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Discovery
(preschool - grade 1)
Children are encouraged to observe their surroundings and pay attention to
the sounds, scents, and textures of natural features as they are guided
through our woodlands, wetlands, and meadows. They often notice more and
more as they practice being aware and attentive in nature.
Addresses PA Science Standards, 4.6, 4.7 |
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The Secret Life of Backyard Bugs
(preschool - grade 1)
Some bugs have a bad reputation with children (and adults). In this lesson, we introduce the idea of “good bugs” and show how lots of insects are very helpful to humans.
This is a way for children to be less fearful toward insects, and see how
bugs play a role in a healthy food web.
Addresses PA Science Standards, 4.5, 4.8
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Follow That Water Drop
(preschool - grade 1)
In this lesson, children follow the path of water – from a droplet that
forms in a cloud, down to the rooftops, the ground, and eventually, to our
pond. This is a fun way, in the form of a story, to introduce: rain and snow, observation, and how water moves
in cycles.
Addresses PA Science Standards,
4.1, 4.2 |
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Birds At Awbury
(grades 2 - 4)
Children will visit our bird blind, in our secluded bird sanctuary called
the Secret Garden. Basic bird biology is taught through engaging games. The
use of binoculars will be taught, and learning to identify common songs of
PA birds is part of the fun.
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Addresses PA Science Standards: 4.6, 4.7
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How to Deal with Pests at
Home and in School
(grades 2 - 4)
What is a pest? Let us show you how to
categorize pests and non-pests, and then we will use games to explain how to keep away
pests from your home and your school. This is called integrated pest
management (IPM) and practicing it in the proper way leads to healthy kids, air,
land, food, and water!
Addresses PA Science Standards, 4.3, 4.5
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 Addresses PA Science Standards: 4.1, 4.6, 4.8
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At Home in the Wetlands
(grades 2 - 4)
Children will visit our ponds, spring, rain-garden and streams. We will show the variety of plants and animals that are found in PA wetlands, let them do some waterside scooping, and show what makes this type of habitat unique. Red winged blackbirds, bullfrogs, and
water striders
often co-teach. |
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Plant and Animal Adaptations
(grade 5 -7)
Come explore the plants and animals of PA in terms of the adaptations that
have allowed them to survive ecologically. We will engage students in activities that reinforce their understanding of how and why traits are inherited, and the ways that structures or behaviors can help a species to survive over generations.
Addresses PA Science Standard,, 4.7 |
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PA Watersheds (part 1)
and Wetlands (part 2)
(grades 5-7)
In this two-part lesson, students will first learn about watersheds; what they are, which ones are in our area, and the importance of knowing what makes each shed unique. In the second lesson, students will come back to Awbury and learn about different types of wetlands. They will visit our pond, stream, and rain-garden while discussing the water-cycle. As well, we will use our Enviroscape model to help them understand wetland functions.
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Addresses PA Science Standards,
4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4,
4.6, & 4.8 |
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Is it Easy Being Green? (grades 5 - 7)
Many products or techniques for getting id of things that annoy us (stinging insects, rodents, weeds) can actually hurt out health. In this lesson, we explain what Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is and how it affects the
environment and human activities. Students will be able to compare and
discuss issues related to using IPM, and the effects of past practices on
land, air, water and food. Laws and regulations, and reading product
labels, are discussed.
Addresses PA Science Standards, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.9
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PA Watershed Issues (grades 8- 10)
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Addresses PA Science Standards, 4.1, 4.6, 4.8
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Come learn about Pennsylvania’s six watersheds and their related river
systems. The impacts of humans, topography, and vegetation will be explored
through specialized activities (including water testing, by request). We
will visit Awbury’s wetlands and discuss the differences that can be seen in rivers and streams, as they make their way from the headwaters to the mouths.
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Before Invasive Vine Removal
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After Invasive Vine Removal |
Invasive Species in PA
(grades 8 - 10)
Students will visit our meadow and woodland trails to participate in activities in order to understand the effects of invasive species on an eccosystem,. Depending on your group's readiness, we will introduce or reinforce concepts such as energy flow through a food web, carring capacity, and consequesnces of "tipping the balance" in an ecological system.
Addresses PA Science Standards, 4.5, 4.6, 4.9
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Environmental Health
(grades 8 - 10)
Environmental health issues will be discussed so that students can identify
the effects of air, water, and soil pollution on human health in our region.
Human practices that contribute to health issues will be explored,
and students will be given ideas for actions that they can take to improve
the environmental health of their home, school, community, and city.
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Addresses PA Science Standards, 4.3
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Theme Sessions at Awbury
November 14th - 21st, 2007 - Lives of the Lenni Lenape Week
Children learn about the relationship that these Native Americans had with nature.
February 1st - 29th, 2008 - African American Scientists Month
Students stand in the shoes of several inventors who have made contributions to the environmental sciences.
Professional Development:
We teach teachers how to deliver new ecology activities.
Awbury hosts and delivers professional development sessions for teachers and naturalists throughout the year.
Call us at 215-849-5561 x 14 to inquire about the schedule and to register. |
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