Fourth grade students in the enrichment Compass program have taken part in an exciting conservation project that combined research, writing, art and publishing.
Each student was assigned an animal to study and explored a variety of topics, including its diet, physical traits, habitat loss and ongoing conservation efforts. Among the animals researched were dolphins, red pandas, sharks, snow leopards, tigers and whale sharks. Using their findings, students created and published original conservation books that showcased both their knowledge and creativity. In addition to illustrating their animals, students chose three unique ways to express their concerns for their animal’s conservation status. Their writing pieces included creative formats such as letters to the animal’s prey, courtroom transcripts, fun facts and quizzes. Artwork featured habitat diagrams, food webs, wanted posters and cartoons.
“Students enjoyed having the opportunity to choose their expression and becoming published authors,” Compass teacher Maggie Tittler said.
As a special addition to the project, each student received a bracelet from Fahlo that allows them to scan a QR code and track their animal in the wild, creating a meaningful connection to the conservation work they studied. The bracelets were generously donated by Christina Koslowski, her daughter Nicole and their family. After discovering Fahlo through ads while playing Boggle, Ms. Koslowski recalled how inspired Nicole had been as a student in Ms. Tittler’s class during their quail conservation project. She hoped this project might help to inspire this year’s fourth grade students to share a similar inspiration for years to come.
To celebrate their accomplishments, fourth grade Compass students from all three schools joined together on June 8 to share their projects and commemorate their publishing experience.