Increasing Biodiversity in the Schoolyard

Major Objectives

• Increase biodiversity of the schoolyard by attracting birds using bird feeders
• Provide habitat for birds and insects by adding plants to the schoolyard

Description

Students at Hallsville Intermediate School surveyed their schoolyard using quadrants and making observations. They determined that two ways to increase biodiversity could be installing bird feeders and planting native plants. They collaborated to find the best locations for the bird feeders and communicated with administrators and maintenance personnel to create a maintenance plan for both feeders and new plants. After installing the feeders, students conducted fundraisers for bird food and plants. Monitoring the number and type of birds and pollinators that visit the schoolyard will be part of this ongoing project to develop a baseline data set and help determine the effect of these conservation actions.

• Project Length:
  All year
• Outreach:
  30
• Community Partners:
  Missouri Department of Conservation
• Related Aquarium Teacher Program:
  Coastal Systems Teacher Institute