Exploring Nature and Learning Science Through an Afterschool Birding Club.
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| Title: | Exploring Nature and Learning Science Through an Afterschool Birding Club. |
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| Authors: | Britton, Stacey A.1 (AUTHOR) sbritton@westga.edu, Gisewhite, Rachel A.2 (AUTHOR), Rogers, Kristen1 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Experiential Education. Jun2025, Vol. 48 Issue 2, p353-373. 21p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Environmental literacy, *School children, *After school programs, *Primary education, Nature appreciation, Bird watching, Social interaction, Scientific method |
| Abstract: | Background: Birding is ideal for engaging students in authentic scientific inquiry because it relies on specialized equipment, requires keen observation skills, engages prior knowledge, and activates critical thinking. However, there is very little research on the benefits of birding in K-12 education. Purpose: Two elementary teachers created an afterschool bird club to engage students in birding to help them develop a better appreciation for their surroundings and increase awareness of the natural world. This qualitative study was conducted over two academic years and investigated the role an afterschool birding club had on students' interaction with nature and their peers. Methodology/Approach: Using a primarily ethnographic approach, teacher interviews, parent survey data and interviews, and field notes guided the understanding of the research question. Findings/Conclusions: The study reveals an evident value for elementary students in social interactions, improved relationships with others, a building of scientific knowledge and awareness, and an increased appreciation for nature. Implications: Benefits include allowing students to interact with tools and materials relating to science and bird identification. They make this a fun way to enact their passion and hopefully inspire children to develop a love for birds, birding, and a desire to conserve the local habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Experiential Education is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
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| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 1 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 184865189 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Exploring Nature and Learning Science Through an Afterschool Birding Club. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Britton%2C+Stacey+A%2E%22">Britton, Stacey A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> sbritton@westga.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gisewhite%2C+Rachel+A%2E%22">Gisewhite, Rachel A.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rogers%2C+Kristen%22">Rogers, Kristen</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Experiential+Education%22">Journal of Experiential Education</searchLink>. Jun2025, Vol. 48 Issue 2, p353-373. 21p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Environmental+literacy%22">Environmental literacy</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+children%22">School children</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22After+school+programs%22">After school programs</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Primary+education%22">Primary education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nature+appreciation%22">Nature appreciation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bird+watching%22">Bird watching</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+interaction%22">Social interaction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scientific+method%22">Scientific method</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Background: Birding is ideal for engaging students in authentic scientific inquiry because it relies on specialized equipment, requires keen observation skills, engages prior knowledge, and activates critical thinking. However, there is very little research on the benefits of birding in K-12 education. Purpose: Two elementary teachers created an afterschool bird club to engage students in birding to help them develop a better appreciation for their surroundings and increase awareness of the natural world. This qualitative study was conducted over two academic years and investigated the role an afterschool birding club had on students' interaction with nature and their peers. Methodology/Approach: Using a primarily ethnographic approach, teacher interviews, parent survey data and interviews, and field notes guided the understanding of the research question. Findings/Conclusions: The study reveals an evident value for elementary students in social interactions, improved relationships with others, a building of scientific knowledge and awareness, and an increased appreciation for nature. Implications: Benefits include allowing students to interact with tools and materials relating to science and bird identification. They make this a fun way to enact their passion and hopefully inspire children to develop a love for birds, birding, and a desire to conserve the local habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Experiential Education is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=184865189 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1177/10538259241276084 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 21 StartPage: 353 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Environmental literacy Type: general – SubjectFull: School children Type: general – SubjectFull: After school programs Type: general – SubjectFull: Primary education Type: general – SubjectFull: Nature appreciation Type: general – SubjectFull: Bird watching Type: general – SubjectFull: Social interaction Type: general – SubjectFull: Scientific method Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Exploring Nature and Learning Science Through an Afterschool Birding Club. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Britton, Stacey A. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Gisewhite, Rachel A. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Rogers, Kristen IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 06 Text: Jun2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 10538259 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 48 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Experiential Education Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
