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CONNECTING CHILDREN TO THE NATURAL WORLD Keynote Speaker Address to Child Care Professionals Did you know that researchers have proven that children are suffering health and developmental problems from their lack of exposure to the outdoors? Today, electronic devices occupy much of a child's free time keeping them indoors. Child Care administrators, teachers, assistants and family child care home providers learned how to incorporate more nature activities with their students at the Child Care Resources Professional Teacher Development Conference in Charlotte. Melody Wilkes, founder of A Walk in the Woods, provided the keynote speaker address and explained the benefits of environment based education. Current research has proven that getting kids outdoors can dramatically improve standardized test scores and develop skills in problem solving, critical thinking, creativity and decision making. Teachers were given tips and techniques on how to stimulate young minds with hands-on natural artifacts and inexpensive activities. Melody also demonstrated many live animals she uses as teaching tools. Conference attendees were inspired to get their students outside, discover the plants and animals around them and enjoy 'a walk in the woods.'
Which Chelonian is faster - a turtle or a tortoise?
Students give the mice contestants a pep talk before the big race.
The Great American Animal Race
Let's go to the races!!
The crowd yelled in unison "On your mark, get set, go!" and the animals were off and running, or walking or crawling to the finish line. Students in Mooresville eagerly watched to see if their contestant would win in our Great American Animal Race. It was a day of fun and learning about locomotion in animals. Students learned about different anatomical tools animals have in order to move. We also discussed speeds of animals from some of the slowest on earth to the fastest.
Enthusiastic students teamed together to figure out which animals brought to the race would win. Does a hundred-legged millipede out compete its rival, the six-legged hissing cockroach? Does an animal with hooked feet stride farther than an animal with stumpy legs? Can a turtle march faster than a tortoise? A round of applause and cheers were heard as the team's chosen animal crossed the finish line in every race.
Which animal would you choose to win? Our Great American Animal Race can visit your site too.
Pictured on Left:
Harry Stanhope is a carpenter and lover of plants and animals. His
hand-made donations of a Barred owl nest box, a bluebird house and 2 nursery
colony bat houses has aided in teaching many children about birds and bats.
Pictured on
Right: Ron Dunn volunteers at our tables during the
Agribusiness and Environmental Field Days event every year. He
continues to help support wildlife education to the hundreds of 6th
graders that attend by showing them unique wildlife artifacts and
animals.
Hands-on Animals for any Occasion
Whether it
is outside, inside or poolside - we can make your next event
unforgettable. Dozens of hands-on natural artifacts are
displayed for visitors to touch. Best of all, live animals are
the special guests. Children visit our tables repeatedly to see
and touch everything. So let the kids have fun and learn
something about wildlife to. Great for any occasion. Call for
rates.
A child learns how to hold a gentle and tame red rat snake.
We have a variety of wildlife programs for everyone. There are programs for adults as well as programs for preschoolers to high school students. Celebrate your child's birthday with live animals! Scouts can even earn their wildlife badges. To schedule a wildlife program for your group, call 704-436-9048.
Please check back for more upcoming programs!
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