It is no secret that Arbordale author Jennifer Keats Curtis is an advocate for the furry and feathered creatures in our world. She uses her writing talents to share her love with children all over the world, but kids in Maryland are lucky enough to see Jennifer’s care and commitment in action.
The release of Jennifer’s fifth Animal Helpers book is just days away, so to kick off the newest book here is how kids at Joppa View Elementary helped Jennifer and real life animal helper Kathy Woods (featured in Wildlife Rehabilitators) create transporters for sick and injured animals.
Reblogged with permission from Tressa Norris, Library Media Specialist at Joppa View Elementary
Solving Real-World Problems at Joppa View
We had the opportunity at Joppa View Elementary School to join forces with Mrs. Jennifer Keats
Curtis; Maryland’s Green Author, and Ms. Kathy Woods; Master Wildlife Rehabilitator, to solve real-life problems. Students were posed with the following scenario, “Ms. Woods and Mrs. Curtis need YOUR help! They are in need of Wildlife Transporters to carry sick and hurt wildlife animals to their clinic. Each team will have an animal that they will need to build a transporter for.” Students worked in teams consisting of students grades K-5, to create a functional contraption built of recyclable materials students could find in their homes.
This was an amazing experience for the students involved as their collaboration and ingenuity allowed them plan, create, test, and modify their creation. As the library media specialist, the chance to create an environment where students
can make real-life connections with what they are learning in the classroom, media center, and as a Green School, was priceless. Mrs. Curtis as well as Ms. Woods, were extremely impressed with the student’s ideas and construction and amazed at their creativity and teamwork. We know the students will cherish this experience as they were thanking me as they left the Maker’s Lab, saying, “This was the best day ever!” It makes all the planning and organizing worth it.
View the original post and more pictures of the student’s amazing ideas for transporters here!
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