Serving Nature and You!
Volume 1, Issue 4 The Missouri Department of Conservation Discover Nature Newsletter is designed to help you know the latest nature-based happenings, news, and resources for your classroom
Free Place-based Science and Nature Lessons for your Classroom!
Connect your students to your schoolyard though these hands-on science-based lessons below and grow your students' observation skills at every grade level!
 Xplor Birds with Your Students! MDC’s Xplor bimonthly magazine is filled with nature content and outdoor skills. In this month's issue, children learn how to use binoculars as a tool to observe birds more closely.
Put these birding skills to use within your classroom! Discover Nature Schools Nature Unleashed (3rd-5th) promotes bird watching opportunities within the curriculum. In Activity 2.5 It’s for the Birds, students observe common birds within their schoolyard and research ideas on how to attract certain birds for closer observation. Promoting scientific investigation and data collection, in Activity 3.1 Where do you Want to Eat, Bird? students create recycled bird feeders and then record data noting the types, numbers and frequency of birds visiting the feeder. November signals an increase in activity for bird migration and Optional Activity 3.B Bird Migration – Human Style allows students to describe basic needs of migratory birds as they use a compass to follow a “migration route” at the schoolyard. As students learn about food chains and make connections, they can see firsthand what our nocturnal predators eat through Optional Activity 4.C Owl Pellet Dissection. Tying together the scientific concepts of ecosystems, energy distribution and food chains, student learn how birds interact with other birds, plants and non-living components of the schoolyard through Activity 7.2 Bird Interaction – Survival! Survival! Survival!
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USGS released new Water Cycle Diagram! Just released in 2022, the new Water Cycle Diagram depicts the global water cycle as well as how human water use affects where water is stored, how it moves, and how clean it is. The diagram is available to download in both English and Spanish. Check out the interactive Water Cycle where students can hover their curser over each stage for more information.
Connect this new tool with Nature Unhooked (6th-8th) and bring the Water Cycle to life in your schoolyard! In Lesson 2 The Incredible Journey, middle school students observe the water cycle and its impact within their own schoolyard. Students can put their mapping skills to the test and apply water cycle concepts to their local watershed in Activity 2.4 Schoolyard Topography and Mapping. In Activity 2.5 Runoff in the Schoolyard, runoff and erosion concepts are introduced to connect students to permeable and impermeable surfaces as students investigate and compare data of water captured within three different tests of different types of surface materials. Take it even further with Activity 2.6 Erosion in a Stream Table and explore how streams and rivers are formed and the causes and effects of channelizing versus meandering streams. Check out the video Understanding Water Movement with a Stream Table from the MDC Teacher Portal to connect student ideas even further!
DNS Nature Unleashed (3rd-5th) and Nature Unhooked (6th-8th) are free and available curriculums for your classroom. Order your free Discover Nature Schools books for your students today (log-in required)!
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Holidays are coming up and it's a great time to give the gift of the 2023 Natural Events Calendar! Encourage the power of observation and share the natural events to come with your students each month!
Buy these and other items at MDC nature centers, through the MDC online Nature Shop, or by calling 877-521-8632. Order early in anticipation of slower shipping deliveries. Applicable tax, shipping, and handling costs will apply.
What's Happening in Discover Nature Schools?
DNS Unhooked Field Experience along the James River. With support from MDC staff, 137 students fished and practiced fish ID, conducted macro sampling with support from staff from the James River Basin Partnership, and were introduced to their local watershed.
Discover Nature School Highlight: Reeds Spring Middle School (Southwest Region)
Lori Munhollon is a 7th and 8th Grade Life Science Educator at Reeds Spring Middle School in Reeds Spring Missouri outside of Branson, MO. She has used MDC's Discover Nature Schools curriculum before her first year at Reeds Spring Middle School. We contacted Lori to share her experience in using the program and her insights.
How long have you been using DNS? This is the first year at Reeds Spring Middle School to use Discover Nature Schools Nature Unhooked at the 7th and 8th grade level. The curriculum was used in the past at the 6th grade level with a prior teacher. I personally taught it previously at Nixa and I brought the program to Reeds Spring because I wanted to make these connections to real-life science.
In what way does DNS help support your science classroom and the standards? This curriculum gets the kids excited about science. Supports MO standards through hands-on engagement, introducing lifecycle of fish, fish identification, and physical science world of casting angels and the motion of casting. We even tied physical education and brought that teacher on board and helped with the practice of casting prior to field experience.
What are the top three most impactful moments you witnessed while a student or group of students were using DNS? We rotated stations and combined with two other ELA and Social Studies focused trips with their teachers. Science was the most exciting portion of the field experience day. And I was really impressed about how the students did not need directions - they just knew what to do. This program helped in social and emotional learning because it was a beautiful day and the kids were clearly happy. They had smiles on their faces and were just excited to be out of their classroom learning and making connections. I had no behavior issues while on this field experience at all!
As one student stated, “This is the best field trip ever!”
Describe your favorite memory while on a DNS Field Experience. Since this is our first, it was the smiles on the children's faces as they quenched their thirst for curiosity. Seeing then have success when catching their first fish or not their first fish – everyone learned a new skill. And in learning this new skill they had huge smiles on their face. We're going to do this every year from now on.
If you knew someone was taking their students out for the first time on a DNS field experience, what advice would you give them?
- Encourage students to ask questions and be curious.
- Make sure on any field experience, you have a good amount of adult supervision so students’ needs can be tended, and they are successful.
- The grant process is simple and easy and straight forward. To complete the grant paperwork, it takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish. Make sure you keep your receipts!
We would love to feature your DNS classroom in the Discover Nature Newsletter! Take pictures and send stories of your students making those valuable connections outside in their schoolyard or around Missouri! Send pictures and stories to DNSchools@mdc.mo.gov and share the impact of place-based learning with others around the state!
Become a Discover Nature Schools Teacher!
Check out a Teacher Workshop near you or contact your local conservation educator!
Are you already a certified Discover Nature School teacher? Planning to take your students on their annual DNS field experience? Eligible for the maintenance grant for classroom equipment? Access this year's Education Grants and get your classroom outside and investigating! (Classroom teachers are eligible to apply for the grants)
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