Not lions, or tigers, nor bears but an America alligator, an Eastern Indigo snake, and 46 energetic fifth graders went “Wildlife in Learning Design (WILD) about Teaching” during a celebration of American Education Week. The Education Club (HCCMAE-SP) at Hinds Community College – Utica Campus partnered with the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Utica Elementary School, and the Teacher Education Preparation Program to initiate the second phase of their “WILD about Teaching” campaign.
The fifth grade students looked on eagerly as Jonathan Harris, a naturalist from the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, carefully moved around the classroom explaining aspects of endangered species and conservation. They were ready to learn and were waiting attentively for the next best thing to happen, and it did! Mr. Harris opened a case and took out a beautiful Eastern Indigo snake. Completely mesmerized, the students sat in their seats with a “Wow” on their lips, but they did not make a sound.
The Education club members were proud that this part of their campaign was going great. The first part of the “WILD about Teaching” campaign focused on teacher preparation. During this phase, the Education Club members learned about different lessons to use in their classrooms by engaging in PROJECT WILD hosted by the Museum of Natural Science. They endured intense preparation to get ready for the second phase. From the looks on the students’ faces and their teachers’ faces, it was obvious that the preparation process was definitely paying off.
This experience with the fifth graders was a service effort designed to stimulate interest in the teaching profession, to expose future generations to exciting elements of teaching, and to the Hinds Community College cadre of future teachers. Additionally, this event gave college students a chance to interact with their future students. The Education club members were involved in a group teaching process, which included their assessing students’ prior knowledge about environmental issues, building on the students’ prior knowledge, an interactive physical activity called “Oh Deer!” and a reflection activity using arts and crafts with recycled material (“Adaptation Artistry”). All of these elements provided the club members with insight into quality lesson preparation and excellence in teaching practices. The most rewarding part for everyone was the high level of excitement, student engagement, and most of all, learning.
The next two segments of the “WILD about Teaching” campaign will include a “WILD about Ewe” with eighth graders from Utica Middle School and “Growing Up WILD,” focusing on early childhood education.
As a result of the visibility and the uniqueness of this initiative, interest, enrollment, and participation in the Education Club and Teacher Education Preparation program have increased tremendously. |
