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| Fish and Game Goes WILD About Early Learners |
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| By Sue Nass - Idaho Department of Fish and Game |
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 | | IDFG Photo | | "It’s no secret - kids are so fascinated with animals. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game will host a WILD about Early Learner workshop April 20 and 21st to help educators teach wildlife concepts to school children through science, math, social studies and reading. For more information, visit the IDFG’s website at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov." |
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There seems to be a natural connection between kids and wildlife. What small child doesn’t delight in chasing a frog or discovering a nest? So then, what could be more natural than combining children and nature to create a learning tool for teachers?
Project WILD is a program to teach teachers how to be wild in the classroom. It’s actually a college credit course designed to give educators tools to teach wildlife concepts to school children through science, math, social studies and reading. Project WILD is an international program that has been around since 1983, but Idaho Fish & Game has taken it even further creating an Early Learner version. It involves a fifteen-hour workshop and a colorful teacher’s guide that educators...are, well, WILD about.
“This is wonderful,” said Linda Fields, an elementary school reading specialist as she paged through the book. “This is going to be so user friendly for me. I’m really excited about it.”
The book combines all the things that early learner teachers require into a single resource...lesson plans, music and movement, art projects, snack ideas and even has copy masters that correlate to the activities.
“It has them touching things, it has them reading things, it has them chanting things...so they’re using all their senses, they’re hearing, they’re touching, they’re feeling, they’re really experiencing life,” said Karen Harshman, a 1st Grade Teacher in Boise. “And whenever a child experiences life, they learn.”
The new Early Learner program came about because of demand. Teachers approached Lori Adams, Idaho Fish & Game Project WILD Coordinator, and asked for wildlife activities for younger kids; pre-school, first and second graders. Adams formed an advisory committee and the idea took off.
“The excitement was there and the ball was rolling and we finally had to say enough is enough,” said Adams. “This is how many activities we’re going to have in the book. And the teachers were so excited. They had so much knowledge about what should be in this book.”
The book was published in 2006 and the first workshop was held in Boise. Since then teachers have spread the word and the workshops have filled rapidly. “Every teacher tells me how easy it is to incorporate into the curriculum and how it’s been a lifesaver because of the time they don’t have to spend finding the song, finding the activity, finding a book that goes with the particular activity, it’s all here,” said Adams.
At the end of the fifteen hour workshop, the teachers are required to either do an activity from the book with their students and evaluate it, or create their own activity and send it to Fish and Game. “And the response has been just incredible that I get from the teachers. We’re ready to make another book,” laughs Adams.
Teachers can register for the April 20th & 21st workshop in Lewiston by going to http://fishandgame.idaho.gov and filling out the Early Learner Registration Form or by contacting Lori Adams, Project WILD Coordinator, at (208) 287-2889.
Sue Nass is a television specialist for IDFG.
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