2nd Grade - Nature Journals: Animals of Jackson Hole

GRADE LEVEL

Second

SUMMARY

Students learn about the wildlife of Jackson Hole, their habitat and behaviors.  They also learn about research methods biologists use to study wildlife and techniques for recording their observations of animals in nature journals.

STANDARDS

Science and Language Arts

class time

Six class periods and four field trips.  The project begins early in the fall and times are spread throughout the school year to allow for incorporation of seasonal changes.

PROCESS

Artists introduce journaling to students at the beginning of the school year by sharing their own journals and those of prominent wildlife scientists. During three fall lessons, students learn how to collect and preserve small relics in nature in their journals, they learn how to draw animals using basic geometric shapes and how to look for unique characteristics of animals to create accurate drawings. This project includes nine lessons with a pARTners artist, four field trips, and backyard visits to explore seasonal changes. The Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival provides cameras and photography lessons.  Students visit the Teton Science School and Grand Teton National Park, the National Elk Refuge and the National Museum of Wildlife Art. The Raptor Fund provides students with an up-close look at owls, falcons, hawks and other live birds. The project culminates with a performance of animal songs and presentation of nature journals for parents at the end of the school year.

PRODUCTS

Students create a nature journal, filled with wildlife observations in both words and images.  Journal displayed at an event to be determined.

NOTE: The following 2008-9 Lesson Plans are for reference.

Class 1

Lori Iverson gives students an overview of the project.

Class 2 - Introduction with Artist

Students meet artist Melissa Malm at a previously identified outdoor location (school nature site).
Students brainstorm all uses of a journal.
Students write a description of the day on a loose journal page using the five sense and collected items.

Class 2 - Rubbing, Stamping, Stenciling

Students gain visit the school nature site and learn additional journal techniques.  They will participate in the "grab bag" exercise in which they fell an item in a bag and describe it with drawings and words without looking at it.

In Art class

Students make journal covers by creating a nature scene using watercolor, markers or colored pencils.  Melissa can detail expectations for these drawings and can make suggestions for the Art teacher.

Students will also create an inside page with their personal information: Name, School, Teacher and Date.  Melissa will supply an example for the Art teacher.

The covers will be returned to the classroom teachers for laminating.  pARTners will get the laminated covers and assemble the journals in time for the bison-focused field trip.

Class 4 - Digital Cameras with the Wildlife Film Festival

Students introduced to using digital cameras and take pictures with them during the lesson.
In each class, two students share the camera and responsibility for it.
Cameras will be used during the field trips.

In Art class

Drawing with Shapes - students create animal pictures using geometric shapes.

National Museum of Wildlife Art Visits

In-class presentation about the NMWA
Visits to NMWA - Observing Mammals in Art (2 parts).  In the first session of this program, completed in the classroom, students use mammal specimens and games to develop wildlife observation skills.  In the second session, at the museum, students discuss the importance of field observation for scientists and artists.  They participate in wildlife observation games to develop these skills.  Students also look at the tools artists use to record field observations.

Class 5 - Teton Science Schools pre-teaching for Bison Field Trip

Class 6 - Bison Field Trip in Grand Teton National Park

Fifteen minutes of the trip is reserved for journal work with Melissa Malm.  Melissa will encourage students to look for shapes when drawing.  Similarly to previous lessons, students will be asked to create a page that describes the day.

Class 7 - Details Make a Difference

Students compare and draw parts of animals that are named the same but look different: antlers, skulls, feathers, pelts, hooves, etc.

Delivery of "Critters of Wyoming" to all second grade students by Lori Iverson, National Elk Refuge.

Class 8 - National Museum of Wildlife Art with Amy Goicoechea

Tour specific gallery exhibit.
Art projects associated with exhibit.

Class 9 - Mammal Study with Craighead Beringia South

Students learn about the subtle differences between elk and deer, black bears and grizzlies, coyotes and wolves, etc.

Class 10 - Introduction to National Elk Refuge Field Trip

Students learn what to look during the Elk Refuge sleigh ride.

Class 11 - Natonal Elk Refuge Sleigh Ride

Focus on ungulates and predators.
Naturalist staff ride with each sleigh for information and questions.
Upon returning to the classroom, students get 20 minutes to reflect and write in their journals about what they learned.

Class 12 - Berengia South at the Grand Teton National Park Visitor Center 

Stations set up to teach about radio collaring, tracking and animals returning to the valley.

In Art class

Make journal covers.

Class 13 - Bird Drawing

Journal work continues in Art class

Class 14 - Visit Kelly Campus of Teton Science Schools

Class 15 - Raptors with Roger Smith

Students introduced to a live owl and hawk, learning the characteristics of a raptor.

Class 16 - School Nature Site Visit

Students revisit school nature site to record springtime observations with skills learned throughout the year.
Mapping lesson including review of cardinal directions, compass rose, map key and legend.

Class 17 - Migratory Birds and Raptors

Activity on school grounds or visit Elk Refuge/Miller House to observe migratory birds.

Classroom Schedule

Tuesday - JES
9:15-10:00 – Laura Nash
10:15-11:00 – Amanda Robson
1:20-2:05 – Heidi Thompson
2:25-3:10 – Ann Woodbury

Wednesday – Wilson
12:15-1:15 - Jenny Rogers
1:15-2:15 - Kate Hudacsko

Thursday - JES
9:15-10:00 – Cammy Lawson
10:15-11:00 – Patti Berlin
1:20-2:05 – Jane LaJohn
2:25-3:10 – Sara Lashbrook

JES Art Class Schedule

Mon. 9:15-10:05 (Turner) and 10:10-11:00 (Lawson)
Tues. 9:15-10:05 (Berlin) and 10:10-11:00 (Lashbrook)
Wed. 9:15-10:05 (LaJohn)
Thurs. 10:10-11:00 (Nash)
Fri. 9:15-10:05 (Thompson) and 10:10-11:00 (Woodbury)

Week-by-Week Overview

Week of Sept. 8 - Temporary journal covers made in art classes

Week of Sept 14 - Introduce project, five senses & collection with artists

Week of Sept. 21 - Drawing with Shapes

Week of Oct. 12 - Digital Photography with Wildlife Film Festival

Week of Oct. 19 - Bison Field Trips in GTNP

Week of Nov. 9 - Observing Mammals in Art - National Museum of Wildlife Art

Week of Nov. 16 - Observing Mammals in Art - National Museum of Wildlife Art

Week of December 8 - Grab Bag - lesson with artist

Week of Jan. 12 - Details Make a Difference – lesson with artist

Week of Jan. 25th - Winter Adaptations - National Museum of Wildlife Art 

Week of Feb. 15 - Pre-teach for Elk Refuge sleigh ride

Week of Feb. 22 - Elk Refuge sleigh ride

Weeks of March 8-15 - Make collage journal covers in art classes

April 16, 9:15AM - Raptor Center's Jason Jones gives a presentation in raptors in the gymnasium at JES.

Week of April 26 - Teton Science School

Week of May 10 - Bird Drawing - lessons with artist

Week of May 24 - Bird Watching - Elk Refuge

Final Performance and Celebration

The final singing performance and celebration will take place at JES the week of May 24th or 31st.

Notes

1. JES teachers will contact JHWFF to arrange a photography nature walk and other dates for camera use.