The Wildlife by Design program is an opportunity for teachers to work with Texas Wildlife Association’s education staff to bring wildlife and natural resources conservation presentations into the classroom. A member of Texas Wildlife Association’s Conservation Legacy team will come to the classroom with interactive wildlife-based lessons, activities and demonstrations. All presentations are designed to be grade specific and customized to meet the necessary science TEKS standards and/or to correlate with a specific thematic unit. - Each program is designed for a classroom length period of time, up to 60 minutes, and for a group of 20-45 students. - Programs are designed for grades K-8. - Each presentation date can include up to six (6) repeat programs. - Each school is allowed to receive two (2) Wildlife by Design presentations per school year, so please communicate with your team and team lead/coordinator and let them know of your program reservation date. - Program reservations are handled on a semester-by-semester basis and dates are scheduled first come, first served. Program Descriptions Birds of a Feather is an overview of the adaptations, characteristics, and basic needs of birds. Students will be engaged in hands-on investigations to discover traits that make a bird a bird, focusing on birds native to Texas, from the wild turkey to birds of prey. Activities include studying functions of bird anatomy, exploring real bird biofacts, and listening to the calls of native wild birds. Investigating Life Cycles is an inquiry-based program that allows students to investigate and compare life cycle models and record their observations. Students will learn the characteristics that allow a plant or animal to grow into a mature adult and how each stage affects its habitat and other plant and animal populations. Students will learn the difference between complete and incomplete metamorphosis in insects, as well as exploring the varied life cycles and interdependence of other members of the animal and plant kingdoms. Skins & Skulls is a prepared discussion of the identification and specialized adaptations of native Texas wildlife with animal skulls and skins. Students will investigate the skulls of these animals and use field guides to identify their ‘mystery skulls’, all while learning about their animal’s habitat, food sources, and adaptations for survival. Stewarding Soil is a series of hands-on activities that allows students to dig in and investigate! Students will learn how soil is formed; the characteristics of sand, silt, and clay; how soil health affects living and nonliving things; and what products come from soil. Throughout the program, students will gain a better understanding of why soil is so important to wildlife and people and how they can be stewards of this natural resource. Where Is Our Water? is an interactive program that covers a variety of water units, from the water cycle and water usage, to pollution and infiltration into our aquifers. During the presentation, activities and investigations will allow students to understand the impact that our use of water has on Texas aquifers, lakes, rivers, the land, humans, and wildlife. The main message is conservation! Request a Presentation
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What is G-Camp?
G-Camp is a 20-day field camp for 5th - 12th grade science teachers that provides first-hand experience with the principles of geology in the field, helps you develop new curriculum and virtual fieldtrips for your classroom, and makes learning fun and exciting out-of-doors. This field experience puts you on the outcrop, on the slope of a volcano, on the footwall of a fault, in a spectacular glacial valley, at the toe of a landslide, and in a pristine flowing stream - to mention just a few of the experiences of G-Camp. Our itinerary takes us through Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. Participants must arrive in College Station by 11:00 AM on Friday, June 28th, 2019, for orientation and to check out equipment, etc. Saturday, June 29th and Sunday, June 30th we will have introductory labs and workshops. We will depart on Monday, July 1st at 7:00AM. We will return to College Station in the late afternoon of Monday, July 15th. Participants should plan to depart on Tuesday, July 16th. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from College Station; however, all travel expenses (bus, hotels) during G-Camp will be covered, and teachers who complete the requirements will receive a stipend to cover meals during G-Camp. G-Camp will provide teachers ...an introduction to the principles of geology, as well as the opportunity to develop and share curriculum materials to teach the standards required for grades 5 - 12. During the trip we will explore geologic landscapes, volcanic features, ancient marine deposits, sand dunes, faults, glacial landscapes, streams, landslides, energy resources and mineral resources. G-Camp will travel from College Station through north Texas to New Mexico, Colorado and back through New Mexico and west Texas. We will go from slightly above sea level to locations higher than 13,000 feet. The views and knowledge will take your breath away! We travel by commercial bus to each field location and stay in motels along the way. Although we will not be walking long distances each day to reach outcrops and landforms, being able to walk several miles during the day at high elevations is a requirement for participation in G-Camp. Applying for G-CampThe first step is completing the online application (link below) and submitting it along with two (2) lettersof recommendation. Please give your references as much time as possible to respond to your request for references - apply early! Applications are now open for summer 2019. Application deadline is March 15, 2019. Thirty-six teachers will be selected for G-Camp. A selection committee will evaluate the applications and determine the teachers selected. So, what are you waiting for? Complete your application for G-Camp today! The exciting world of geology awaits you. McDonald Observatory is pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for our 2019 Summer Teacher Professional Development Workshops for K-12 educators. McDonald Observatory offers a unique setting for teacher
workshops: the Observatory and Visitors Center in the Davis Mountains of West Texas. Tours of the telescopes, discussions with the research astrophysicists in residence, and nighttime observing are all an integral part of every workshop experience. Not only will K-12 educators participate in hands-on activities aligned with state and national standards, they will receive at least 20 hours of Continuing Education Credit, and will practice their new astronomy skills under the Observatory’s dark skies. Teachers will partner with trained and nationally recognized astronomy educators. All workshops, as follows, have a fee of $100. The fee is due once teachers are accepted to reserve their position. Cancellations received more than 30 days before the first day of the workshop will be fully refunded. If you fail to appear for your workshop, or cancel less than 30 days before the first day of the workshop, the fee will not be refunded. The fee includes lodging, meals, and day/night workshop instruction. Travel to the Observatory is not included. Explore Our Solar System: July 8-10, K-8th grade Apply online today! Deadline for applications is February 28, 2019. Teacher notifications: March 29, 2019 Fee payment is due two weeks after receiving notification of acceptance. More details for each of the five workshops and the online application form can be found at: http://mcdonaldobservatory.org/teachers/profdev |
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January 2019
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