The Middle Invades the Refuge

For our annual class field trip, we always visit the Muscatatuck Wildlife Refuge.  It is a short bus ride away and provides the perfect location for incorporating some of the topics we cover in science class.  Each year before we go, we study ecosystems and the interactions within them.  

This year in science, I began using iBooks I wrote using iBooks Author.  For the life science unit, I incorporated information about the Muscatatuck Wildlife Refuge into the iBook.   

 

iBook Examples

A couple weeks before we take our trip, I have my students begin work on a service learning project over invasive plant species.  I created a website for the project using Weebly.  We also use the discussion board on MBC for the project.

Click on the image to visit the project website!

The students begin the project by researching invasive plant species.  They gather information about what invasive plant species are, why they are harmful to an ecosystem, and how they can be prevented.  Next, students use a shared Google Doc to create a database of invasive plant species in our area.  Each group of students is assigned 3 or 4 invasive plant species to research.

 

Click on the image to see our Invasive Plant Species Database.

The workers/volunteers at the refuge do an awesome job of providing activities for students that incorporate the learning we have been doing in class.  Each year, we go on a nature walk where a volunteer at the refuge points out different invasive plant species at the refuge.  I am always amazed to hear my students identify them and tell the volunteer what they have learned about them! 

While at the refuge, students also participate in a service project pulling invasive plant species.  Now, I will be the first to tell you that I wasn’t to sure about this the first year we did it.  I was VERY worried that the students would think it was the worst idea ever to be had by any middle school teacher.  To my surprise, the kids LOVED it!  These middle school students who we can’t get to keep their lockers clean and have to beg to put their trash in a wastebasket are great little volunteers!

The final component of our project is for students to create an artifact about what they have learned.  Students can choose to create a PowerPoint, Prezi, or brochure.  Their artifact serves to provide the public with information about invasive plant species.  (Disclaimer:  Anytime I have a Prezi as one of the options for a project, it is by far the most popular choice.  They love creating them and they are more interesting to view than a PowerPoint!)

Click on the image to view the Prezi.

Every year, this service project is one that I look forward to.  It provides students with the opportunity to make a difference in their community while learning important science content.  And in middle school, that is what we like to call a  Win-Win!