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Connections: Nature in the Middle

Maine Audubon’s mission is to conserve Maine’s wildlife and wildlife habitat by engaging people in education, conservation, and action. Today, that mission seems more important than ever. Our educators, scientists, advocates, and naturalists are committed to keeping you connected to the natural world as we deal with the coronavirus situation together. Check in every weekday on our Connections page for family activities, parent/teacher tips, backyard birding, nature exploration at our sanctuaries, and live events.

 Greetings Parents, Teachers, and Students!

As we’re all experiencing, classes as we have known them are quite different now.  In an effort to help support your curriculum, I will be offering a weekly post on environmental science focused for grades 6-8.  Each week you’ll be able to find engaging activities to add to your science curriculum. Some examples of the themes we’ll be exploring together include:

Phenology
Nature indoors
Ecological footprints
Birds in your neighborhood

Each week, I’ll be sharing some resources that are fun and informative ways to let you explore and learn about the theme on your own.  I’ll also be encouraging you to get outside, both in your own yard and neighborhood, as well as places like Maine Audubon’s statewide wildlife sanctuaries. Please also remember how important social distancing is, so please be safe out there!

To help get you started, here’s one of my favorite resources:

Signs of the Seasons is a phenology program from the UMaine Cooperative Extension office that will help you get started with contributing real science data right in your own backyard and neighborhood. Getting started is easy. All the information you’ll need is on their website. After signing up and setting up your study site via Nature’s Notebook, you’ll start adding observation data as often as you like. You can choose from a variety of plant and animal species that are common to your specific site, including: Forsythia, Mountain Ash, Common lilac, Common Dandelion, American Robin, and Spring Peeper. Observations can include things such as the opening of leaf-buds, flowering of plants, first and last signings of birds. Making careful observations is an important skill in doing science and Signs of the Seasons will help you sharpen those skills!

A few other favorites:

·       Maine Audubon Educator Resource Page

·       Skype a Scientist:  This matches scientists with people all over the world.
​Teachers can choose the type of scientist that will fit their classroom, and families can also have a virtual visit from a scientist.

·       Weather Stem: These climate-related lessons are now being offered for free all through April.

Lastly, I am also available to you as a one-on-one resource.  So please feel free to contact me with any questions!

David Lamon is the Manager of the Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden.  He holds a Maine State teacher certification in science and has taught elementary through high school students.  David has been actively involved in the environmental education field for the past thirty years and loves to share the wonders of nature with students of all ages.  You can contact David at fieldspond@maineaudubon.org