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U.S. Fish and Wildlife's Virtually Wild Program

2021vwtpartners

Region 4 Education Service Center partners with Virtually Wild! Texas to provide students with engaging and interactive virtual field trips about nature and careers in conservation.

Find all of the Virtually Wild Texas program resources by visiting Here in Houston. They would also love your feedback on their programs!

Remember to subscribe to the Getting Smart Virtually newsletter to receive a monthly reminder about all upcoming programs.

Follow the Virtually Wild Texas team and Region 4 Education Service Center on our social media pages!

Houston Community Partnerships and Engagement

Texas A&M Forest Service

Citizens' Environmental Coalition

Region 4 Education Service Center

Region 4 Education Science

Fired Up for Wildlife in the Woods!

Have you enjoyed a lazy sunny afternoon at a state forest, watching pollinators buzz by the lush native wildflowers and towering pine trees? Can you imagine birds with a full belly from feeding on a buffet of insects and berries? Can you picture a deer and her baby fawn munching on the soft green blades of grass? Does this sound like a Texas tall tale? What if we told you this story was made possible because of fire – would you believe us? Well, this tale is all fact – not fiction! Some trees have evolved with fire in their habitat, and prescribed fire has been used for thousands of years to keep forests and grasslands healthy for humans, plants, and animals.

In this program, learn all about how natural resource professionals use fire to make a healthier forest ecosystem, why weather is so important, and how fire plays an important role in making optimal habitat for many species of wildlife including the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. Learn the differences between a wildfire and a prescribed fire. See the tools that are used in prescribed fires and in fighting wildfires, and learn how you can make fire a part of your job! You don’t want to miss this fired up program!

Check out Project Learning Tree’s “Living with Fire” student lessons and STEM strategies:

https://www.plt.org/activity-resources/prek-8-activity-81-living-with-fire and a lesson plan:

https://www.plt.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/PLT_LearnAboutForests_Living-with-Fire.pdf

NATURE OF FIRE FOR GRADES 6-8:

https://www.plt.org/news/activity-collections-nature-of-fire-for-grades-6-8

ALL ABOUT WILDFIRES: CAUSES, EFFECTS, AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES:

https://www.plt.org/educator-tips/wildfires-causes-effects-educational-activities

Presenter: Caroline Cruz, Conservation Education Coordinator and Connor Murnane, District Forester

Location: W.G Jones State Forest in Conroe, TX

Provider: Texas A&M Forest Service, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, Citizen's Environmental Coalition, Region 4 Education Service Center

Cost: Free

Audience: This program is planned at a 2nd - 8th grade level, but students of all ages will gain useful vocabulary and a better understanding of the concepts shared.

TEKS:

Science:
Grade 2- 1B, 2A, 3C, 4A, 5B, 6A, 7C, 8B, 9A, 9B, 9C, 10A, 10B
Grade 3 – 1B, 3C, 4A, 6A, 7C, 8A, 9A, 9B, 9C, 10A
Grade 4 – 1B, 3A, 3C, 4A, 8A, 9A, 9B, 10A,
Grade 5 - 3C, 6A, 8A, 9A, 9B, 9C, 10A, 10B

Grade 6 – 1A, 1B, 2E, 3A, 3D, 9A, 9B, 12F

Grade 7 – 1A, 1B, 2E, 3A, 3D, 5A, 5B, 8A, 10A, 10B, 10C, 11B, 11C, 12A, 13A

Grade 8 – 1A, 1B, 2E, 3A, 3D, 11A, 11B, 11C

Middle School:

Career Development - 1A, 1B, 2B, 2C

High School:

Scientific Processes - ES.3(E), ESS.3(E)

Social Studies:

Grade 3 – 3A, 3B, 3C, 7C,

Grade 4- 1B, 6A, 8A, 8B, 9A, 8C

Grade 5 – 8A, 8B

Grade 6 – 5A, 5B, 5C

Grade 7 – 8C, 9A, 19 D

Grade 8 – 11B

Please register for ONE session:

Wednesday October 13, 2021

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

Wednesday October 13, 2021

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

Saving a Rare Texas Woodpecker from Extinction

Scientists across the southeastern United States are striving to save the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) from extinction. Once common in east Texas, this bird survives in small family groups on only a handful of managed forest lands. Learn about this magnificent, colorful bird and how foresters and wildlife biologists are managing the forest ecosystem to improve the woodpecker’s habitat. Meet the scientists who use technology and tree-climbing skills to monitor nests and learn how you can find a career in conservation.

Presenter: Caroline Cruz, Conservation Education Coordinator and Donna Work, Wildlife Biologist

Location: W.G Jones State Forest in Conroe, TX

Provider: Texas A&M Forest Service, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, Citizen's Environmental Coalition, Region 4 Education Service Center

Cost: Free

Audience: This program is planned at a 3rd - 5th grade level, but students of all ages will gain useful vocabulary and an understanding of the concepts shared.

TEKS:

Science:

Grade 3- 3C, 4A, 9A, 9B, 9C, 10A
Grade 4- 3C, 4A, 9A, 10A, 10B
Grade 5- 3C, 4A, 9A, 9C, 10A, 10B

Please register for ONE session:

Wednesday October 20, 2021

1:00 PM - 1:45 PM

Wednesday October 20, 2021

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM

Noctural Nature - The Science of Adapting to the Dark

Hooo, hoooo! Owls, flying squirrels, bats, and opossums are pretty cool critters that have at least one thing in common – they are nocturnal. Nocturnal means they are most active at night time. How do they see in the dark? How do they catch food in the dark? How are they adapted to life in the dark of night? The Friends of Texas Wildlife, a wildlife rehabilitation volunteer organization, will shed some “light” on the science behind nocturnality and the roles these fascinating creatures play in the ecosystem. You will also learn about how you can help sick or injured wildlife. Virtually meet ambassador education animals that love the night life, and learn how to speak “owl”! This fun program will be all treats, no tricks!

Presenter: Caroline Cruz, Conservation Education Coordinator and Cathie Coudert, Friends of Wildlife Texas

Location: W.G. Jones State Forest in Conroe, TX

Provider: Friends of Texas Wildlife, Texas A&M Forest Service, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, Citizen's Environmental Coalition, Region 4 Education Service Center

Cost: Free

Audience: This program is planned at a 2nd - 5th grade level, but students of all ages will gain useful vocabulary and an understanding of the concepts shared.

TEKS:

Science:

Grade 2- 2A, 9A, B, &C, 10A
Grade 3 - 3C, 9A, B, & C, 10A
Grade 4 - 3C, 9A, 10A&B
Grade 5 - 3C, 9A&C, 10A&B

Social Studies:

Grade 4 - 8C

Please register:

Friday October 29, 2021

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

7145 West Tidwell Road | Houston, Texas 77092-2096 | 713.462.7708

McKinney Conference Center: 7200 Northwest 100 Drive | Houston, Texas 77092

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