This LibGuide is meant to be a series of workshops that can be done before school, after school, during library time, lunch, or any time that works for you and your students. This series of workshops is based on the picture books written and illustrated by Rick Chrustowski. The activities can be done on different days and in any order. They are meant to be mostly student-driven with the librarian acting as a guide or mentor along the way. If you have the opportunity to invite Rick Chrustowski or any other nature or wildlife authority into your school, please do so! Their expert contributions will serve to enhance student discovery and learning opportunities.
The workshop activities are designed to get students thinking critically and creatively. We want them to think about problems in the world, to explore how they can make an impact, and to have fun doing it. Some workshop activities encourage student collaboration with peers - an important skill. A few of the activities require additional resources and hands-on items. Check with your local wildlife organization for potential donations, or simply look in your own backyard!
If your school is located in south-central Wisconsin, take advantage of some of our incredible local resources. Here are just a few:
7 Reasons Bats are Just as Cool as Batman. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://blog.nwf.org/2008/07/7-reasons-bats-are-just-as-cool-as-batman/
About Bats - #SaveTheBats. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from https://batconservation.org/learn/about-bats/
Activities | Bumblebee Conservation Trust. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://bumblebeeconservation.org/get-involved/bumble-kids/activities/
All About Birding. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://madisonaudubon.org/all-about-birding/
Animals Sharing Watermelon [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved December, 2016 from http://rockyridgerefuge.com/
At-Bristol Science Centre. (2014, July 18). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S-ozxpIrdI
Bat Myths Busted. (2014). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/nature/bat-myths-busted/
Bats, Bat House, Bat Staff, Museum [Digital images]. (n.d.). Retrieved November, 2016 from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
Beaver Creek Reserve. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from https://www.beavercreekreserve.org/bluebird-restoration/bluebird-basics/
Beekeeping 101: Why Raise Honeybees? (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://www.almanac.com/blog/beekeeping/beekeeping-101-why-raise-honeybees
Bees, Beekeepers [Digital images]. (n.d.). Retrieved November, 2016 from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
BookHounds Invites Rick Chrustowski in The Case of Habitats and Homes. (2016, June 23). Retrieved November 14, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdAMSsbG2hs&t=3s
Bugs (Insects and Arachnids). (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://www.ducksters.com/animals/bugs.php
Bugs and Insects for Kindergarten, Preschool and Junior kids. (2015, May 07). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqxkUVfRxQY
Build-a-Bat-House. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://www.nwf.org/Garden-For-Wildlife/Cover/Build-a-Bat-House.aspx
Bumblebee Conservation Trust. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://bumblebeeconservation.org/
Cambridge Dictionary | Free English Dictionary, Translations and Thesaurus. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/
Chavez, J. (2009, February 20). [Bluebird]. Retrieved November, 2016, from https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/western_bluebird/id
Cornell Feeders at Sapsucker Woods. (2016, July 07). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Sk6-LIvDc
Dillon, L. (2012, June 16). Newly Hatched Bluebirds [Digital image]. Retrieved November, 2016, from https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Bluebird/lifehistory
DIY Bird Feeder. (2015, July 08). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyuROSxkvhA
Endangered Ecosystems. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/explorer/ecosystems/sites/caterpillars1.htm
Endangered Ecosystems: Build Your Own Caterpillar. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/explorer/ecosystems/be_an_explorer/map/form_caterpillars.htm
Flight of the Bumblebee, The. (2013, December 13). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdatnwBYHTc
Frog Life Cycle [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved November, 2016, from http://www.education.com/worksheet/article/color-life-cycle-7/
Frog Life Cycle. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from https://www.turtlediary.com/game/frog-life-cycle.html
Front Yard Video. (2014). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0CkR4O7JRM
Harmon, G. (2008, May 31). [Digital image]. Retrieved November, 2016, from http://www.friendsofretzer.org/bluebirds/
Helping Turtles Cross Roads. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://www.matts-turtles.org/helping-turtles-cross-roads.html
Home Page | Rick Chrustowski. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://www.rickchrustowski.com/
Idioms 4 you. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://www.idioms4you.com/index.php
Join the Turtle Guardians! (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://www.kidsforturtles.com/
Make a Water Scope. (n.d.). Retrieved November, 2016 from http://www.nwf.org/kids/family-fun/outdoor-activities/underwater-scope.aspx
[Mountain Bluebird]. (n.d.). Retrieved November, 2016, from http://state-birds.findthedata.com/l/25/Mountain-Bluebird
National Geographic. (2014, July 01). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvKGLlMa5ec
National Geographic Society. (n.d.). Bluebirds, Bluebird Pictures, Bluebird Facts - National Geographic. Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/bluebird/
National Geographic Society. (n.d.). Honeybees, Honeybee Pictures, Honeybee Facts - National Geographic. Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/honeybee/
National Geographic Society. (2015). Insects. Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/hubs/insects/
Phillips, S. (2012, February 11). Eastern Bluebird Male [Digital image]. Retrieved November, 2016, from https://www.flickr.com/photos/sydphi/6862668131
Planet Earth (10th Video) Insects. (2012, February 16). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lEzRqb8y_4
Project FeederWatch. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://feederwatch.org/
Rick Chrustowski Banner [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved November, 2016 from http://www.rickchrustowski.com/press.html
[Rick Chrustowski Drawing]. (2008, October 25). Retrieved November, 2016, from https://www.flickr.com/photos/minnemom/2973516536/in/photostream
Rick Chrustowski in the Pond [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved November, 2016 from http://www.rickchrustowski.com/slides/hopfrog/hf05.html
Rick Chrustowski "Speed Drawing" at Wilson Elementary. (2015, April 07). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXKjP7vBKG8
Scholastic.com | Teacher: Online Activities: Science Explorations: Soar with Bats: Night Fliers of the Skies. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/explorations/bats/
Sea Turtle Life Cycle [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved November, 2016 from http://cikgupunitha.blogspot.com/2013/04/life-cycles-of-animals-1_21.html
Smithsonian Channel. (2016, April 08). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJOloliWvB8
Stohr-Hunt, T. (2013). Dichotomous Key [Digital image]. Retrieved November, 2016 from http://bookishways.blogspot.com/p/freebies.html
Threatened. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://www.batcon.org/why-bats/bats-are/bats-are-threatened
Threats to Frogs. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://www.savethefrogs.com/threats/index.html
Toad, Frog, Pollywog - Amphibians Kids Song. (2010). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti0HDtRY8u4
Turtle Conservancy. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from https://www.turtleconservancy.org/
Turtle Habitat Project [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved November, 2016 from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/341358846726079146/
Turtle Project [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved November, 2016 from http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/tremendous-turtles
Turtles, Turtle Crossing [Digital images]. (n.d.). Retrieved November, 2016 from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
[Western Bluebird]. (n.d.). Retrieved November, 2016, from http://tgreybirds.com/Pages/WesternBluebirdp.html
Wisconsin Bat Program. (n.d.). Retrieved December 05, 2016, from http://www.wiatri.net/Inventory/Bats/
Zuk, J. (2016, December 3). Autographed Book [Digital image].