Conservation Education
-Diane Sand, Education Information Coordinator-
Conservation education and public outreach are very important to Crawford SWCD. The district offers many hands-on classroom programs covering many conservation topics that meet the Ohio Academic Content Standards.
Generally all of the presentations take 30 to 45 minutes. The classroom presentations are prepared for single class occupancy, but multiple classes can be combined, with advanced notice. My schedule fills up quickly, and scheduling will be made on a first come first serve basis.
All of our programs are free of charge to any Crawford County school or organization. Below is a listing of classroom and adult programs offered.
Current Selection of Available In-Class Programs
Soil:
Grades: PreK-Kinder NEW 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR!!
- Soil Sort – This lesson encourages students to think about the differences in soil. We will start the lesson with discussion on why soil is important, and then we will head outside to collect some soil samples. (I will supply samples if your school prefers). The class will be broken into small groups and each group will examine a soil sample to determine where the soil came from, and what it is made from.
Grades:PreK-3rd
- Soil Salad – This is a reinforcement of the science standard living and non-living. This is a fun interactive program to teach PreK-3rd about the “ingredients” of soil.
Grades: PreK-3rd
- Worms - Learn all about "natures plows" and the important role they play on Earth. I will read the book "A Diary of a Worm" and we will discuss the facts and fiction of this wonderful story, while learning some true worm facts. Real worms will be brought to the classroom for close up studying.
Grades: PreK-6th
- Worm Tunnel - This is an educational 9'X5' tunnel that the students can walk through to learn about recycling, worms, and decomposition. This is a great addition to the soil salad or worms programs.
Water:
Grades: PreK-Kinder NEW 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR!!
- Pond Life – We will read a book about pond life, complete a felt board activity to determine if my felt board friends live in a pond or in the ocean. The goal is to help the students learn about a local habitat and compare it to an ocean habitat. We will touch briefly on the food chain and young and adult animal differences. I have a pond color, cut, paste and counting book to use as a classroom follow up.
Grades: PreK-6th
- Water Cycle – Roll the dice and become a water molecule and travel through the water cycle.
Grades: 2nd-6th
- Macro Invertebrates – This program is like bringing a local stream ecosystem right to the classroom, but with out the mess. The students will learn what a macro invertebrate is, learn some important tools used in macro invertebrate identification and studies, water quality, and complete a stream assessment form on an "actual" stream.
Grades:3rd-6th
- Water Pollution “CSI” – This is for 3rd – 6th grade students based in the 1800’s (great for history class as well). A killer has swept through the streets of London; hundreds are dead! Through a series of clues, students solve a mystery to discover that water can also produce negative effects for people. We will analyze data to solve water pollution mysteries.
Grades:PreK-2nd
- Fred The Fish – Fred the Fish will visit the class room to help students PreK-2nd grade have a better understanding of water pollution.
Grades: 3rd-6th
- Who Polluted the Potomac? - This is a hands on demonstration covering how water in the Potomac River became polluted starting 500 years ago until today. We will cover many types of pollutants made by factories, motorists, families, and more.
Wildlife:
Grades: PreK-Kinder NEW 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR!!
- Butterfly Lifecycle – We will start the lesson by reading a story about the butterfly lifecycle, then we will talk about local butterflies and finish with making a butterfly lifecycle out of pasta.
Grades: PreK-Kinder NEW 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR!!
- Bird Beak Buffet - What is a bird? What do you know about birds? We will touch on bird feathers, bones, eggs, nests, and then what they eat and how. This is a hands on program where the students will move through 7 stations trying to use different bird beaks to collect food. For example at one station they will pretend to be a shorebird and use chopsticks to search in the sand to find insects. This is a great adaptation activity. This is an excellent program to borrow for center time!
Grades: PreK-6th
- Wild Turkey - This is a wonderful program for around the Thanksgiving holiday. Real turkey props will be brought for the class to view. The history, characteristics, habitat, and other interest areas of the wild turkey will be covered.
Grades: PreK-6th
- Pelts - Crawford County native animal pelts are brought in and can be used for hibernation, mammal studies, nocturnal, habitats, carnivore, herbivore, omnivore and specific characteristics to fit your age content standard. Pelts available are: raccoon, mink, coyote, red fox, grey fox, beaver, opossum, muskrat, and skunk.
Grades: PreK-6th
- Tracks – This is a great correlation with the Ohio Mammals program. We have various domestic and wild animal track molds.
Grades: 1st-6th
- Skulls – We will examine preserved skulls and compare skull features among several animals to explore associated adaptations. This is also a great addition to the pelts or tracks program.
Grades: PreK-6th
- Bats - This program will take a closer look at the only true flying mammal. We will cover echolocation, diet, species, and much more! This is a perfect program for around Halloween or any time.
Grades: PreK-6th
- Frogs and Toads – What is a frog? What is a toad? Are they the same? We will discover the differences in habitats, appearances, where their young are laid, and the life cycle changes. As well as many more interesting facts!
Grades: PreK-6th
- Dragonflies – This program will inform the class on the body parts, life cycle, and habitat of this very interesting insect.
Grades: PreK-6th
- Bird Banding - We will take a look at bird banding, the history, and why it is done. The class will complete a worksheet, while watching my “bird monitoring hotel”, to chart birds that are banded. This is done in the classroom. At the close of the program, the students will make their own color-banded identification bracelet.
Grades: PreK-6th
- Insects -
What is an insect? This
program can cover many aspects of insects you can choose what will best fit
your class studies. I will begin with a description of what characteristics
an insect needs to make it a true arthropod, then we will look at some
insect pictures and group them in insect or non-insect classes. The end of
the presentation is up to you, and here are your choices.
* Go outside for an insect hunt. (I will provide nets and collection jars)
* Dig further into insect lifecycles and then make a lifecycle craft.
* Take a closer look at the head, thorax, abdomen study and do an activity with beetles. (some cutting required)
Grades: PreK-6th
- Ohio Owls - Take a closer look at Ohio owls and learn all about these interesting nocturnal raptors. Topics covered will be species differences, feathers, vision, hearing, habitat, and many other great facts.
Grades: 2nd-6th
- Owl Pellets - Owl pellet dissection can be scheduled for extended study of owls and their food chain.
Grades: PreK-6th
- Bald Eagles - This program is all about our National symbol the bald eagle. Once an endangered species, learn about the exciting comeback of this majestic bird. I have some interesting props to share with your class; a taxidermied bald eagle replica on generous loan from Bloomfield's Taxidermy, replica talons, egg, nest and wing span.
Agriculture:
Grades: PreK-6th
- Celebrating the Corn Harvest – Learn how corn is grown, harvested, and what products are made from corn.
Grades: K-2nd
- Livestock Live – Our office will bring young livestock animals to your school. This is a wonderful experience for the students, they will learn what the animal is, what it eats and what products we get from them. This program is held in September or October. The 2011-2012 School Year Livestock Live will be held September 26-30th.
Conservation-Natural Resources:
Grades: PreK-3rd
- We All Need Trees – This will cover the various tree parts, structure, uses for humans and animals, and products that are made from this great natural resource.
Grades: Kinder-6th NEW 2011-2012 School Year!
- Recycling – This program is about the 3 R's! Reduce - Reuse - Recycle! Will cover what we can recycle in Crawford County, ways to reduce and reuse, and the importance of all 3.
Please contact me if there is a topic that you would like me to present on that is not listed. Most programs can be made to fit any age group. I can be contacted at Crawford SWCD, 3111 State Route 98, Bucyrus, OH 44820 or (419)562-8280.
- Other School Opportunities:
Grade: 5th
- 5th Grade Conservation Days – Bring your students to a real working dairy farm! While you are there the students will be rotated through informational sessions on forestry, soil and water conservation, wildlife and agricultural equipment. As well as a hands on review station and lets not forget the tour of the dairy and seeing the cute calves! This program is graciously held in May each year at Stump's Heritage Farm, Bucyrus. 2011-2012 School Year 5th Grade Conservation Days will be held the week of May 7th - 10th.
Grades: 7th-8th New 2011-2012 School Year
- 7th and 8th Grade Ag Expo! – Jr High students will enjoy a day learning all about Ag, from jobs, economics to technology! This event will be held at Sunrise Co-op, Crestline OH on October 18th and 19th, 2011. Event Flyer
Grades: 9th-12th
- Envirothon - The Envirothon is a multi-disciplinary, environmental problem solving culminating in a series of annual competitions. Teams of five high school students (grades 9-12) train and compete in the areas of soils, forestry, wild life, aquatics and current environmental issues at regional, state, and national levels.
2012 Current Environment Issues Topic: Nonpoint Source Pollution/Low Impact Development
2012 Envirothon Dates:
Area 1: Wednesday April 25, 2012 ~ Camp Palmer, Fayette OH Fulton County
State: June 11-12, 2012 ~ Deer Creek State Park
National: July 22 - July 27, 2012 ~ Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA
Area 1 Envirothon Website ~ View past tests and results. 2011 Results and Tests now Available!
Grades: 9th-12th
- High School Forestry Workshop and Contest - Started in 2009 this event consists of learning sessions in the morning covering tree identification, timber cruising and general forestry, the day concluded with testing stations.
2011-2012 School Year Contest will be held September 14, 2011 ~ Camp Michael, Bucyrus. Registration Information
High School Forestry Contest will be held in the month of September
September 2009 Contest Results
September 2010 Contest Results
- High School Water Quality Workshop - New to 2011, this event consists of three rotational learning sessions covering chemical and biological water quality and habitat assessment. This workshop will be held May 4th at Aumiller Park, Bucyrus.
Teacher Opportunities:
- E.A.R.T.H Workshop~
The Environmental Awareness and Resources for Teaching Harmony Workshop will be held at Seneca East Schools, Attica OH on June 19th and 20th, 2012. The theme will be .........
The Earth Workshop Committee is busy working on planning another great year! Some session topics we are looking to include: *Real Archeology Dig!
Check back for all of the information on the 2012 E.A.R.T.H Teachers Workshop!
This workshop is an annual event hosted by a cooperative effort of the Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Crawford, Seneca and Marion Counties.
Adult Opportunities:
Our adult programs are free to any Crawford County group or organization, most programs will run 20 - 45 minutes and can be presented to fit your time schedule. Additional conservation topics available upon request.
- Drainage 101 - Basics of drainage, rural and urban.
- Current Agricultural Issues - Livestock, manure and other conservation practices.
- Wildlife - Ohio Bats, Ohio Owls, Wild Turkey and local mammals.
- SWCD Services - What we do - Educational and Technical.
Storm Water Education Programs Brochure