Educator's Guide
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
An Educators Guide to Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge An Educator’s Guide Page i •Preface• Introduction he U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages Tnational fish hatcheries and national wildlife refuges throughout the country for the continued conservation, protection, and enhancement of our fish and wildlife resources and their habitats. For more information contact: Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge P.O. Box 457 28908 NW Main Ave Ridgefield, Washington 98642 Telephone (360) 887-4106 Fax (360) 887-4109 http://ridgefieldrefuges.fws.gov The U.S. Department of the Interior strictly pro- hibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, or handicap in any of its fed- erally assisted programs and activities. Addition- ally, discrimination on the basis of sex is strictly prohibited in any federally assisted education program or activity of the Department. For further information regarding the Department of Interior’s nondiscrimination policies or if you believe you have been discriminated against in this program or activity please contact: Director, Office for Equal Opportunity, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. U.S. Department of the Interior 1984 Fish and Wildlife Service Kendal Morris RF13551 5 Revision January 2007 Printed on recycled paper Page ii Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge •Preface• To the Educator A child’s world is fresh and hank you for selecting Ridgefield National new and beautiful, full of TWildlife Refuge for your group’s field trip! wonder and excitement. It We are delighted that you are taking the opportunity to use the refuge’s resources to is our misfortune that for enhance your classroom learning experience. Our most of us that clear-eyed hope is that this Educator’s Guide facilitates the vision, that true instinct process of discovery, learning, and enjoyment. The guide includes information about the refuge's for what is beautiful and history, habitats, and wildlife, field trip planning and awe-inspiring, is dimmed preparation, and classroom and outdoor activities and even lost before we for grades 4 to 6. The activities presented focus on four major themes: birds, migration, habitats, and reach adulthood. If I had the Cathlapotle Plankhouse. A glossary and some influence with the good additional resource information are also included. fairy who is supposed If this guide fulfills its purpose, your field trip will to preside over the result in big smiles, windblown hair, dirty hands, christening of all children and happy memories. Hopefully, it will also result in a better understanding of and a sense of wonder I should ask that her gift about the natural world around us. to each child in the world We hope you and your students enjoy your visit to be a sense of wonder Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Please do not so indestructible that it hesitate to call the refuge staff at (360) 887-4106 if you need assistance. would last throughout life, as an unfailing antidote against the boredom and disenchantments of later years, the sterile preoccupation with things that are artificial, the alienation from the sources of our strength. —Rachel Carson A Sense of Wonder Tundra swans An Educator’s Guide Page iii •Preface• Acknowledgments his Educator’s Guide is the result of the work of many people, and many spirited Tdiscussions during evening meetings by the members of the Refuge Teacher Workshop Committee. We’d like to extend our gratitude and thanks to the following people who contributed time and skills to this project. A special thanks goes to Debby Neely, who graciously donated her artwork of the great blue heron for the cover. Teacher Workshop Committee Word Processing Jim Clapp, Committee Chair Jim Clapp Lora Gale Mary Kirby Jane Macnab Dow Sheila McCartan Sheila McCartan Virginia Parks Anne Kennedy Carol Peterson Illustrations Kendal Morris/USFWS Writing M.A. Allan Nancy Boden Jim Clapp Cover Design Joe Engler Jim Clapp Sheila McCartan Debby Neely Carol Peterson Editing Nancy Brooks 2002 Revision Liza Halpenny Jim Clapp Sue Kusch-Tepper Joe Engler Ronald Ward Sheila McCartan Yvette Donovan Lisa Remillard 2006 Revision Bruce Wiseman Peter Gebhardt Katie Perryman Design and Production Sheila McCartan Lisa Remillard Page iv Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge •Preface• Table of Contents Preface Adaptation Artisetry.............................52 Introduction...........................................ii Binocular Warm-Up.............................55 To the Educator....................................iii Fledging Young Birders......................56 Acknowledgments................................iv Notes..................................................62 Table of Contents.................................,v Chapter 4. Migration Studies Chapter 1. Introduction......................1 Outdoor & Classroom Activities......63 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.......2 Migration Studies Overview................64 Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge..... 4 Lucky Ducky........................................67 Map of the Refuge.................................5 Migration Madness..............................70 Seasons at the Refuge.........................6 Migration Math Questions...................73 Habitats of the Refuge..........................7 Paper Bag Mallards............................74 Birds of the Refuge.............................14 Migratory Mapping..............................77 Notes..................................................23 Bird Banding Map...............................82 Reference Map...................................83 Chapter 2. Pre-visit Preparation......25 Flyway Map.........................................84 Environmental Education....................26 Notes..................................................85 Some Basic Ecological Concepts.......27 Refuge Assistance and Facilities........28 Study Areas on the Refuge.................29 Chapter 5. Habitat Studies Making Reservations..........................30 Outdoor & Classroom Activities......87 Planning a Field Trip...........................31 Habitat Studies Overview....................88 Checklist for a Successful Field Trip...32 Web of Life..........................................89 Group Management Hints...................33 The Predator and the Prey..................91 Guidelines for Refuge Field Trips.......35 Mini-Expedition...................................93 Medical Considerations......................36 Where Have All the Wetlands Gone...96 Notes..................................................38 Field, Forest, and Stream...................99 Run for the Border.............................104 Chapter 3. Bird Studies Outdoor & Notes.................................................110 Classroom Activities.........................39 Bird Studies Overview.........................40 Chapter 6. The Cathlapotle Calling all Birds...................................42 Plankhouse Outdoor & Classroom What can I Eat with this Beak.............45 Activities..........................................111 Beaks and Feet Challenge..................49 Cathlapotle Plankhouse Overview....112 Sharp Eyes.........................................50 Cordage Making................................113 Bird Silhoutees....................................51 An Educator’s Guide Page v •Preface• Table of Contents Cedar Circle: Looking Closely at the Tree of Life...117 Plankhouse Math: The art of Chinookan House Construction Plankhouse Math........123 It's About Time: A Timeline Activity............................129 Chinook Jargon: Looking at the Trade Language of the NW........................139 Notes................................................147 Chapter 7. Refuge Stories.............149 Redwings Lesson.............................150 Notes................................................160 Chapter 8. Post-Trip Classroom Activities..........................................161 Fill in the Blank.................................162 Sharing Circle...................................163 Thinking It Over................................164 Password..........................................165 Holding a Town Meeting...................166 More Field Trip Follow-Up Activities.171 Notes................................................172 Glossary and Resources...............173 Glossary............................................174 Resources........................................177 Refuge Educational Visit Form.........179 Notes................................................182 Page vi Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge •Introduction• Chapter Introduction The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.......................................................................2 Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge......................................................................4 Map of the Refuge...............................................................................................5 Seasons at the Refuge........................................................................................6 Habitats of the Refuge..........................................................................................7 Birds of the Refuge............................................................................................14 Notes.................................................................................................................23 An Educator’s Guide Page •Introduction• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service he Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), within the U.S. TDepartment of the Interior, is the