The FUN program introduces 3rd grade students to the nature in their schoolyard habitat and examines how diversity and interdependence aid survival. Volunteers lead small groups of four to seven students through a series of outdoor investigations, which teach kids to use their senses and scientific practices to discover the importance of urban biodiversity firsthand. Four lessons in the fall and four more in the spring give students the opportunity to build knowledge and observe seasonal changes in their schoolyard habitats.
Have FUN at home!
Are you looking for activities to do with a young person in your life? The FUN program is meant to guide kids toward discovering nature's interconnections anywhere - including your yard, a grassy parking strip, or a patch of landscaping using general household materials. Download the FUN activities that work well during spring: Leaf Hunt, Roots & Shoots, Bird Nests (here are the instructions to make the wire coil and how to use it), Litter Critters, and Worm Worlds. There are video tutorials if you'd like more background info, and if you want to get more academic you can download the student field notebook (note: the Web It and Neighborhood Birds lessons are not linked above).
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Do you want to have FUN at your school?
Do you work at a public school in the Seattle Audubon service area? The FUN program is free for you! Space is limited and we are generally at capacity by mid-September, so please inquire early. We also offer abbreviated lessons in an easy-to-use rental kit. Click here for more details.
Do you work at a private school or at a school out of Seattle Audubon's service area? The FUN available for you, too. The cost of the program is $450 for the year. This includes two volunteer trainings, and all curriculum and materials needed for the eight-lessson program.
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Lesson sneak peak:
- Neighborhood Birds - With hand lenses and measuring tapes, students compare a variety of Seattle-area bird specimens and discover adaptive patterns between beaks, feet, body sizes, colors and habitats.
- Worm Worlds - Students predict the number, density, and maturity of earthworms living in a site on the school grounds based upon their prior worm knowledge and the environmental factors present in their study sites. Using mustard and water to conjure worms out of the soil, students analyze their worm evidence and determine why some spots are better suited for worms than others.
- Web It - Students investigate spiders, spiderwebs, and why spiders are important predators in the schoolyard. Groups discuss spider behavior and learn why spiders don't stick to their own webs.
Since FUN happens at school, students have the chance to experience the nature that exists where they live. ace reserved for a privileged few. Using science and outdoor exploration, students learn that nature is everywhere and is available for everyone.
Volunteer with FUN
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FUN volunteers devote about two hours a week for four weeks in the spring and/or fall to leading a group of 4-6 students through each lesson, with the support of the school's FUN Team Leader and classroom teachers. No previous teaching or science background is necessary - and volunteers often report that they have as much fun and learn just as much as the students do! Seattle Audubon provides all training, supplies, and support necessary for a successful experience. If you are interested in learning how you can make a difference and introduce a child to urban nature, please contact FUNvolunteer@seattleaudubon.org.
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