Klamath Bird Observatory - Basin and Range Birding Trail Education Kit

Basin and Range Birding Trail Education Kit

Welcome to the curriculum for the Basin and Range Birding Trail (BRBT) Education Kit! Here you will find exciting lesson plans that will guide your teaching of birds, specially designed for the birds and habitats of Modoc County, California. The purpose of the kit is to provide placed-based, science, and environmental education lesson plans to encourage the study and conservation of local birds and habitats. You will find an array of lesson plans focusing on three subjects:

•    What is a Bird?
•    Birding & Studying Birds
•    Bird Conservation.

The curriculum contains four sections: 1) lesson plans 2) student journals, 3) teacher answer keys, and 4) appendices with additional resources and websites. Each lesson plan provides background information, simple and clear procedures, helpful teacher tips, supplementary extensions, fun fact side panels, and other field trip ideas.

To accompany the curriculum are kits containing all of the necessary resources for these lessons. Two complete kits (with the same content) are available from The River Center for local teachers, non-formal educators, and community members to use. To check out a BRBT kit, call 530-233-5085. Essentially, you should be able to pick a lesson plan and have all the information you need without additional research.

While the lesson plans are aligned to California State Science Standards, and can be easily adapted to fit your teaching needs. Student journal sheets are provided to advance critical thinking and scientific inquiry learning for each lesson. Journals may be incorporated throughout the school year and at the end students can make personalized journal cover sheets for their final products. Even though the lesson plans will be complete, students can share their birding experiences with family and friends far into the future.

The kit was designed by Klamath Bird Observatory educators with support from staff and board The River Center and Modoc County teachers. Funding for curriculum development, teacher training, and resources was provided by a Modoc County Title III Forest Education Grant. Photographic images used throughout curricula and resources were donated by Southern Oregon resident Jim Livaudais.

Basin and Range Birding Trail Education Kit baea_3_jl