Wildlife Habitat Council - Management Tools

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Teaching Students About Backyard Conservation

Backyard Conservation is a program of the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) that teaches citizens how to improve water quality and provide habitat for wildlife using conservation techniques developed for farms. The Backyard Conservation education modules encourage students and their families to explore and investigate the fascinating natural world in our own backyards. Furthermore, the modules allow schools to utilize nearby natural areas as outdoor classrooms, reducing or eliminating the need for costly and time prohibitive field trips.

Backyard Conservation provides excellent resources to undertake community-based ecological restoration at homes, schools, businesses and parks. With the emphasis on community, Backyard Conservation provides a vehicle for helping teachers and students of all ages meet and integrate curriculum requirements in areas such as science, math, social studies and language.

BYC Bird Feeder

Through a generous grant from the NRCS, a dedicated team of staff at WHC in cooperation with environmental education experts developed a series of lesson plans to teach students about Backyard Conservation through hands-on studies that promote field investigation and action.

These lessons inspire students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world situations by investigating local ecosystems. Students engaging in these lessons will learn the components of habitat and the specific needs of species such as birds, frogs and butterflies, study the interdependence of plants and animals, recognize invasive species, and understand how community values impact the creation of wildlife habitat.

Photo courtesy of USDA NRCS

The Wildlife Habitat Council developed a database of community resources that can provide local expertise as you implement these lessons. These resources include federal agencies, such as the USDA NRCS, state agencies like Natural Heritage Programs, non-governmental organizations, including Native Plant Societies and sources to purchase native plants for restoration.

The following provides a brief description of each lesson. Click on the lesson title to access the complete lesson.

Elementary Lessons Grades 3 to 5
Team Flight introduces students to the basics of birds and their habitats through field investigations. Students explore several habitat stations to learn about common birds and their dependence on specific types of habitat. Students are encouraged to make observations of not only birds, but also the plants and other components of the habitat and raise questions for further studies.

Visiting a Meadow Habitat: An Introduction to Field Study teaches students through inquiry about the importance of pollinators and their relationship with plants within a meadow ecosystem. Students observe the butterflies, bees, and other insects within a wildflower meadow, as well as the plants themselves.

Hoptoad Habitats guides students through an exploration of amphibian habitats with a focus on vernal pools. Lessons are designed for the classroom and the field to empower students to take local action to protect wetland habitats.

Middle School Lessons Grades 6 to 8
Team Flight transforms students into ornithologists studying the habitat needs of various species of birds. During a fall and spring field visit, students investigate and compare four habitat stations, the impact of seasons, and the birds that inhabit them. During the winter and early spring, students may study the migration of neotropical migratory birds through tracking via the internet to complement the visits. Enrichment activities also include observing the nesting habits of a migratory bird via a nestbox web camera associated with the Wings of Wonder project.

Growing Native allows students to explore native plant communities and the invasive species that compete with native plants. Students apply the knowledge learned about plants in the classroom to the field, engaging in ecological restoration.

Backyard Conservation and Local Laws introduces students to the process of making laws that while reflecting community values may help or hinder backyard conservation efforts. The culminating activity for this lesson is a case study, which is decided through a mock city council hearing.

High School Lessons Grades 9 to 12
Backyard Conservation and Local Laws is designed for both middle and high school students. Growing Native and Team Flight can be expanded and adapted for high school students.