THE OUTREACH PROGRAM

LABS FOR THE CLASSROOM

     Researchers from Elizabeth City State University participate in 
bringing hands-on classroom activities to Pasquotank County third, fourth, 
and fifth grade elementary school classes.  Teachers are asked to contact 
the Educational Outreach Coordinators to set up a scheduled time for
researchers to implement the classroom labs that coheres with North 
Carolina's science curriculum.  Lesson plans emphasize The Great Dismal Swamp.
This allows participating schools to utilize scientific resources and university 
personnel normally unavailable in the classroom.  Listed below are the
summaries of the lesson plans available through the Outreach Program.  Teachers
and schools interested in participating in this program should contact one of
the Educational Outreach Coordinators through the Contacts link.  Teachers are 
requested to provide any information on the types of ecology lessons needed in
their classroom, feedback on the performance of researchers in the past, and if
the lab was appropriate for the subject matter the teacher was teaching.  We can 
also create lesson plans to coordinate with the teachers' request if they can
contact us and communicate the purpose of the lesson plan.

See the school children smile and learn at the same time! Contact us today!

LABS!!!

WATER QUALITY

This Water Quality Lab introduces the students to the concept
of water quality. The lesson reinforces the concept of how nonliving things
can affect our lives as well as the plants and animals that live with us.

THE FOOD CHAIN

The Food Chain Lab will use Owl Pellets to illustrate a typical food chain found in The Great Dismal Swamp.
This lesson provides hands-on work with a food chain that has the owl
in the Top Trophic level. This lesson introduces a hands-on look
of an organism's food chain. Energy flow is
followed through several Trophic levels.

REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS: SNAKES, TURTLES, FROGS

The Reptiles and Amphibians Lab educates the students about:
distinguishing poisonous from non-poisonous snakes; to understand the roles and
benefits of reptiles and amphibians in ecology; and to have the opportunity to handle
a live nonpoisonous snake, turtle, and frog. This is a group activity and enforces
the concepts of leadership and teamwork.

TREE LEAF IDENTIFICATION

This lesson will introduce students to the process of
identifying the different tree species of North Carolina as well
as the differences between leaf formations.

WILDFLOWERS

The Wildflowers Lab introduces the students to the concept
that wildflowers are important to any ecosystem and illustrates the benefits
they provide to that ecosystem. For this lab, students are given wildflower
seeds to grow in the classroom.
TOURS!!!!!!!

FOR THE BOARDWALK AND THE NAVAL ENVIRONMENTAL
EDUCATION CENTER

Our researchers do not limit the scientific labs to the
classroom. There are times available when a teacher can
set a date for his/her class to take a field trip to the Elizabeth City State University Boardwalk
located in The Great Dismal Swamp and the Naval Environmental Education Center. Visits to these areas allow the
students to see for themselves the concepts which are studied in the
labs performed in the classroom. The Environmental Center has a variety of
specimens that the students can see and possibly touch-if instructed
to do so-while on the tour. Students are, usually, extremely eager to
explore the outdoors, the animals, trees, insects, and reptiles that they
do not see in their own backyards. IT IS AN EXPERIENCE FOR THE
STUDENTS WORTH MORE THAN A THOUSAND WORDS!!!!!!!
Please, if there is an interest to visit the boardwalk call one of our
CONTACTS to set a date. A second date may need to be scheduled
in case of unfavorable weather conditions.

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