1. Project WILD Kathy Kraften, kraften@sbcglobal.netkraften@sbcglobal.net Amy Canales Cille D’Ascenzo, jdascenz@elp.rr.com

2. “Assists learners of all ages in developing awareness, skills, knowledge, and commitment that results in informed behavior and constructive action concerning wildlife and the environment we share.”

3. TPWD Mission “To manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.” “To manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.”

4. Project WILD Brings Conservation through Education Into the Classroom

5. Award-winning Curriculum From Awareness to Action

6. Who Uses Project WILD? K-12 Classroom Teachers University Pre-service Teacher Courses Youth Group Leaders Aquariums, Museums, Nature Centers & Zoos Camp Staff After – School Programs Resource Professionals Government Agencies Parents Community Groups

7. One Million Educators Gone WILD!

8. 3,000 Teachers trained in Texas each year These educators teach 50,000 students per year

9. What’s in the Curriculum Guide? Objective Method Materials Background Info Procedure Extensions Evaluation Grade level Subject Area Duration Group size Setting (Indoors/Outdoors) Key Terms Activities in an easy-to-use lesson plan format:

10. Provides awareness and does not advocate any particular viewpoint Introduces skills such as critical thinking, observation, classification and graphing Allows students to pull information from a variety of sources to make well informed decisions Project WILD Goals How to Think, not What to Think!

11. Teacher Workshops Free Training and materials Activity-based workshops

12. Correlated to Texas Standards TEKS STAAR Workshop participants receive SBEC and TEEAC credit

13. Research Reveals Project WILD’s Effectiveness WILD increases students’: Knowledge Skills Attitudes Behavior “Project WILD: A Summary of Research Findings 1983-1995 and 1996-2003.” www.projectwild.org

14. WILD Evaluation Long-term On-going Consistent results across –Grade levels –Academic disciplines –International boundaries

15. More than Science Study finds Project WILD Utilizes multiple approaches to teaching benefiting all learners Effective in teaching other subjects ~ Powell 1996

16. WILD Honors President’s Environment and Conservation Challenge Award National Council for Social Studies International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies California Department of Education

17. Find out more about Texas Parks and Wildlife Department www.tpwd.state.tx.us

19. Exploring Nature with 3-7 year olds

20. Nature based early childhood program Builds on childen’s sense of wonder about nature Invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them Develops positive impressions about the environment and nature

21. Exploring Nature with 3-7 year olds Ask your teacher to take you outside!

22. Exploring Nature with 3-7 year olds Grew out of national program called Project WILD Supported by Fish and Wildlife Agencies Council for EE

23. Exploring Nature with 3-7 year olds Developmentally Appropriate Practice Nature play Head start Domains NAEYC Standards

24. Exploring Nature with 3-7 year olds A wide range of options A variety of teaching strategies Child initiated and teacher selected activities Outdoor play

25. Exploring Nature with 3-7 year olds Content Literacy Math Science The arts

26. Exploring Nature with 3-7 year olds Domains Social Emotional Physical Language Cognitive

27. Exploring Nature with 3-7 year olds Promotes physical well- being Creative problem solving & imagination Academic success Socially competent Environmentally literate adult