Our goal is not only to teach students about High Plains water and the importance of conservation but also raise an awareness of the beauty of nature including live raptors (rare and beautiful owls), learning about waterfowl and playa buffers (topics new and fresh that apply to our very own communities), and finally, experiencing a playa first-hand (giving students an opportunity to explore, make observations and drawing conclusions on their own). We believe very student can succeed to their potential given the opportunity.
Mississippi Kite Bird perched on Gail's hand |
Our next session was the Playa Lake Buffers and Waterfowl demonstration by Jim Steiret an author and waterfowler. We were pleasantly surprised by an unexpected visitor, a Northern Harrier! He is the first winter bird to visit this year. (While it may not be the first one to visit this year, it is the first one we have seen.)
Darryl Birkenfeld, OC Executive Director and Teresa Gonzales, Educator and OC Intern, combined to present "what is a Playa" and "Playa Soils". Using the outdoor classroom, students completed a T-Chart on Top Soil and Randall Clay. The educational panels proved to be very useful in the discussion of playas. The panels include maps and illustrations that gave the students a better understanding of the history of playas, where they are, why they are unique to our region, and the wildlife that thrives here. Finally, students were able to make observations of what a playa might look like in a normal rain year by the use of the playa jars. A great visual model!
Students enjoy a day of exploring and journaling on the playa |
As always, teachers were encouraged to collect Randall clay for future classroom playa jars! This project has endless possibilities for learning as it is constantly changing as the seeds grow and the eggs to hatch for all to see! We have one educator in Dora, N.M. who utilizes playa jars to create an environment for constant observations and communication. Every student has their own playa jar to observe individually or compare with others in the class.
We strive for all students to be successful and excited about learning...Playa Festivals are a valuable tool that should be utilized by any school district that believes in a full experience of learning.