Using Computers with Spring and Fall Happenings

Students can use the Fall and Spring Happenings website to:

• See what is happening around the state
• Follow links to information and activities regarding the events
• With a teacher, fill in and send an on-line form to report an event.

Classroom setting with one or two computers:

Consider assigning a different student or two to check the website each day. Job(s) might include:

• look for any changes on each event map or the list of schools reporting the event.
• update the maps on the poster.
• browse to find a new and interesting fact to share with the class about one of the species or events.

Lab setting:

If you have access to a computer lab with internet capabilities, your entire class can use the Spring & Fall Happenings website together. Initially, you may want to talk them through page changes and links. As they become more independent, you can give individual assignments, such as searching links and pages for the cool facts to share about a species. Visiting the site on a regular basis (once every week or two) will allow students to see spring progress across the state, and to check their own contributions. Another option is to view the website projected on the screen together in the lab.

Lesson plans that are specific to computer use can be found in the Teacher Resources area.

Teachers can use the Spring & Fall Happenings website to:

• Report an event to Wolf Ridge so we can post it on the website
• View the progress of the seasons across the state
• Access enrichment lesson plans
• Print out a variety of supporting materials

Reporting an event

When someone reports seeing an event from the poster, take a minute to discuss it in class. You might also want to ask the student a few questions to help ensure that it is a valid sighting.

To keep things manageable, Wolf Ridge can only accept one “report” for each event per school. If more than one classroom will be participating, it may help to choose one teacher to coordinate which sighting will be sent to Wolf Ridge as the “official” one.

To report the event to Wolf Ridge, click the “Report an Event” link found at the bottom of most pages. After you type in the password, you will see a simple form which asks you to click on the event, then type in your school, town, the date the event was seen, and the first name and last initial of the student who first reported it. The form also asks for your e-mail address so I can get back to you if I have a question.

Materials available on-line

In addition to your introductory poster and packet, enrichment lesson plans, materials, references, and links will be available on-line through the “Teacher Resources” link at the top of each page.

Our goal is to provide and/or refer you to at least one 30-minute activity for each event which you and your students can use to go beyond the basic reporting of spring events. These activities can also serve as pre and post activities for your Wolf Ridge visit. As time permits, we will add more activities. You might also want to check the individual event pages for links and information about each species.

Please e-mail Carrie at Wolf Ridge if you have an idea you would like to share with others, or send a paper copy to WRELC, 230 Cranberry Road, Finland, MN 55603. I’m sure you will each have ideas of how to best use Spring Happenings in your school and situation. I look forward to hearing about your successes! I always welcome your questions, comments and suggestions.

Other tips