Testimonials
UNIQUE AND
CHALLENGING
As the district's 'Gifted and Talented' Coordinator, I am
always looking for ways to involve my students in unique
and challenging activities. The Species on the Edge
– Art and Essay Contest was both
exciting and very educational for my fifth grade students.
We had just begun a Science unit on animals when your
brochure arrived about the contest. The children were
instantly intrigued asking questions such as "We have
endangered animals in New Jersey?
" We quickly got to work researching various animals that
make their home in NJ. The students loved the fact that
they could choose the animal species that they were
interested in and that they could work on the project both
at home and school. Some students were challenged by the
"art" component of the contest, but were relieved to learn
that they could use any artistic medium to create a
representation of their chosen animal. Many of my students
enjoyed creating their 3-dimensional works of art.
I have amended the Science curriculum this year to include
endangered animals and have already peaked my new students'
interests. We look forward to receiving the information
about 2006 Species on the Edge – Art and Essay
Contest!
--Beth Brislin, Maywood Avenue School, Maywood, Bergen
County
****
PERSUASIVE WRITING REAL
WORLD APPLICATION
My fifth grade science students complete a lengthy unit on
Environmental Science, and the Species on the Edge
– Art and Essay Contest was a perfect real world
experience for them to put into action the concepts and
terms we studied. To incorporate the contest into my
lessons, I worked with our school's media specialist to
teach the students research skills. Each student first
chose and researched an animal that was of interest. After
researching we learned tips for persuasive writing and
drafted essays according to the contest's guidelines. This
was a way I linked language skills to the content of
science. The students worked with partners or small groups
to edit and revise their work. Each one evaluated himself
according to a rubric of expectations and then made final
editing changes.
I was very pleased with the knowledge my students gained
about the specific animal they reported on as well as the
things they learned from each other. I was also happy to
learn that many of them had deep concerns about the future
of these species and understood the important function that
the species played in the whole system. It was an excellent
opportunity for them to understand the interconnections
between biotic and abiotic factors in the environment.
The students enjoyed the process, and having a contest with
interesting parameters made it more engaging than just the
typical animal report would have been.
I am also pleased that one of my students won the contest
for Burlington County. The joy of seeing her pride in
accomplishment, and the praise she has received here at
school and in the community, made all the work worthwhile!
The Species on the Edge – Art and Essay
Contest helped me to make the learning experience more
enjoyable and connected the classroom with the real world.
It has helped raise the awareness of my students and their
families, and has given us another way to showcase the
excellence we strive for each day.
--Rhonda K. Cutts, Tabernacle Township Schools, Burlington
County
****
ENJOY LEARNING
My students love the Species on the Edge – Art
and Essay Contest because they enjoy learning about
the many endangered animals in New Jersey, which fits right
into our curriculum. The contest helps raise their
awareness about how humans interact with the natural world.
My students take ownership of one species, and through
artwork and research, they express their concerns about the
environment and how to protect it. The awards ceremony is
very educational and quite an honor for my students, who
are tomorrow’s leaders.
--Mary Keyser, Maple Road School, West Milford, Passaic
County
****
MULTIDISCIPLINARY
My fifth grade class has participated in Species on the
Edge – Art and Essay Contest for the last three
years. This contest has brought invaluable experiences to
my students. As an educator, I strongly believe that
students become much more motivated to use the skills they
have been taught when there is a real purpose at the end.
The Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ website and the NJ
Division of Fish and Wildlife website makes it very easy
for the students and teachers to access information about
endangered wildlife in New Jersey. On the website, students
can find all the information they need to research the
animal’s habitat and the reasons why the animal may
be endangered. The picture of the animal also gives
students a model of the animal and helps them with their
drawings. After choosing the animal that they will research
and preparing their note cards, the students write their
drafts in class. The art teacher in our school works
collaboratively with me and has my students work on their
drawings during art class. In the art room, students use
all research to create a cohesive artwork, reflecting not
only what is on the pictures, but the information that they
have researched as well. Students need to introduce
elements into their posters that are not necessarily in the
photos such as Where does this animal live, what does it
eat, what are the animal’s habits, and from what is
it endangered. All of this information can be added to make
the artwork more interesting, as well as much more
informative. The entire process takes about 3 weeks,
however, the students are actively engaged in researching
and writing an essay on a topic that highly motivates them.
The fact that it is a contest and that they may win, is an
added incentive. Having been lucky enough to have had 3
students chosen as winners over the last three years, we
have also attended the awards ceremony. This is a wonderful
day for both student winners and their teachers. I strongly
recommend that all fifth grade teachers become involved in
this motivating and valuable contest.
--Tina Adamitis and Dana Wooley, Land O’ Pines
School, Howell, Monmouth County
****
A WONDERFUL WAY TO
SHARE INFORMATION
Our class thoroughly enjoyed participating in the
Species on the Edge – Art and Essay Contest.
Each student enjoyed gathering the information from your
website and the New Jersey Fish and Wildlife website. They
shared the information with their parents and peers. We
also constructed a bulletin board for our adopted peregrine
falcon. We were ecstatic to have a winner from our class.
All in all, we were enlightened and my students were
winners for the knowledge they had gained!
--Mrs. Doretha Webb - 5th grade Lawnside Public School,
Lawnside, Camden County
****
CREATES A DEEP SENSE OF
APPRECIATION FOR WILDLIFE
The Species on the Edge - Art and Essay Contest
has become an annual writing and art project for every West
Amwell Township fifth grade student. It is a natural fit
for inclusion into our 5th grade curriculum. Indeed the
love for animals evokes protective responses from any 10
year old. But our students have a deep appreciation for
wildlife, living in beautiful Hunterdon County with close
access to the Delaware River.
The lessons begin with speculating about what made the
previous winners successful in their art and essay writing.
West Amwell Elementary students are keen observers and
critics. Students search the Conserve Wildlife Foundation
of NJ website and the NJ Division of Fish and
Wildlife’s website to choose their endangered animal.
Then the research begins for facts about their animal and a
New Jersey fact to incorporate into their essay. Language
class becomes a forum for brainstorming a strong opening to
their essays, utilizing suggested writing forms, and
writing a satisfying conclusion. The art work of every
student is "frame worthy." Students take intense care in
laying out their poster, creating their art, and choosing
color to bring their artwork to life.
The excitement exploded when a fellow classmate was chosen
as the Hunterdon County winner for 2005 and a second
classmate was chosen as the county runner-up. Their voices
will add to the appeal of the contest for future fifth
graders at West Amwell School.
--Howard Martin Jeavons, West Amwell Township School, West
Amwell, Hunterdon County
****
INTEGRATES CORE
CURRICULULM CONTENT STANDARDS
The Species on the Edge contest was
an excellent way for us to integrate many core curriculum
content standards into a single focus. Although the project
was simple enough for one teacher, we set it up as a
collaboration between the homeroom teacher, and the art,
technology, and schoolwide enrichment teachers. The
students enjoyed researching and writing about the
endangered animals that they had chosen during art class.
Best of all, everyone learned more about endangered and
threatened animals of New Jersey.
--Sandy Sandmeyer-Bryan, Capy May City Elementary School,
Cape May, Cape May County