Classroom Lessons
Classroom Lessons are typically 60 minutes long and are linked to the Arizona Common Core Standards.
We want to work with as many students as possible and fees allow us to bring birding into more classrooms. However, we don’t want fees to be an undue burden on anyone. If you represent a designated Title I school or if fees would prevent you from working with us, please email us at education@tucsonaudubon.org and we’ll work with you to find a path forward.
Learn about the amazing ways that birds survive in their habitats. We will do a lesson (~40 minutes) and an activity (~20 minutes).
Guiding questions:
- How do animals survive in the Desert?
- How do animal body parts help them function?
Goals:
Feel:
- Empowered to make a positive difference for animals in our environment
- Connected to animals with whom we share our ecosystem
- Inspired to learn about the super abilities of birds
Learn:
- People are animals and birds are animals
- Animals have adaptations to help them survive in their habitats
- An adaptation is something an animal has or does that helps it survive in its environment
- Some animals have amazing adaptations that seem like superpowers…including adaptations that help them survive in the desert we call home
- Adaptations can be physical, behavioral, or physiological
Act:
- Help put out a bird bath or water source for birds
- Help put out a nest box
- Help plant a garden with native plants
- Observe the adaptations of birds in our area
AZ Common Core Standards:
- K.L1U1.6, K.L1U1.7
- 1.L2U1.8, 1.L2U2.7
- 2.L2U1.9
Learn about the amazing ways that birds survive in their habitats with a little bit more advanced/in-depth knowledge than the K-2 lesson. We will do a lesson (~40 minutes) and an activity (~20 minutes).
Guiding questions:
- How do animals survive in the Desert?
- How do animal body parts help them function?
Goals:
Feel:
- Empowered to make a positive difference for animals in our environment
- Connected to animals with whom we share our ecosystem
- Inspired to learn about the super abilities of birds
Learn:
- People are animals and birds are animals
- Animals have adaptations to help them survive in their habitats
- An adaptation is something an animal has or does that helps it survive in its environment
- Some animals have amazing adaptations that seem like superpowers…including adaptations that help them survive in the desert we call home
- Adaptations can be physical, behavioral, or physiological
Act:
- Help put out a bird bath or water source for birds
- Help put out a nest box
- Help plant a garden with native plants
- Observe the adaptations of birds in our area
AZ Common Core Standards:
- 3.L1U1.5
- 4.L4U1.11
- 5.L3U1.10
Learn about what home means to us and to the animals with whom we share our environment. We will do a lesson (~40 minutes) and one activity (~20 minutes). Educators will choose which of two activities is best-suited for their classroom: a nestbox design challenge OR a nestbox building workshop (the nestbox building workshop will require a small additional fee).
Guiding questions:
- Why is interdependence an important theme in conservation?
- How does human activity affect our environment and the organisms in it?
Goals:
Feel:
- Empowered to have a positive effect on our environment
- Motivated to learn more about Desert Purple Martins
Learn:
- Species depend on each other for survival
- We all play a role in conservation
- Climate change has an effect on ecosystems
- We are a part of the ecosystem and may have a positive effect on our environment and wildlife.
Act:
- Design a nest box for desert purple martins
- Help plant/grow native plants
- Plant/protect existing saguaros
AZ Common Core Standards:
- 6.L2U1.13
- 6.L2U3.11
Learn about invasive species and their impact on ecosystems. We will do a lesson (~40 minutes) and an activity (~20 minutes).
Guiding questions:
- What are invasive species?
- What invasive species are found in your area?
- How do invasive species affect our desert ecosystem?
- What can you do to help increase the awareness of invasive species issues?
Goals:
Feel:
- Empowered to make a positive difference for our ecosystem
- Connected to every living thing with whom we share our ecosystem
Learn:
- Humans affect and are affected by the ecosystems of which they are a part
- Ecosystems are complex
- Human actions have consequences for ecosystems, both positive and negative
Act:
- Support policies and organizations that support the maintenance of healthy ecosystems
- Volunteering
- Voting
- Observe the environment around you and be aware of your place in it
- Observe and appreciate the benefits you gain from a healthy ecosystem
- Plant native species
AZ Common Core Standards:
- Essential HS.L2U3.18
- Plus HS+B.L4U1.2