Presenters: Tamela Baker (lead) – Veteran Teacher – tamela@io

1. Welcome to: • As you enter, please: • 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. • Complete the activity at 2 or 3 centers; take a clothespin from the center when you finish. Do not take extra materials. • Try to sit with persons who completed Activity Centers different than the ones you completed. • Materials in the toolkits on the tables are the personal property of the presenters and are placed there for your convenience. • Go to your seat promptly when the music stops and the chime sounds. • Ready? Set? EXPLORE WILD! Presenters: Tamela Baker (lead) – Veteran Teacher – tamela@io.com Yvonne Couch - Community Library Director, Marion ISD – ycouch@marion.txed.net Pamela Owen – Sr. Paleontology Educator, Texas Memorial Museum - p.owen@austin.utexas.edu Lucinda Wise – Educational Storyteller - Lwise6@juno.com

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

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

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

5. Center Debriefing:Snack Accordian Book ( p. 53)

6. Center Debriefing:Comparing Sea Shells (p. 29)

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

8. Center Debriefing:Safari Hats (p. 57)

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

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

11. Meet the newest offspringof Exploring Nature with Young Children Ages 3-7

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. Helping develop informed citizens.

15. 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.

16. 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. 

17. Connecting Children to Nature • “…. 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

18. Recognition and Endorsements for • 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)

19. 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 • Librarians • Church Groups • Camp Staff • After – School Programs • Scouting groups • Resource Professionals • Government Agencies • Parents • Community Groups • Informal educators

21. 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 www.tpwd.state.tx.us http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/project_wild/ http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/resources/index.phtml http://apps.tpwd.state.tx.us/wildsearch/jsp/search.jsf (which TEKS?) http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=6148 (TEKS) http://www.projectwild.org/growingupwild/about.htm http://www.projectwild.org/CorrelationstotheNationalScienceStandards.htm http://www.projectwild.org/growingupwild/EarlyChildhoodResources.htm http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/librarydevelopments/?p=6327

23. What’s in the Curriculum Guide? 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: • 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. . . -

24. What’s in the Curriculum 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.

25. What’s in the Curriculum 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

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

27. Help Spread the Excitement and Wonder 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 2006. 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.

28. Let’s Get WILD!

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

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

31. Activity Debriefing:Forest (p. 49)

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

33. Thank you • Evaluations (TPWD & A5 ) • (Place TPWD evals inGreen box.) • (Place A5 evals in Yellow box.) • Certificate Distribution Presenters: Tamela Baker (lead) – Veteran Teacher – tamela@io.com Yvonne Couch - Community Library Director, Marion ISD – ycouch@marion.txed.net Pamela Owen – Sr. Paleontology Educator, Texas Memorial Museum - p.owen@austin.utexas.edu Lucinda Wise – Educational Storyteller -  Lwise6@juno.com