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Children Study Birds at Maxwelton Outdoor School
A win-win for the community
© Chris Peterson
Here they come! Kindergartners are entering the Maxwelton Outdoor Classroom on Washington’s Whidbey Island to learn about birds. “It’s critical for our students to get into a practical application of what they’re learning in their classroom,” says Dr. Jo Moccia, Superintendent of the South Whidbey School District. “The Outdoor Classroom . . . is cared for by the Whidbey Watersheds group, and it’s really a win-win for our community.”
BirdNote®
Learning About Birds at the Maxwelton Outdoor Classroom
Interviews and story by Chris Peterson
This is BirdNote!
[Excited children entering the woods]
Here they come! Kindergartners are entering the woods to learn about birds. Coordinator Lori O’Brien, at the Maxwelton Outdoor Classroom on Washington’s Whidbey Island, welcomes them:
“Let’s gather around a little bit closer…put your bodies in slow motion and what we’re going to do is put our heel first and r-o-l-l our foot and what we’re going to do is walk up the trail together like a fox. Turn your head like an owl does and look around you. What do you see and what does it make you wonder?”
A volunteer helps them learn:
Vol: “How do they know which materials to use for the kind of nest they’re going to build?”
Child: “Because they just see the material.”
Vol: “They do, but there’s a scientific term people use for how birds know how to build nests: and it’s call ‘instinct!’
Vol: “Why do they want a bowl shape in the nest, do you think?”
Child: “Because of the eggs!”
Vol: “What would happen if it were just a flat nest?”
Several children: “The eggs would roll out…they would fall and they would crack and then…the baby would just be out.”
Here, Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jo Moccia [MOCH-ah] says:
“It’s really critical for our students to be able to get outside into a practical application of what they’re learning in their classroom. And so the Outdoor Classroom that the South Whidbey School District is a perfect location and it’s cared for by the Whidbey Watersheds group and it’s really a win-win for our community.”
Volunteering in outdoor education can be fun. Find out more at birdnote.org.
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All sounds recorded by C. Peterson; narratives tracks Marantz V105-139; ambient Marantz V T196
BirdNote’s theme music was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
Producer: John Kessler
Executive Producer: Chris Peterson
© 2013 Tune In to Nature.org August 2013 Narrator: Michael Stein
ID# maxwelton-01-2013-08-30 maxwelton-01
http://www.whidbeywatersheds.org/
