School Programs Lisa Benish School Programs Lisa Benish

Happenings with BRDC in the Schools

Each month, BRDC shares elements of the natural history of the region with the students in elementary schools in Grayson and Washington Counties.

Each month, BRDC shares elements of the natural history of the region with the students in elementary schools in Grayson and Washington Counties.

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The winter’s cold causes the vegetation to die back and expose the rocks, making January, although cold, the perfect time to study geology. With first graders, we share the world of long ago with a close look at fossils and how they are formed. Using clay and shark teeth, the kids create a mold of that tooth showing how the “impression” is made and left behind as a treasure to be discovered later. The fourth graders study the rock cycle and use Play-Doh as the medium in which to create sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rock. This “hands-on” manipulation emphasizes the power of the Earth’s heat and pressure to form and reform our geology.

February brings the snow and the ability to follow tracks. Tracks and signs are always a fun way to learn about the fauna of the region. Learning how to identify an animal from the signs left behind engages our students on a deeper level. Making prints and seeing them in sand leaves an “impression” on the students. They study and try to imitate various methods of animal walking patterns to better understand animal behaviors and actions.

March is for marsupials and marvelous adaptations. The first graders learn about the only North American marsupial, the Virginia opossum. We call it the superhero of mammals due to its immune system and ability to survive the most deadly of toxins. Students develop an appreciation for the niche the opossum fills in its environment and ours.

The study of adaptation is the focus with the fourth grade science classes. Colors and patterns as part of an organism’s adaptation, is studied. Does this organism blend in or stand out? Why? Is it a warning, or for attraction, mimicry, or camouflage? The students explore the answers to these questions by placing certain organisms into their respective category and debate their reasoning. This exercise fosters critical thinking skills and pushes the students to think deeper about why an organism looks like it does.

The cold of winter is slowly leaving and the warmth of spring is bringing new life to the Blue Ridge. We are looking forward to sharing those happenings too!




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BRDC Science Fair - Grayson County Middle Schools

The fun and excitement continues as 246 students in Grayson County competed for prizes at the 3rd Annual BRDC Science Fair!

The fun and excitement continues as 246 students in Grayson County competed for prizes at the 3rd Annual Science Fair! Independence Middle School hosted the Science Fair again this year and accommodated all the students and their projects as they set up in the gymnasium.

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Judging for the event began on Thursday evening with the review and scoring of the projects. Scoring was based on the students research question or problem, design and methodology, data collection, analysis and interpretation or construction and testing (engineering projects), creativity, and their display board. Friday morning, the judging continued with the presentation/interview section of the scoring. This is where the students got to shine and tell the judges all about their experiences working on the projects and the results of their experiments and testing.

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During the event, BRDC provided programs for the students about animals and “What makes Grayson County so Special”. Darin Handy and Aaron Floyd (BRDC Executive Director) presented the programs. As this is a community event, parents and family members were invited to view the projects and be there for the awards ceremony in the afternoon.

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The Grand prize was once again a mini 3D printer (back by popular demand) with subsequent 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes of Acorn Naturalist gift certificates, Best in School plaques and participation certificates for all. The Winners of this years Science Fair are:

A.J. Perry, Grayson Highlands School; The Humidity Dilemma; Grand Prize and Best in School
Meg Donley, Grayson Highlands School; Color Fade; 1st Place 6th grade
Kristina Barnette, Independence Middle School; Which Wipe Works Well; 1st Place 7th grade and Best in School
Christopher Barnette, Independence Middle School; Recycled Technology; 2nd Place 6th grade
Tierca Lawson, Independence Middle School; Germs are Everywhere; 2nd Place 7th grade
Preston Jones, Aaron Peterson, Independence Middle School; Do Plants Grow Better with Sugar Water or Well Water; 3rd Place 6th grade
Emily Vaughan, Independence Middle School; Keep Your Fire Burning Longer!; 3rd Place 7th grade
Ethan Lineberry, Rachel May, Jasalyn Trimble, Fries School; Make our Cafeteria Cleaner; Best in School

BRDC is very thankful for all the community support for this great event. Grayson Express, Woody’s Pharmacy and Subway all contributed financially towards the prizes. Also, we could not have done it without the help of our fantastic volunteer judges: Deb Greif, Kim Phipps, John Kovacich, Bill Hylander, Brenda Bonk, John Fant, Niki Weir, Henry Hobson, Ken Kreuzer, Beverly Fermor, Heidi Breedlove, Keith and Pat Andrews. Many hours were spent reviewing all the 161 projects. We could not have done it without you….many heart felt thanks to you all!

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The 1st Annual BRDC Science Fair!

The First Annual Blue Ridge Discovery Center Science Fair brought together 6th and 7th grade students from Grayson Highlands, Independence, and Fries to compete for the grand prize- a Phantom 3 drone!

The First Annual Blue Ridge Discovery Center Science Fair brought together 6th and 7th grade students from Grayson Highlands, Independence, and Fries to compete for the grand prize- a Phantom 3 drone!

Science Fair Projects are an opportunity for the students to learn more about the world through rigorous experimentation and documentation. The projects answer questions through scientific method or focus on innovative solutions through engineering. Although Science Fairs are competitive by design, they are collaborative by nature, with help from peers, teachers, parents and mentors, students solve the hardest of questions.

At the fair, BRDC staff & volunteers from partner organizations and businesses, including Virginia Department of Forestry, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, and Skyline Bank interviewed the students, and judged their projects. Students, judges, and volunteers enjoyed lunch provided by Blue Ridge Discovery Center and Pizza Plus.

Grand Prize

  • Also Fries Best in School: Emily Reeves - 6th grade

6th Grade

  • 1st place: Lacy Beduhn and Amie Hamm

  • 2nd place: Ryan Perry and Mack Sindler

  • 3rd place: Elijah Spurlin and Hayden Walters

7th grade

  • 1st Place & Independence Middle Best in School: Maddie Brown and Emily Swinney

  • 2nd Place: Anna Harrington

  • 3rd place & Grayson Highlands Best in School: Marisa Halsey and Rebecca Cunningham

A big thanks to all the judges: Brenda Bonk, Lukas Burgher, Lindsey Carrico, Aaron Floyd, Marcia and Lance HartJay Martin, Darin Handy, Debbie Kovacich, Jeb Minarik, Zach Olinger, Austin Phipps, and Cynthia Taylor for their help.

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Learning about Amphibians & Aquatic Insects

BRDC has been busy with education programs, working with Galax Middle School, Fries School, Fairview Elementary, Grayson Highlands, Independence Elementary.

Grayson County's fourth grade students participated in the Natural Heritage Program with an emphasis on salamanders, toads, and frogs. Students learned about salamanders commonly found in the Blue Ridge.

BRDC has been busy with education programs, working with Galax Middle School, Fries School, Fairview Elementary, Grayson Highlands, Independence Elementary.

Grayson County's fourth grade students participated in the Natural Heritage Program with an emphasis on salamanders, toads, and frogs. Students learned about salamanders commonly found in the Blue Ridge.  Using field guides, they researched different species of salamander and presented their discoveries to the class.  The Eastern hellbender was a favorite among the students, as they were shocked by its prehistoric features. Students enjoyed watching a video about the life history of hellbenders provided by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Fifth grade students in Grayson County schools learned about frogs and toads. Students illustrated the life cycle of amphibians, learned the difference between frogs and toads, and listened to the calls of some of Virginia's common species. Many students had heard the calls before, but often didn't know what animal made the calls. The Virginia Herpetological Society's website is a great resource for determining different frog and toad calls: https://goo.gl/v84gqS.

After learning the calls of the American bullfrog, spring peeper, and American toad, students played a Frog and Toad matching game. Using a Peterson Guidebook to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, students matched the species name, picture, and description together. 

Galax Middle School After School program has been learning all about aquatic species. BRDC brought aquatic insects from a local stream to the classroom where students got a first-hand look at the life found in our creeks. Students learned about the life cycle of the insects, and enjoyed fly tying with Executive Director Aaron Floyd. 

In-school programming keeps BRDC's staff busy, but it is great to work with such a variety grade levels and see the enjoyment and wonder on the children's faces. To stay connected with BRDC follow us on Instagram @blueridgediscoverycenter.

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BRDC Kicks Off New Science Fair!

We are excited to announce the 1st Annual BRDC Science Fair in partnership with Grayson County Public Schools!  The Science fair is a chance for students to exercise their creative thinking skills, follow their curiosity, learn more about their interests and share their discoveries with others. 

We are excited to announce the 1st Annual BRDC Science Fair in partnership with Grayson County Public Schools!  The Science fair is a chance for students to exercise their creative thinking skills, follow their curiosity, learn more about their interests and share their discoveries with others. Project questions arise from the participant’s own experience and context, and students are encouraged to tackle challenges related to the Blue Ridge region.

Even though the Science Fair is a competitive program, it is collaborative by nature with participants supported by peers, teachers, family and mentors. Students may work as individuals or in groups up to three, but the prize award must be shared among the group. Projects may be based on research or innovation, and focused on answering a question through scientific method or innovative solutions through engineering.

BRDC launched the new Science Fair at each of Grayson County’s middle schools: Fries, IMS and Grayson Highlands School. Principals, science teachers, and volunteer mentors participated in the kickoff where over 200 6th and 7th grade students were introduced to scientific and engineering methods. Students saw the grand prize DJI Drone in action.  Additional prizes include gift certificates to Educational Innovations, and best in school trophies.  

Breakout sessions were held to help the students brainstorm in small groups.  The students developed concepts for projects based on their interest. Ideas included studying ways to reduce sound in the gym, testing percentage of water that gives you the best chance to win at the bottle flip game, how to make oil and water stay mixed, and how to build a better escalator (for lumber work). 

BRDC will provide mentors to further assist students in developing their concepts and procedures. Mentor workshops will be held at Fries Middle School on January 28th and Grayson Highlands School on February 18th. Volunteer Mentors include: Darin Handy, Niki Weir, Gary Lavellee, Dr. William Hylander, and Sarah Osborne.  Community members interested in mentoring can contact BRDC at info@blueridgediscoverycenter.org, or call 276-293-1232.

The BRDC Science Fair Committee includes: Aaron Floyd, BRDC Executive Director; Lisa Benish, BRDC Program Coordinator; Scott Jackson-Ricketts, BRDC volunteer; Mr. Hale, IMS Principal; Mr. Alexander, Fries Principal; Mr. Cheeks, GHS Principal; Mrs. Cox IMS, Mrs. Perry GHS, and Mrs. Blankenship FMS.

For more information about the Science Fair, visit blueridgediscoverycenter.org/sciencefair

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The Power of Owl Pellets

During the first week of November, Grayson County 4-H and BRDC teamed up to bring all of the 4th graders across Grayson County our famous owl pellet program. 

It always begins with ew, yuck and gross, because the idea of dissecting something that was once inside a living bird, summons visions of poop or puke. We explain that an owl pellet is similar to a fur ball your house cat occasionally coughs up. 

During the first week of November, Grayson County 4-H and BRDC teamed up to bring all of the 4th graders across Grayson County our famous owl pellet program. 

It always begins with ew, yuck and gross, because the idea of dissecting something that was once inside a living bird, summons visions of poop or puke. We explain that an owl pellet is similar to a fur ball your house cat occasionally coughs up. Basically, owls (and other raptors) avoid passing bones and hair through their digestive system by separating those parts out prior to swallowing the juicier bits. Yum.

We work with barn owl pellets due to the general ease of collecting them. Barn owls, true to their common name, like to roost and nest in barns, where they leave their neatly packaged pellets on the barn floor for us to find. Then we take them home, wrap them in tinfoil and sterilize them at high heat in our kitchen ovens. 

After overcoming their initial disgust, kids are instructed to dig in, break the pellets apart, and start poking around. We explain that this exercise is similar to archeology and forensic science. Our students use similar tools: tweezers, oversized tooth picks, small brushes and magnifying glasses. Each pellet comes with a chart that first lists the possible skulls they will find (rodent, shrew, mole and bird). After identifying which skull or skulls are contained within, they can then begin the task of identifying the smaller bones found under each skull on the chart. There is always a decent chance that more than one species of owl lunch will be found in a single pellet. By this time, the kids are completely engaged.

We also take time to talk about the barn owl’s life history, sharing pictures of this nocturnal majesty, and discuss more generally the habits of owls and which ones live in our Blue Ridge Region. We compare the call recordings of owls, and look at real owl skulls, talons and wings. It’s a pretty exciting owl hour for all, and the kids do not want it to end.

Many thanks to our 4-H leader, Erin Cox, and her enthusiastic interest in sharing this program with BRDC. 

 

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Mahogany Rock Hawk Watch

On September 23, thirty seventh graders from Grayson County Public Schools attended the Mahogany Rock Hawk Watch to experience the niche dedication of Hawk Counters and the mass migration of Broad-winged Hawks. Jim Keighton from the Blue Ridge Birders has been recording the migration of birds of prey for nearly twenty years! Each fall Jim sets up his swivel chair and interpretive displays along the parkway and begins scanning the sky. Not only does he diligently track the migration but he also takes the time to educate the passerby about the migration occurring overhead. 

On September 23, thirty seventh graders from Grayson County Public Schools attended the Mahogany Rock Hawk Watch to experience the niche dedication of Hawk Counters and the mass migration of Broad-winged Hawks. Jim Keighton from the Blue Ridge Birders has been recording the migration of birds of prey for nearly twenty years! Each fall Jim sets up his swivel chair and interpretive displays along the parkway and begins scanning the sky. Not only does he diligently track the migration but he also takes the time to educate the passerby about the migration occurring overhead. 

These seventh graders got to enjoy the migration of eagles, falcons and broad-winged hawks while spending the day with local birding experts and the treasure trove of knowledge they carry. By participating in this citizen science project the students learned how to count and record data, how to identify species, how to use binoculars and spotting scopes, learned about migration patterns and techniques, but most importantly they were introduced to phenomenal bird migration happening right in their backyards. 

Many thanks to Jim Keighton and his long standing stewardship of the bird populations of the Blue Ridge.

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BRDC Partners with Grayson County Schools

We are pleased to announce our partnership with Grayson County Public Schools to connect local youth to the Blue Ridge through hands-on programs with students, providing grade specific SOL’s and STEM learning concepts.  The $10,000 award from Grayson County Schools for the 2016-17 school year, supported by matching funds and volunteer support from BRDC, will reach students across the school system and enrich the public school experience through hands-on and interest-driven activities.  

We are pleased to announce our partnership with Grayson County Public Schools to connect local youth to the Blue Ridge through hands-on programs with students, providing grade specific SOL’s and STEM learning concepts.  The $10,000 award from Grayson County Schools for the 2016-17 school year, supported by matching funds and volunteer support from BRDC, will reach students across the school system and enrich the public school experience through hands-on and interest-driven activities.  

BRDC will engage students at several grade levels, utilizing proven programs that teach critical thinking skills through independent learning opportunities, and integrate field trips that introduce our youth to the amazing resources in their backyards. These programs will provide creative and fun opportunities for students to engage their surroundings, look closer, question, and share their findings with others while exploring the wonders in their backyards, parks, forests, fields, rivers and mountains.

BRDC will offer a variety of programs including a reading program for Kindergarden-2nd grade that will encourage student’s curiosity and builds relationships with the natural world, while enhancing listening and reading comprehension skills.  Focusing on nature discovery using nonfiction, imaginative tales and hands on activities, the program will bring the treasures of the Blue Ridge to life in the classroom and excite the students’ minds.

4th grade students will participate in The Natural Heritage Program, exploring all aspects of the natural history of the Blue Ridge mountains. Through classroom sessions and field trips, students will study plants and animals in their environment.  Through observation and discovery, they will deepen their connection to the region we call home. 

Avian Adventures, a citizen science project for 7th graders, will increase awareness of the rich, diverse avifauna of the Blue Ridge region.  The program will provide an in-depth study on all aspects of bird life and the potential life-long hobby of birding, and inspire students to become more familiar with the creatures in their own backyards and beyond.

High school students will integrate science and art with a detailed, species specific, illustration study called Blue Ridge Illustrated.  Students will explore an area and through observation, specimen sampling, and field sketching, collecting information on the flora or fauna of the area.  The students will investigate the life history of the specimens through detailed drawings, literature, and observation.  The result is deep engagement with the subject and pride in the end piece of artwork.

Other programs include Trout in the Classroom, an interdisciplinary program for 7th grade combining science, social studies, and math, where students raise trout from eggs to fingerlings for release in the spring; The National Fishing in the Schools Program teaches 9th graders life sciences by investigating water quality and introducing students to the hobby of fly fishing; a Bio-survey for High School Biology or Ecology, where students learn how to conduct a scientific research project from hypothesis, through protocol and implementation, to publication; and an annual Science Fair.  

All of these programs explore the rich diversity of the Blue Ridge and help students appreciate these resources, developing critical thinking skills, and inspire deeper engagement in the natural world.

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