A Walk in the Woods, Environmental Education Company

SL2 Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively and orally.  Our programs focus on a multi-sensory and multi-step approach to learning.  All programs have a Power Point presentation, hands-on artifacts, interactive educational displays and live animal demonstrations.  There are live hands-on animals in every program.

SL5  Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations.  Programs include colorful images to explain science concepts via slides, posters, charts and diagrams. Also on display are a large variety of hands-on common and uncommon artifacts (some rare and endangered) for students to compare texture, color, shape and form.

SL6  Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and communicative tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.  During the presentation, students are provided with new vocabulary pertaining to the science topic.

SL3  Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning and use of evidence and rhetoric.  Periodically throughout the presentation, students are encouraged to ask questions.

K.L.1  Compare characteristics of animals that make them alike and different from other animals and nonliving things.

K.L.1.1.  Compare different types of the same animal (i.e. different types of dogs, different types of cats, etc.) to determine individual differences within a particular type of animal.  Students examine many different types of native and exotic insects including butterflies, moths, roaches, beetles and more and notice the difference in size, coloration and patterns.   They learn the anatomy of an insect and how it is different from a spider.  Numerous mounted specimens are on display for viewing.

2.L.1 Understand animal life cycles  2.L.1.1  Summarize the life cycle of animals

Birth

Developing into an adult

Reproducing

Aging and death

Students learn the life cycle of insects.  The life cycle of butterflies and grasshoppers are discussed (complete metamorphosis vs incomplete metamorphosis).  On display are moth eggs, cocoons, chrysalis and adult moths and butterflies.  Hands-on live mealworms in various stages of development are demonstrated (larva-pupa-adult).

4.L.1  Understand the effects of environmental changes, adaptations and behaviors that enable plants and animals to survive in changing habitats. EX. 4.L.1.3  Identify ways that plants and animals protect themselves.  Examples are shown how butterflies and moths protect themselves by utilizing colors and patterns on their wings to represent something harmful to predators.  On display are confiscated items from the US Fish and Wildlife Service that help convey this concept.  The Blue Morpho butterfly has several eye spots, called ocelli, on its wings to confuse predators.  The Atlas Moth has pictures of snake heads in its wingtips to ward of predation from birds.  A live demonstration is conducted with a Madagascar hissing cockroach which creates a snake-like hissing sound to ward off predators.