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. All of our programs are free of charge to any Crawford County school or organization.
Generally all of the presentations take 30 to 45 minutes. The 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.
Current Selection of Available In-Class Programs
Soil:
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-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-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 - NEW!!! 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 October. 2010-2011 School Year~ Livestock Live Flyer
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.
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.
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.
2010 Envirothon Dates:
Area 1: Wednesday April 28, 2010 ~ Crawford County
State: June 14-15, 2010 ~ Lake Erie College, Painesville Ohio
National: July 31 - August 7, 2010 ~ University of California, Merced California
Area 1 Envirothon Website ~ View past tests and results. 2010 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.
September 2009 Contest Results
Teacher Opportunities:
- E.A.R.T.H Workshop~
The Environmental Awareness and Resources for Teaching Harmony Workshop will be held at the Hancock Park District's Riverbend Lodge, Findlay, Ohio on June 22nd and 23rd, 2010. The theme will be "Green-Up Your Classroom".
Click Below for the 2010 E.A.R.T.H Teachers Workshop:
Complete Listing of Session and Field Trip Descriptions
This workshop is an annual event hosted by a cooperative effort of the Hancock Park District and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Crawford, Seneca, Marion, and Wyandot Counties.