Rock Eagle 4-H Center: Environmental Education
Discovery Program
The goal of the Discovery Program is to provide fun, educational learning experiences for children in Pre-K through 2nd grade. We strive to give young students unique educational opportunities that help form a firm foundation for academic success. Interactive classes about animals, plants, sensory awareness, and living history take each child on a voyage of discovery that makes learning come alive!
All classes are one hour in length and incorporate indoor and outdoor, hands-on, minds-on activities. With ten different classes from which to choose, each trip to Rock Eagle will be a new adventure. Check out what classes are offered in Animal Kingdom, Georgia History, and Exploration. Typical field studies include two one-hour classes, followed by time to explore the Natural History Museum and Gift Shop. Covered picnic areas may also be reserved. We can accommodate up to 60 students. Cost is $9.00 per student.
(All classes are correlated with the current Georgia Performance Standards.)
For programming questions, please contact Becky Collins at (706)484-2836.
Animal Kingdom
Awesome Aquatics:
Using a Steam and Lake ecosystem, students will learn about the animals they can find in local aquatic habitats. This class will focus on the adaptations of fish, aquatic insects, frogs, and turtles as student handle and observe animals in display and touch tanks. Active games and arts and crafts enhance the educational experience.
Amazing Mammals:
In this class students will learn how mammals are different from other animals. Currently, no live mammal is available for show; however, comparisons of animal skins will show why mammals are a unique group among the animal kingdom. Students will investigate animal tracks, play a camouflage game and will have the opportunity to make a craft to take home with them.
Creepy Crawlies:
In this class, students will learn about members of the insect and the arachnid families through the study of live animals. The chance to hold a Madagascar hissing cockroachs and examine live spiders and scorpions will help teach the students about the characteristics of each of these groups. Students will also learn how insects can make our lives more enjoyable.
Feathered Friends:
Live birds have been added to make this class even more interactive. Children will learn what makes these flying creatures so unique through observation and handling of live birds. In this class students will be introduced to our friendly doves and non releasable raptors. The similarities and differences of raptors and seed eating birds will be discussed as these birds are shown. Preserved specimens will also be used to show children differences in bird beaks and feet.
Scaley Slimy:
Welcome to the wonderful world of reptiles and amphibians, otherwise known as Herpetology. Getting to touch and observe Alligators, turtles, snakes, lizards, and toads is the highlight of this class along with a discussion of what makes reptiles and amphibians so special.
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Georgia History
Native American Life:
Take your students back in time to learn what it would have been like to be a Native American in the 1500's. This hands on class focuses on daily activities that the Creek Indians would have done 500 years ago. Class activities include storytelling, weaving, preparing cornmeal, weaving on a loom, and playing some games to sharpen skills needed in Native American times. Students will also learn how to make a clay pot, which they will take home.
Pioneer Life:
This history lesson teaches students what life was like in the pioneer times. Through storytelling and singing songs, and various activities, students will get an idea of what life would have been like for a pioneer child. Class activities include making music with homemade instruments, washing clothes with a washtub and washboard, churning butter to eat on homemade cornbread, playing pioneer games, and writing with quill pens. Paired with the Native American Life class students get a living history lesson that they will remember.
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Exploration
Habitats:
This class explores what animals need to live and survive. The five requirements (food, water, air, shelter, space) of all living things are stressed as students observe captive animals in their habitats. Concepts of habitat, food web, adaptations, and the 5 requirements are illustrated in interactive songs and activities. Weather permitting, students will go on a habitat hunt to show what they have learned.
Plants and Trees:
In this class students will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the plants and trees found in their backyard. Hands on activities and games will help students learn about the different parts of plants and their function. They will also gain an understanding of what plants need to live and why plants are important to us and our animal friends. After learning about the requirements of these green machines, each child will make a plant bag to test their own green thumb.
Sensory Awareness:
Discover your senses. In this class students will heighten their senses through a variety of hands on activities. Class topics will focus on the five senses, and how people and animals use their senses everyday. Students will test out thier sense of touch by identifying objects in our themed feelie boxes. They will also test out thier noses to sniff out the trail of the peppermint beetle and match different smells to each other. Testing their taste buds, students will try to tell the difference between two foods that look, feel and smell alike. Other activities will focus on how animals use their senses in the wild to survive.
