Wildlife Trivia Question

Name the only mammal that flies.
(Answer at bottom of newsletter)

Kritters 4 Kids Fan letter from Science Teacher Katie Sikes

   



From:Katie Sikes
Sent:Mon 2/11/08 6:56 PM
To: Jennifer McClaren

 Jennifer,
      
      Just wanted to let you know that I used the WIF3 books today with my 6th
      and 7th graders.   My 6th graders were talking about migration so I had them
      search for birds that migrate and we built an entire lesson on the thee essentials
      listed on page 81. 
      We talked a lot about hummingbirds and their migration patterns, they
      loved the hummer pictures.  And the description of the Scissor-tailed
      Flycatcher’s migration was helpful as well. 
      
      I also used the books in my 7th grade class to talk about local habitats
      and the niches of local wildlife.  The students searched for pictures of
      the organisms they are describing in their local habitat research paper. 
      So we got lots of good use out of the books today.
      
      I specifically wanted to use the books today for my 6th grade class
      because I was being observed by my TAMU-CC mentor for my teacher
      certification course.  She was very impressed that we had such a wonderful
      resource and had enough for each student to have one. And impressed by how
      carefully the students handled the books, like priceless works of art.  So
      I am taking your card to share with my classmates on Wednesday so maybe
      they can get the books in their school too. 
      
      I am still trying to figure out when to use the lesson plans because they
      are great.  Just need to wait for a little better weather on some.  But I
      will get them all in some time or other.
      
      Please thank the Ed Rachel Foundation again for this valuable teaching
      tool. 
      
      Katie Crysup-Sikes, MS
      Seashore Middle Academy
      Science Teacher  

Rotary Club of Corpus Christi - Harvey Weil Sportsman Conservationist Fund Recipients

Michelle and I attended the Rotary Club of Corpus Christi's luncheon announcing the Harvey Weil Sportsman Conservationist Fund Recipients on February 21st. We will be awarded $6,000 at the Harvey Weil Dinner in April for producing and publishing our Wildlife Adventure Flash Cards. These will be an educational tool that we can give teachers at their follow up visit with Kritters 4 Kids.

Many thanks to The Rotary Club of Corpus Christi who sponsors a Kritters 4 Kids Program every 30 weeks and to the Harvey Weil Sportsman Conservationist Fund for their continued support of the Kritters 4 Kids environmental education program.

Rotary of Corpus Christi website, click here

Kritter Kamp 2008 Dates for June and July

It's time to register your little ones for Kritter Kamp.  This year we have received funding for two camps in the Coastal Bend.

June 16-20  Corpus Christi  8-Noon 
Sponsored by The Blanch Moore Foundation
July 7-11 Texas A & M Kingsville campus  8- Noon at Cousins Hall
Sponsored by The King Ranch Family Trust

Kritter Kamp will lead campers through an entertaining environmental education experience inspired by Science and Art.  
         *Camp is limited to the first 20 students (ages 7-10) who have pre-registered.  
         *10 scholarships available for each camp. 
To reserve your spot at Kritter Kamp,  call 881-9316 for a registration form or click on www.wildlifephotocontest.com

Science is FUN in the Field

^{Field Trips are becoming more difficult for schools as transportation fuel costs continue to rise. Ella Barnes Elementary School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and the Coastal Bend Wildlife Photo Contest are proud to partner together for the third annual “Introduction to the Sciences, Earth Day/Bay Day” on Thursday, March 13th 2008.  “Students get triple the fun by bringing the field trip to the school.  They will participate in multiple activities, learn about Simple Machines experiments, meet Curby the Recycling Robot and see a puppet show from Texas A&M University Nursing Dept” says Michelle Horine, Executive Director for the Coastal Bend Wildlife Photo Contest.}

^{More than twenty presenters will work hands-on with the entire school to help students’ experience science as a part of our everyday lives. Students will walk through the Wetland on Wheels, learn how to make edible mulch, and explore the sciences that surround the Coastal Bend.}

TRIVIA ANSWER

The bat - By emitting high-pitched sounds and listening to the echoes, also known as sonar, microbats locate prey and other nearby objects. This is the process of echolocation, an ability they share with dolphins and whales. Source:  Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

February Kritters 4 Kids Deliveries and Follow Up Visits

Kritters 4 Kids Deliveries

February 13 - CCISD Science Teachers Boot Camp - Cary Perales - CCISD Science Teacher Coach

Follow Up Visits

February 7th - Rose Shaw Elementary School - meeting with all five science teachers

February 8th - Seadrift School and Point Comfort Elementary

February 20th - London ISD - 2 fifth grade classes


February 19th -- Science Fair Judge - Weldon Smith Elementary School

Many thanks to David Sikes for classroom photos.

Angels for Education

Adler Family-AEP Texas-B.C. and Addie Brookshire Kleberg County Charitable Trust-Lou and Robin Carter Family Foundation-Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program-Coastal Bend Community Foundation-Corpus Christi Electric-Corpus Christi Police Officers Association-Haysam Dawod, DDS,PA-The James R. Dougherty Foundation-Robert J Kleberg, Jr. & Helen C. Kleberg Foundation-The Trull Foundation-Gail and Bruce Hoffman-King Ranch Family Trust-Kiwanis Club of Corpus Christi-Leatrice Koch-JoAnne Kroll-Amy Shelton McNutt Charitable Trust-Blanche Davis Moore Foundation-Charles Moore, DDS-Don & Michelle Orcutt-The Ed Rachal Foundation-Rotary Club of Corpus Christi-Rotary Club of Port Aransas-Dorothy Spann-South Texas Dairy Queen-Valero Energy Corporation-Harvey Weil Sportsman Conservationist Fund-Wildlife Conservation & Rehabilitation Club-TAMU-CC-Oshman Family Foundation-Beeville Rotary Club-Russell Cain, Coldwell Banker Port Lavaca-Calhoun County Board of Realtors-Crow Ranches-Wachovia