CWF is Back in the Classroom at Ridge Street Elementary (Newark, NJ)

CWF is Back in the Classroom at Ridge Street Elementary (Newark, NJ)
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by Rachel McGovern, Director of Education

Educators and biologists at Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey are leading educational programs at Ridge Street Elementary School in Newark, New Jersey, for the eighth consecutive year. Comprehensive STEAM curricula that follow New Jersey State Learning Standards for Science were developed by CWF staff for grades K, 3, 5 and 6. These curricula provide a series of classroom lessons, projects, and field trips focused on New Jersey’s wildlife.

While delivery of this program, entitled “Soaring With STEAM,” was adapted to a virtual learning environment during the pandemic, this 2022-23 school year has been presented entirely in-person, allowing staff to meaningfully interact with students and teachers in the classroom.    

All classroom programs are designed to engage students in all aspects of “STEAM” education (science, technology, engineering, art, and math). Lessons are always focused on wildlife and involve a hands-on activity. For example, third graders recently had a lesson about birds’ beaks to explore the different shapes found on different birds. Following their lesson, the students were presented with various types of “bird food” and different tools. By testing those tools on the “food” sources, they discovered how a bird’s beak shape helps it to successfully collect the food they rely on. 

Kindergarten students made animal puppets and drew habitats for those puppets, being sure to include food, water, and shelter.
Sixth grade students worked in teams to design water filters. After testing their filter’s efficacy, each group rebuilt and worked on making a better version.

Thanks to grants from PSEG Foundation and the Zoological Society of New Jersey, Newark students receive these monthly lessons for free. Children learn directly from wildlife biologists and gain the knowledge and skills needed to pursue STEAM careers.