| Technology
Integration Specialist, Natalie Osborne Smith, describes the schoolwide
hummingbird project at Pleasant Hill Elementary: |
Dear
Journey North Teachers,
I work with our teachers on technology integration in the curriculum,
but my true passion is sharing the love of nature with kids.
In February of 2008, my school and the PTA gave me the money
to go to Costa Rica with scientist Bill Hilton to observe and
band ruby-throated hummingbirds. (Interested? You can learn
about his next trip here >>.)
After returning, I developed curriculum for the students to
learn about how to spot, sex, and age the hummers they see around
the school. We named our school hummingbird project after Mr.
Hilton's Costa Rica Expedition: Operation Ruby Throat. Here's
how we celebrate hummingbirds:
Rubythroat Lessons
We did 3 separate lessons about hummingbirds from February through
June of 2008:
-
We
had an intro to the ruby throated hummingbird (RTHU). Students
learned how to sex and age the RTHU . I used a PowerPoint
lesson to show students a lot of pictures of the birds we
banded in Costa Rica. I first told them about how to tell
the difference between the different types of RTHU (male,
famale, adult, juvenile). Then I showed them more pictures
and students had to tell me the sex and approximate age.
-
We did a lesson on the RTHU habitat. This came out of interest
in the winter banding trip I went on to Costa Rica. In this
lesson we concentrated on looking at the process of banding
and at the winter habitat for our RTHU. We also spent time
looking at the plants and other animals that live in the RTHU
habitats.
-
We did another lesson based on a book of poetry by Kristine
O'Connell George called The Hummingbird Nest. I used
a Smart Notebook to develop this interactive lesson where
kids discovered the size and weight of the hummingbird, the
size of the nest and eggs, the speed of their fleight, etc.
Feeder
Observations
To help make the observations easier for students, the school's
PTA bought 30 feeders to hang on the windows around the school.
All are the window mount feeders with perches from Perky Pet.
We have found those feeders to be the easiest to keep clean,
and they always stay stuck to the window. We change the food
out every week. The second grade teachers agreed to make the
care of the feeders their students' service project for the
year.
Our children have just fallen in love with our little hummingbird
friends! The students busily take data about the different birds
they see. You
can find our hummingbird data posted here.
Schoolyard Habitats
The PTA also gave us a grant to start a hummingbird habitat
in the back of our school. The Guidance department and I designed
the hummingbird habitat in the back, and the faculty began the
planting last year. This year we asked students, families, and
businesses to donate flowers for the gardens. We did our spring
clean up/spruce up day in the gardens on Earth Day this year.
The kids did all the planting and donated most of the flowers
for this day. We provided a list of hummingbird friendly plants,
but we accepted all donations.
Other classes have donated time and plants to upkeep our hummingbird
habitats around the school. We now have 3!
How Students Grew
Our Operation Ruby Throat has really blossomed into a schoolwide
interest in birds. We've done lessons about backyard birds,
hummers, vultures, killdeer, owls, etc. The most rewarding thing
has been the interest of students. They are watching for all
kinds of birds now, not just hummers. In fact we have a pair
of killdeer nesting in our recess ground, and the kids are being
very protective of the nest. They are really taking ownership
of all the birds at the school, and they are sharing what they
know with their families. It is a rare thing when we as teachers
can see the learning truly affect the everyday lives of kids!
It certainly has sparked a love for nature here at PHES.
What's next? We are hoping to have a hummingbird bander, possibly
Mr. Hilton, here in late May so kids can also help with the
banding.
Natalie Osborne Smith
Technology Integration Specialist
Pleasant Hill Elementary, Lexington, SC
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