Rio Grande Valley Nature Month - November 2008
Dear Educators:
Join us in celebrating the sixth annual "Rio Grande Valley Nature Month" November, 2008.
Educators around the Valley are encouraged to highlight the Valley's natural habitats and wildlife in lessons throughout one week within the month of November. Each participating educator will be registered to win 1 of 10 gift certificates of $100 each for school supplies for his/her class from Gateway Printing and Office Supply in Edinburg.
All educators, from Kindergarten though the College and University level, are eligible. Simply fill out the form enclosed indicating how you participated and return by December 18th, 2008. Form is HERE 
.The decision will be made on January 12, 2009.
Questions? Need ideas on ways to add a little nature education to the classroom? See the accompanying list of ideas and resources or call (956) 969-2475 and ask for Susan Hoehne. Encourage your students to become better stewards of our land and its inhabitants and win valuable school supplies for your classroom at the same time!
Rio Grande Valley Nature Month Resources:
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TEACHERS -
Use an idea below or customize your own project to participate in Rio Grande Valley Nature Month!
KINDERGARTEN:
- Planting a native garden at the school
- Bird games: making binoculars, looking for nest materials and food sources outside or in magazines, finding colors in nature
- Bug games: making a food chain, learning about beetles, spiders
- Tactile lessons: feathers, shells, dirt and sand
- Sounds: comparing bird calls
- Attracting and observing: birds, butterflies and insects
ELEMENTARY:
- Science: Press leaves, clean litter, recycle, planting natives
- Art: Draw bugs, birds, make birdfeeders or birdhouses, make flower note cards
- English/creativity: Animal stories
- Math: Incorporate animals into math problems
- History: Indians and other cultures and their relationships with nature
- Cultural arts: Songs about nature, plays highlighting animals
JUNIOR HIGH:
- Science: Birding, nature walks, studying the relationships of plants, insects and animals
- Art: Photography, mosaics, nature collages
- English: Research papers on specific species found in the Valley
- Studying the references of nature in literature
- History/Geography: Migration routes of birds and butterflies
HIGH SCHOOL:
- Science: Animal biology with field trips, ecology and mankind’s stewardship role
- Art: Painting, woodworking, sculptures
- English: Persuasive essays on wildlife and habitat protection, poetry; haiku
- History/Geography: Species reintroduction programs
- Economics: Importance of nature economically, economic impact of environmentally responsible living
COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY:
- Lectures- Xeriscaping
- Indigenous birds, butterflies and insects
- Endangered Ocelot and Jaguarondi
- Reintroduction of Aplomado Falcon
- Economics of nature and nature tourism
- Responsible camping techniques
- Using plants to lower electricity costs
- Traditional edible and medicinal uses for indigenous plants (cooking class)
The Rio Grande Valley Nature Month is a partnership and hosted by:
The Rio Grande Valley Nature Coalition - www.rgvnaturecoalition.org
The Valley Nature Center - www.valleynaturecenter.org
The McAllen Chamber of Commerce - www.mcallencvb.com
We want to thank our Sponsor:
Gateway Printing and Office Supply – Edinburg TX - www.gatewayp.com