EDUCATION PROGRAMS

SASKATCHEWAN’S ECO-EXTRAVAGANZA (ECO-X)

1. To raise awareness of the Prairie Conservation Action Plan and its Partners
2. To raise awareness and appreciation of native prairie and its values across the Prairie Ecozone
3. To raise awareness of issues affecting native prairie while maintaining respect for the agricultural community
4. To nurture a conservation ethic in rural Saskatchewan children and provide them with hands-on actions to make a positive difference

BACKGROUND

PROGRAM FORMAT

• Cows, Fish Cattle Dogs and Kids Game Show
  
  Delivered by the Prairie Conservation Action Plan (PCAP) on Eco-X since 2000 to all students
      
  
  
• Owls On Tour Program
  
  Delivered by the Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre (SBOIC) on Eco-X since 2000 to all students
      
  
  
• Macroinvertebrate Mayhem
  
  Delivered by Saskatchewan Watershed Authority (SWA) on Eco-X since 2000 to grade 4 to 6 students.
  
  Macroinvertebrate Mayhem is an active Project WET game on water quality and riparian and wetland conservation. In this tag game students role-play a variety of pollution tolerant and intolerant macroinvertebrates. Several environmental stressors play the role of "taggers". Pollution intolerant species have restrictions that make them easier to tag. Population changes are recorded after each round and results are discussed at the end of the game.
  
  
  
  
• Wildlife Habitat Relay
  
  Delivered by Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) on Eco-X since 2001 to grade 4 to 6 students
  
  Students are divided into two teams and run a relay race where students match wildlife cards with habitat types (grassland, parkland, stream, and wetland) and learn the importance of wetlands to all species. After the relay, a discussion is held on the habitat requirements of each of the species to determine which team got the most species-habitat associations correct.
  
  
  
  
• Sanford & Polonius: PI (Prairie Investigators)
  
  Delivered by Grasslands National Park (GNP) on Eco-X since 2003 to grade K to 3 students. In 2000 and 2001 GNP delivered a multi-media slideshow called Endangered Species Sings the Blues.
  
  Students learn about species at risk and habitat through an interactive skit and songs. Students role-play components which make up native prairie while Polonius the Prairie Dog and Sanford the Sage Grouse lead them in a search for clues to learn about factors that affect species at risk and influence native prairie health.
  
  
  
  
• Biodiversity Bash
  
  Delivered by Nature SK (NS) on Eco-X since 2003 to grade K to 3  students
  
  Popular classic games are adapted to acquaint students with prairie wildlife species and their habitat. In Prairie Simon Says, students name types of prairie wildlife and livestock and mime their actions. In Prairie Concentration, students play the classic Memory or Concentration Game but with a prairie twist.
  
  
  
  
• Shorebird: Show and Tell
  
  Delivered to grade K-3 students by Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) in 2001, Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment Canada in 2002, and the Prairie Conservation Action Plan since 2004.
  
  This activity was delivered to schools in the Missouri Coteau to raise awareness of the endangered Piping Plover and the importance of the area in providing breeding habitat. Two students are selected to "dress-up" as a Killdeer and a Piping Plover to learn their distinguishing characteristics, calls and habitat requirements. Students are also given the opportunity to make either a Piping Plover or Killdeer out of foam balls and pipe cleaners.
  
  

DELIVERY

EVALUATIONS

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