by Rachel McGovern, Director of Education
The spotlight was on the third graders at Ridge Street Elementary School during the Annual Bird Festival! Over the school year, the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey guided third graders at Ridge Street Elementary School in Newark, New Jersey through an exploration of the state’s fascinating birds as part of the Soaring with STEAM curriculum. Students delved into the lives of ospreys, peregrine falcons, bald eagles, and other avian species while engaging in STEM-based projects. To culminate their learning journey, the third graders organized a festival aimed at educating parents, visitors, and younger students about the diverse birdlife in New Jersey.
Photo Credit: Ashley Menniti
The third graders prepared projects centered around different bird species. These projects were showcased at various stations during the festival, where students eagerly interacted with visitors, imparting their newfound knowledge about their chosen avian subjects. At the stations dedicated to bald eagles and peregrine falcons, attendees were treated to live streams from New Jersey nests (courtesy of the Duke Farms Eagle Cam and Union County Falcon Cam, respectively).
In addition to the species-specific stations, students hosted interactive activities such as owl pellet dissection and a hands-on exploration of bird beaks. Their enthusiasm and dedication were evident, and they did an outstanding job educating all who attended the festival!
A special note of gratitude goes to NJ STEM Pathways for their support of this NJ STEM Month event and the Soaring with STEAM program. We extend our sincere appreciation to all other sponsors of our Soaring with STEAM programs: PSEG Foundation, David and Carol Lackland Foundation, The Merrill G. & Emita E. Hastings Foundation, and The Zoological Society of New Jersey.
Tags: Annual Bird Festival, Environmental education, New Jersey, raptors, Ridge Street Elementary School