Education

After School Club Opportunities

Orange Audubon Society can offer an outline for a monthly after school birding club curriculum for your school, for Grades 3-5. This plan is focused on STEAM, and can be modified based on student interest and teacher input. Other grade levels can be offered.

These lessons are designed for a 75-minute after school program, though times can be adjusted to fit a school’s particular requirements. To sign up your school for a STEAM Birding club please contact Kathy Rigling at education@orangeaudubonfl.org.

The following standards are embedded throughout the bird count and nature observation portions of this program. As students develop their own questions on the “I Wonder Board,” other topics of inquiry can be pursued. Additionally, there are standards that are specific to the lessons and a few recursive standards which you will find on the lesson’s pages.

  • Grade 3 Standards:
    • SC.3.N.1.1 Raise questions about the natural world, investigate them individually and in teams through free exploration and systematic investigations, and generate appropriate explanations based on those explorations.
    • SC.3.N.1.3 Keep records as appropriate, such as pictorial, written, or simple charts and graphs, of investigations conducted.
    • SC.3.N.1.4 Recognize the importance of communication among scientists.
    • SC.3.N.1.2 Compare the observations made by different groups using the same tools and seek reasons to explain the differences across groups.
  • Grade 4 Standards:
    • SC.4.N.1.1 Raise questions about the natural world, use appropriate reference materials that support understanding to obtain information (identifying the source), conduct both individual and team investigations through free exploration and systematic investigations, and generate appropriate explanations based on those explorations.
    • SC.4.N.1.3 Explain that science does not always follow a rigidly defined method (“the scientific method”) but that science does involve the use of observations and empirical evidence.
    • SC.4.N.1.5 Compare the methods and results of investigations done by other classmates.
    • SC.4.N.2.1 Explain that science focuses solely on the natural world.
  • Grade 5 Standards:
    • SC.5.N.1.5 Recognize and explain that authentic scientific investigation frequently does not parallel the steps of “the scientific method.”

September: Introduction to Birds, Bird Watching, & Binoculars

  • Standards:
    • SC.3.L.15.1 Classify animals into major groups (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, arthropods, vertebrates and invertebrates, those having live births and those which lay eggs) according to their physical characteristics and behaviors.
  • Indoor Activities:
    • Interactive Powerpoint- What Makes a Bird a Bird?
    • Introduce “I Wonder Board”
  • Outdoor Activities:
    • Bird ID Race game (students learn to remember field marks)
    • Introduce binoculars, have students practice with bird photos
    • Birdwatching Bingo with binoculars
    • Return inside and add to “I Wonder Board.”

October: Migration

  • Standards:
    • SC.3.L.17.1 Describe how animals and plants respond to changing seasons.
    • SC.4.L.17.1 Compare the seasonal changes in Florida plants and animals to those in other regions of the country.
    • SC.4.L.17.4 Recognize ways plants and animals, including humans, can impact the environment.
    • SC.5.L.15.1 Describe how, when the environment changes, differences between individuals allow some plants and animals to survive and reproduce while others die or move to new locations or move to new locations.
  • Indoor Activities:
    • Interactive Powerpoint- What is Migration?
    • Begin focus bird activity handout for each student, assign birds, they draw a picture and color their assigned bird.
    • Students begin their bird log.
    • Show Wings over Florida certificates they can earn.
  • Outdoor Activities:
    • Migration Challenge Game #1
    • Review binoculars.
    • Discuss Community Science and eBird.
    • Conduct a bird count.
    • Go back indoors and submit bird count using a computer with a projector.
    • Students add to their bird log.
    • Add to “I Wonder Board.”

November: Habitat

  • Standards:
    • SC.2.L.17.1 Compare and contrast the basic needs that all living things, including humans, have for survival.
    • SC.2.L.17.2 Recognize and explain that living things are found all over Earth, but each is only able to live in habitats that meet its basic needs.
    • SC.5.L.17.1 Compare and contrast adaptations displayed by animals and plants that enable them to survive in different environments such as life cycle variations, animal behaviors and physical characteristics.
  • Indoor Activities:
    • Interactive Powerpoint- Habitats and Birds
    • Continue focus bird activity – handout for each student, students use field guides to write information about their bird’s characteristics (size, color, diet, etc.)
  • Outdoor Activities:Habitat needs game
    • Monthly bird count. Students complete their bird logs and note habitats observed.
    • Note any focus birds seen.
    • Go back indoors and submit bird count using a computer with a projector.
    • Compare/Contrast with October’s bird count.
    • Students add to their bird log.
    • Add to “I Wonder Board.”

December: Bird Behavior

  • Standards:
    • SC.4.L.16.3 Recognize that animal behaviors may be shaped by heredity and learning.
    • SC.5.L.15.1 Describe how, when the environment changes, differences between individuals allow some plants and animals to survive and reproduce while others die or move to new locations.
  • Indoor Activities:
    • Interactive Powerpoint- Bird Behavior
    • Continue focus bird activity – handout for each student, students use field guides to write additional information about their bird (habitat and behavior)
  • Outdoor Activities:
    • Game- Birdy Says (bird behavior)
    • Monthly bird count. Note bird behavior observed and focus birds seen.
    • Students complete their bird logs.
    • Go back indoors and submit bird count using a computer with a projector.
    • Compare/Contrast with previous bird counts.
    • Add to “I Wonder Board.”

January: Bird Beaks

  • Standards:
    • SC. 4.L.16.2 Explain that although characteristics of plants and animals are inherited, some characteristics can be affected by the environment.
    • SC.5.L.17.1 Compare and contrast adaptations displayed by animals and plants that enable them to survive in different environments such as life cycle variations, animal behaviors and physical characteristics.
    • SC.5.N.1.3 Recognize and explain the need for repeated experimental trials.
    • SC.5.N.1.4 Identify a control group and explain its importance in an experiment.
    • SC.5.N.1.2 Explain the difference between an experiment and other types of scientific investigation.
  • Indoor Activities:
    • Bird beak adaptation activity including discussion of variables. (about 45 minutes)
  • Outdoor Activities:
    • Monthly bird count. Note bird beaks observed and focus birds seen.
    • Students complete their bird logs.
    • Go back indoors and submit bird count using a computer with a projector.
    • Students add to their bird logs.
    • Add to “I Wonder Board.”

February: Community Science

  • Standards:
    • SC.3.N.1.3 Keep records as appropriate, such as pictorial, written, or simple charts and graphs, of investigations conducted.
    • SC.3.N.1.4 Recognize the importance of communication among scientists.
    • SC.3.N.1.2 Compare the observations made by different groups using the same tools and seek reasons to explain the differences across groups.
    • SC.4.N.1.3 Explain that science does not always follow a rigidly defined method (“the scientific method”) but that science does involve the use of observations and empirical evidence.
  • Indoor Activities:
    • Interactive Powerpoint- Counting Birds for Science
    • Student presentations of focus birds. They share their drawings and ID information.
  • Outdoor Activities:
    • Monthly bird count. Note focus birds seen. Students complete their bird logs.
    • Go back indoors and submit bird count using a computer with a projector.
    • Compare/Contrast with previous bird counts. If during the Great Backyard
    • Bird Count, show submission on the interactive live map.
    • Students add to their bird logs.
    • Add to “I Wonder Board.”

March: Owls

  • Standards:
    • SC.4.L.17.2 Explain that animals, including humans, cannot make their own food and that when animals eat plants or other animals, the energy stored in the food source is passed to them.
    • SC.5.L.17.1 Compare and contrast adaptations displayed by animals and plants that enable them to survive in different environments such as life cycle variations, animal behaviors and physical characteristics.
  • Indoor Activities:
    • Interactive Powerpoint- Owls
    • Owl Senses game
    • Owl pellet activity (about 45 minutes)
  • Outdoor Activities:
    • Monthly bird count. Note focus birds seen. Students complete their bird logs and turn (certificates to be given in April).
    • Go back indoors and submit bird count using a computer with a projector.
    • Compare/Contrast with previous bird counts.
    • Add to “I Wonder Board.”

April: Spring Birds and Nesting

  • Standards:
    • SC.4. L.16.4 Compare and contrast the major stages in the life cycles of Florida plants and animals, such as those that undergo incomplete and complete metamorphosis, and flowering and nonflowering seed-bearing plants.
    • SC.5.L.17.1 Compare and contrast adaptations displayed by animals and plants that enable them to survive in different environments such as life cycle variations, animal behaviors and physical characteristics.
  • Indoor Activities:
    • Interactive Powerpoint- Spring Birds and Observing Nests
  • Outdoor Activities:
    • Monthly bird count. Note focus birds seen and new spring arrivals and nests. Students add to their bird logs.
    • Go back indoors and submit bird count using a computer with a projector. Look at totals for the year.
    • Add to “I Wonder Board.”
    • Pass out Wings over Florida Certificates and celebrate their achievements.