C.+Student+Audience

I have chosen two audiences to adapt my birding project to. These groups consist of 3rd and 6th graders. The students are from Highland Elementary and Thompkins Middle School, both located in the middle-class suburbs of Evansville, Indiana. Evansville's demographic consists of 86.2% Caucasians, 10.9% African Americans, and 2.9% other. Class sizes for both of these schools are a nice size, consisting of about 20 students or less per class. Highland Elementary has a portion of woods known as the "Bonnie Brae" in which students are able to become immersed in a natural, wild environment with their teacher without even leaving the school grounds. 6th grade students from Thompkins Middle School will be excited to participate in field trips to the local nature preserve, Wessleman Woods.

This project is based on birding. Because it is about the natural environment that surrounds us, students of any age, location, or background will become easily engrossed in this topic. Students as young as 3rd grade will already have a certain amount of experience with birds. Many children are able to name at least one or two birds that are highly popular in their community, such as cardinals, blue jays, or even owls.

Children are largely motivated by nature and animals and this will propel their interests and positive attitudes towards birding inquiry. Experiences in nature are probably the most easily adapted to 'real world settings'. Students will be able to exercise their inquiry from their own classrooms, back yards, car windows, etc. Birds are everywhere, and they are free to look at!