3rd Grade Environmental Studies Project:
Threatened Bird Habitats in Southern California
This project came about in a very organic way, and as a result of that, it really held significance and meaning for our students... which led to buy-in across several disciplines.
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| A visit to the estuary ultimately led to the biggest project of the year in third grade. |
What happened: a science project took off. Each year students visit the estuary as part of their regional studies. The students this year really honed in on the birds at the estuary and felt deep concern about the plight of native birds due to loss of habitat. Their concern (empathy) ignited a spark for the design team and this allowed us to really pick up on several elements of the students' concern - and we made the call to let students run with their passion and interest on this topic. It was clear to us that our students developed strong empathy for the plight of birds in our region and they wanted to do something about it.
And so, we dug in! First, classroom teachers and science teachers gave time for students to do a deep dive and research birds in library. Students assembled facts and figures, and as part of their learning they crafted a narrative about the bird which they were studying.
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| Research underway about various birds indigenous to our local area |
After this, students used their art time to draw and paint their birds, with an emphasis on anatomical correctness and proportional representation.
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| Students carefully draw their birds |
In social studies and science, the students created a relief map highlighting watersheds for birds in San Diego county using a variety of resources and methods to demarcate zones and areas.  |
| Working on their maps |
Students then investigated behavioral adaptations of birds to changing ecosystems by acting out bird movements for food, shelter, and socialization in drama and then we captured their "performances" using green screens to demonstrate how birds get food and sleep and move (using a realistic background selected by the students themselves).
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| Using a green screen to act out and demonstrate adapted bird behaviors |
Physical adaptations of various birds were studied and explored in science, and then polished off in the design labs. Students built the beaks and other important element physical adaptations in the birds to demonstrate how those adaptations allowed birds to survive.
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| Creating replicas of the physical adaptations for bird beaks |
At the close of all of the research, hands-on learning, writing, and drawing, we held our first design showcase. This showcase let students show off all of their work in the various parts of their classes. Students were actively engaged in teaching their parents about the different kinds of birds, beak types, behaviors, and problems with the local environment. This was the first "showcase" approach to students showing off their learning to parents or outside community, and it helped us set the tone and expectations for "design showcases" moving forward. This is going to be our model for demonstrating learning, with the hope of moving to bigger audiences outside of the school house later.
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| Turnout for our inaugural showcase was outstanding! |
One of our goals for this year was to create design projects in a way that we are addressing the required and appropriate guaranteed curriculum for each grade level. This is a great example. We hit curricular standards in art, science, social studies, literacy, and even math. The students absolutely loved this project and they were clearly incredibly proud of their work at the end.
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| Students explain their research and project elements to parents |
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| Students teaching parents about endangered birds in our area |