2011 Wildlife Conservation Grants
Congratulations to all 20 winners of the 2011 Classroom Earth Professional Development Grant! Classroom Earth is happy to provide grants to teachers across the nation to help incorporate wildlife conservation lessons in their classrooms.
Josie Cain, Stamford, CT, Harrison High School
Jennifer Wyland, Reading, PA, Kutztown Middle School
KD Davenport, Philadelphia, PA, Central High School
Heather Haberman, Gering, NE, Scottsbluff High School
Tom Harten, Upper Marlboro, MD, CHESPAX-Calvert County Public Schools
Mitchell Helms, Hunting Island, SC, Hunting Island State Park
Rosemary Henderson, La Verne, CA, Traweek Middle School
Susan Jones, Ottoville, OH, Ottoville High School
Angie Laaker, Alton, IL, Alton High School
Teddi Lowery, Landover, MD, Wm Schmidt Outdoor Educations Center
Regina Mueller, Beach Park, IL, Beach Park School District #3
Mavis Negroni-Foosaner, Cordova, TN, Lausanne Collegiate School
Shannon Petersen, Santa rosa, CA, Casa Grande High School
Jillian Schults, Logan, UT, Fast Forward Charter High School
Chris Spiegl, Nashville, TN, Montgomery Bell Academy
Timothy Strout, Northport, NY, Jericho High School
Deb Walker, Sarasota, FL, Brookside Middle
Paula Webb, Manhattan, IL, Manhattan Junior High
Jason Welch, Stoughton, MA, Holbrook Jr. / Sr. High School
Joyce Zupko, Hamilton, VA, Sterling middle School
Environmental education benefits students — increasing their understanding of how earth’s resources and natural systems work, familiarizing them with our relationship to wildlife, offering opportunities for hands-on activities and inquiry-based learning and providing practical information. In order for students to receive meaningful environmental education, it is critical that their teachers have the necessary skills and knowledge. Essential to a teacher’s ability to serve in this role as environmental educator is not only an understanding of environmental concepts and issues, but familiarity with the best practices for integrating these concepts into their established cirriculum. Whether a teacher focuses on science, math or social studies, environmental education can provide experiences that link what they are learning to their local environment.
Classroom Earth is supporting middle and high school teachers around the country who want to make wildlife conservation part of their curriculum. Classroom Earth’s 2011 Professional Development Grants will enable teachers to take one six-week online course offered by the Wildlife Conservation Society to create a strong foundation in wildlife conservation. Participating teachers will be better equipped to bring wildlife conservation education into the classroom, facilitate scientific learning and to connect students with their natural surroundings. The Classroom Earth grant opportunity will also support teachers to earn graduate level credit.
*Looking for classroom resources on wildlife conservation topics? Check out Classroom Earth’s Wildlife Conservation page for lesson plans, curricula, professional development opportunities, news, fact sheets, funding opportunities, videos and more!
Online courses allow teachers to participate without traveling. The courses also require participants to integrate local wildlife conservation needs and contexts into course assignments. Courses begin in April and run for six weeks.
In collaboration with Wildlife Conservation Society we are offering each grantee the opportunity to take one of the following two courses.
Classroom Earth is working with Wildlife Conservation Society to tailor these specific courses for middle and high school teachers.
Conservation Biology for Educators
April 1 – May 23
This course will help teachers understand wildlife conservation concepts in science, including the basics of conservation biology, the main threats to wildlife, populations over time, how scientists study populations and conservation in action.
The following questions will be addressed in this course: Why should we protect wild nature? What is threatening biodiversity? How do populations change over time? How do scientists go about protecting wildlife? Who is doing the work of conservation? In this course, participants will explore how to bring conservation into the classroom and apply these lessons into their local habitat.
Habitat Ecology for Educators
April 1 – May 23
Through this course, teachers will gain background knowledge in habitats and wildlife, learn about basic ecology, adaptations, how organisms interact with their environment, and the interactions between organisms in temperate forests and wetlands. Course members will explore humanity’s influence and interaction with nature and discuss teaching ecology to students.
The following questions will be addressed in this course: How do habitats form and what are some changes that are occurring right now? How did we get all this biodiversity? How do we classify this biodiversity? How are organisms adapted to the world we live in? How do organisms interact with their environment and each other? How can you make teaching about nature relevant to your students?
