Presenters: Tamela Baker (lead) – Veteran Teacher – Yvonne Couch - Community Library Director, Marion ISD – Pamela Owen – Sr. Paleontology Educator, Texas Memorial Museum - Lucinda Wise – Educational Storyteller - Welcome to: As you enter, please: 1.Sign in and show your registration verification to a presenter wearing a green Project Wild bandana. She will give you your Growing Up Wild Guide. 2.Complete the activity at 2 or 3 centers; take a clothespin from the center when you finish. Do not take extra materials. 3.Try to sit with persons who completed Activity Centers different than the ones you completed. 4.Materials in the toolkits on the tables are the personal property of the presenters and are placed there for your convenience. 5.Go to your seat promptly when the music stops and the chime sounds. 6.Ready? Set? EXPLORE WILD!

Center Debriefing: Ants on a Log (p. 13) & Spider Crackers (p. 15)

Center Debriefing: A Day in the Life (p. 23)

Center Debriefing: Gyotaku – Japanese Fish Printing (p. 33)

Center Debriefing: Snack Accordian Book ( p. 53)

Center Debriefing: Comparing Sea Shells (p. 29)

Center Debriefing: First Impressions/Sorting (pgs. 10 & 11)

Center Debriefing: Safari Hats (p. 57)

Center Debriefing: Wiggling Worms (pgs. 20 & 21, 72 & 73)

Center Debriefing: Grow As We Go (p. 39 & 40, p. 82)

Exploring Nature with Young Children Ages 3-7 Meet the newest offspring of

It’s about learning HOW to Think !– not, What to Think. Project Wild: -Promotes awareness of nature in a variety of settings. -Encourages critical thinking. -Improves observation skills.

It’s about learning HOW to Think !– not, What to Think. Project Wild also: -Offers opportunities to practice classification and graphing in real world situations. -Incorporates interdisciplinary learning. -Supports the TEKS and National Standards in every core subject.

Helping develop informed citizens.

Growing Up WILD continues the traditions of Project Wild through new and exciting activities designed specifically for young children, ages 3 to 7. These activities stimulate learning while connecting pre-school and early elementary children to nature and many of its wonders.

Growing Up WILD is a national early childhood initiative that builds literacy skills and environmental appreciation among early learners through participation in engaging wildlife-based educational activities.

“…. Children who have opportunities to play and learn in nature are more likely to: Handle challenges and problems more capably. Act responsibly toward the earth and each other. Be more physically active and aware of nutrition, and less likely to be obese. Have a greater appreciation of the arts, music, history, and literature. Choose science or a related field for careers. Become better informed and more environmentally aware adults.” GUW guide, p.4 Connecting Children to Nature

President’s Environment and Conservation Challenge Award National Council for Social Studies International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies National Environmental Achievement Award The Wildlife Society’s Conservation Education Award (to name a few) Recognition and Endorsements for

Who Uses Project WILD And Growing Up Wild? K-12 Classroom Teachers University Pre-service Teacher Courses Youth Group Leaders Aquariums, Museums, Nature Centers & Zoos LibrariansLibrarians Church Groups Camp Staff After – School Programs Scouting groups Resource Professionals Government Agencies Parents Community Groups Informal educators

TPWD Supplemental Resources TEKS/TAKS Online Database Texas Adaptations of WILD activities Teacher Toolkit (maps, activities, etc) Education Loaner Kits Keep Texas WILD Magazine & Website Free publications (which TEKS?) (TEKS)

What’s in theCurriculum Guide? Standards and Correlations - Head Start Domains and NAEYC Accreditation Criteria. Resources - Non fiction, Fiction, and Websites. Quick Facts – key information essential to the topic of an activity. Wild Wonderful Words – focal points for vocabulary and concept development; all are in the glossary in the back. Materials and Prep – list of supplies; direction for preparations needed. Warm Up – capture interest; aid in formative assessment. Ready, Set, Go! – step-by-step activity instructions. Wrap Up – suggestions for closure. Take Me Outside! – ideas for outdoor learning activities. - and there’s more... - Each Activity is spread across two pages with supporting materials and information found in the last half of the guide. Each activity focuses upon a concept and includes:

What’s in theCurriculum Guide? Healthy Me! - encourages healthy habits in exercise, nutrition, personal hygiene, or safety. Helping Hands – practical activities promoting respect for all living things and outdoor appreciation. Mighty Math – math connections which help children reason, think logically, and use math vocabulary while learning basic math concepts and practicing basic math skills. Home Connections – take home extension activities. Art Projects – opportunities for children to convey their ideas, feelings, and knowledge which they may not yet be able to fully express verbally. Music and Movement – kinesthetic learning, finger-play, pantomime, and opportunities to promote memory of key themes through song and rhyme. Centers and Extensions – activities for independent or small group investigation. Snacks – healthy food creations which reinforce concepts and vocabulary.

What’s in theCurriculum Guide? And, in the back half, we find: Copy Me Pages …………………………………………………………..p. 66 Home Connections Cards ……………………………………………….p. 96 State Symbols……………………………………………………………..p. 108 Children’s Book List ………………………………………………………p. 110 Educator Resources………………………………………………………p.116 Head Start Child Outcomes Framework………………………………. p.120 Standard 2: NAEYC Accreditation Criteria for Curriculum…………..p.122 Glossary…………………………………………………………………….p.124 Tips for Teachers ………………………………………………………….p.126 Incorporating Wildlife in Holiday Celebrations ………………………….p.127 Expanded Index ……………………………………………………………p.128 Listing of Appendices ……………………………………………………...p.128

Educator Workshops Free training and materials. Activity-based workshops.

Project WILD Educators have provided environmental education instruction to more than 53 million students! Texas leads the nation in the number of educators trained – 1,000,00 between 1983 and Now, with the introduction of Growing Up Wild, we also hope to train all 123,129* librarians in the US starting right here in Texas. * Figure based on information from the ALA website. Help Spread the Excitement and Wonder

Let’s Get WILD!

Activity Debriefing: Lunch for a Bear (p. 26)

Activity Debriefing: Alphabet Soup & Stories (pgs. 13,21,53, & 61)

Activity Debriefing: Forest (p. 49)

Activity Debriefing: Songs: Bears are getting Fatter (p. 27) Activity Debriefing : Songs: Deer Habitat (p. 49) Add text here:

Thank you Evaluations (TPWD & A 5 ) (Place TPWD evals in Green box.) (Place A 5 evals in Yellow box.) Certificate Distribution Presenters: Tamela Baker (lead) – Veteran Teacher – Yvonne Couch - Community Library Director, Marion ISD – Pamela Owen – Sr. Paleontology Educator, Texas Memorial Museum - Lucinda Wise – Educational Storyteller -