New Mexico Wildlife

PROJECT WILD

CURRICULUM GUIDES

 

The goal of Project WILD and Project WILD Aquatic is to assist students of any age in developing the awareness, knowledge, skills, and commitment necessary to result in informed decisions, responsible behavior and constructive actions concerning the environment.

 

The basic materials include two activity guides for K-12 educators: the Project WILD K-12 Activity Guide focuses on terrestrial wildlifeand habitat; the Project WILD K-12 Aquatic Activity Guide (developed through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) emphasizes aquatic wildlife and aquatic ecosystems.

 

 

Project WILD Activity Guides are organized into three sections:

These sections are set up to move students from basic understanding to application.

 

The Guides present lesson-plan format activities with objectives, methods of teaching, background information, available references, material lists, activity extensions and ways to evaluate learning.

Project WILD and Project WILD Aquatic activities are designed to be used singly, sequentially, or in clusters. Each activity has been classroom tested. A glossary is provided as well as cross-references on topics, school subjects, grade level and skills.

 

Project WILD is available in Spanish, Proyecto WILD is one Activity Guide with selected activities from the two K-12 Guides described above.

 

Supplemental Materials

   

WILD About Elk: Written for educators, the guide provides a summary of the biology and ecology of elk. The activities in the guide support educating students about elk and their habitat. Activities are appropriate for grades K-12 and integrate science, math, language arts, social studies and public speaking. An elk educational trunk is also available for educators to check out from the Conservation Education Section of the Department.
Science and Civics-Sustaining Wildlife: Project WILD's new high school curriculum. This program is designed to involve students in grades 9-12 in an environmental action project that will benefit the local wildlife community. Science and Civics-Sustaining Wildlife taps into students' desire to be a part of a team as well as their natural urge to understand, debate and resolve real-life issues. Working methodically to achieve a positive result, students develop a sense of control and success.
Flying WILD: An Educator's Guide to Celebrating Birds: Exciting classroom and festival activities that help middle-school students lead hands-on experiments, create educational exhibits, stage performances, and present bird conservation projects. In addition, it offers information on accessing services, resources, and expertise for support at the festival, in structured classroom settings, or with service learning projects.
Taking Action: An educator's guide for grades K through 12 that fosters positive attitudes toward wildlife, natural resources and the environment. The program helps get students involved in environmental action projects.
Project WILD and Project WILD Aquatic-Early Childhood: Both guides contain numerous activities designed for early childhood education. NEW in 2009, the National Project WILD office and the Council for Environmental Education has published a unique guide, Growing Up WILD-Exploring Nature with Young Children.  Early childhood educators may obtain the new guide by attending a 4 to 6 hour training workshop.  This professional development opportunity is appropriate for preschool staff, daycare operators and K-2 teachers.
Wildlife Tails: A series of five thematic, educational publications for educators and families. Topics include Watersheds, Backyard Habitat, Kokanee Salmon, Colorado Pikeminnow and Spring.
Small Fry Tails: A set of two thematic publications for early childhood; one on Kokanee Salmon and a second on Northern Pike.
WILD School Sites: Information on how to incorporate a nature area at your school. Examples include providing birdbaths and feeders, butterfly gardens, and tree plantings. An informational booklet and video are available to educators and schools in New Mexico.
New Mexico Wildlife Coloring Books: Written at about the 5th-grade reading level, the coloring books include professional black-line art of New Mexico wildlife and habitats along with the state map locator for each species.