should go first) and creativity in their painting designs to create some beautiful bird houses! They also used their critical thinking skills to read and follow the instructions to make sure they had a useable birdhouse in the end. The next steps in this project will be to identify the perfect spots around the school grounds to place the birdhouses and add some feeders once the bears have gone off to hibernate. Then we can watch all winter long as the birds enjoy the fruits of our efforts!
Comments are closed.
|
Marcella HitchcockMs. Hitchcock teaches second grade, is a mom of two, an avid reader, lifelong learner, and a seeker of sunshine! Archives
March 2021
Categories |