K-2 Reading Program

The purpose of the K-2 Reading Program is to enrich nature discovery in grades K-2, using stories and illustrations based on the treasures of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  This program uses nonfiction, imaginative tales and hands on activities, both indoors and out, to encourage curiosity and build relationships with the natural world. Listening and reading comprehension skills will be enhanced as a result. Topics include habitat, ecology, biological diversity and life cycle of a variety of plants, animals and ecosystems.

Reading List:

  • A Drop Around the World
  • River Song with the Banana Slug String Band
  • Pass the Energy Please
  • The Tree in the Ancient Forest
  • My Favorite Tree: Terrific Trees of North America
  • The Dandelion Seed
  • Eliza and the Dragonfly
  • Under One Rock: Bugs, Slugs and other Uhgs
  • On One Flower: Butterflies, Ticks and a Few More Icks
  • Near One Cattail: Turtles, Logs and Leaping Frogs
  • Around One Log: Chipmunks, Spiders and Creepy Insiders
  • Owls
  • Bats
  • Frogs
  • Monarch Butterfly
  • The Honey Makers
  • From Seed to Plant
  • The Robins in Your Backyard
  • A Butterfly is patient
  • Around the Pond: Who’s Been Here
  • Bear-Ly There
  • Big Night for Salamanders
  • Gobble, Gobble
  • Hey, Little Ant
  • In My Backyard
  • In the Trees, Honeybees
  • In the Woods: Who’s Been Here?
  • Living Color
  • Lizards, Frogs & Polliwogs
  • Monarch and Milkweed
  • Old Coyote
  • Over in the Forest
  • The Salamander Room
  • Thunder Birds, Nature’s Flying Predators
  • When the Bees Fly Home
  • Whose Tracks Are These?
Featured
Happenings with BRDC in the Schools
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.

Salamanders
Salamanders

We brought in some live local salamanders for the kids to observe

Toes in the Sand
Toes in the Sand

The K-2 Program presented the book "Whose Tracks are These? A Clue Book of Familiar Forest Animals" by Jim Nail.

January Programs with Grayson County Public Schools
January Programs with Grayson County Public Schools

Blue Ridge Discovery Center shared two programs with 1st and 5th graders in Grayson County reaching five schools and seven classes in each grade.

One Minute Old Fossils
One Minute Old Fossils

Fossils Tell of Long Ago, the story read to the first graders of Grayson County Schools this month

November Programs: Grayson County Public Schools
November Programs: Grayson County Public Schools

November was a busy month as BRDC joins the 1st, 5th and 7th grade classes to study Owls, Watersheds and Trout.

Monarch and Milkweed
Monarch and Milkweed

This month, we shared the life cycle, habitat requirements, and the migration of the Monarch butterfly.

Superheroes of Grayson County
Superheroes of Grayson County

All of Grayson County's first, fourth and fifth graders became superheroes last week. BRDC guide and wildlife rehabilitator, Darin Handy presented a wonderful program about mammals; marsupials in particular, of the Blue Ridge.

December...A Great Time to Study Geology!
December...A Great Time to Study Geology!

BRDC's Natural Heritage Program offered geology programs to the students of Grayson County Public Schools during December.

1st Graders Learn the Ways of Barn Owls
1st Graders Learn the Ways of Barn Owls

First grade students at Independence, Fries and and Grayson Highlands School learned about barn owls in this month’s K-2 Reading Program.

Volunteer Sarah Osborne read the book Barn Owls, and used talons and feathers from the BRDC collection to engage students in the study of these nocturnal raptors.