Seventh-graders at Northern Michigan Christian School win DNR’s ‘A Year in the Life of a Bear’ contest
Lansing, MI -(AmmoLand.com)- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources congratulates Mrs. DeMott’s seventh-grade class at Northern Michigan Christian School in McBain, Michigan, for winning the DNR’s 2015-16 “A Year in the Life of a Bear” contest.
This group of seventh-graders participated in the A Year in the Life of a Michigan Black Bear education program throughout the 2015-16 school year, learning all about Michigan black bears and applying what they learned to create an entertaining presentation.
See Northern Michigan Christian School’s winning presentation.
Classrooms that meet the requirements of the education program are eligible to submit an entry to the Year in the Life of a Bear contest.
The A Year in the Life of a Michigan Black Bear education program is free of charge and open to all interested sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade educators in Michigan.
Participants will learn about the life cycle of the Michigan black bear, general black bear biology and behavior, as well as how the DNR manages and maintains a healthy black bear population.
Over the school year participants also will get to “follow” a bear by using actual data points from a radio-collared Michigan black bear to track the bear through its seasonal movements.
For the contest, classes use what they have learned about bears to interpret or tell the story of a year in the life of a Michigan black bear. Classes can retell the actual journey of the bear they followed, or get creative and use the information they’ve learned over the year to interpret a typical bear’s activities throughout a year.
The first-place contest winners are awarded a $1,000 gift certificate to purchase science supplies for their classroom. Prizes are provided by the Michigan Bear Hunters Association and the DNR.
Mrs. Herman’s sixth-grade class at Gobles Middle School in Gobles, Michigan, placed second and will be awarded a $500 gift certificate. View the Gobles Middle School presentation.
Mrs. Jonkman’s sixth-graders at West Utica Elementary in Utica, Michigan, placed third and will receive a $250 gift certificate. View the West Utica Elementary presentation.
To learn more about the bear education program, please visit mi.gov/dnrteachers and click on the Wildlife Education and Outreach link. The online application form should be submitted by Sept. 1 in order to receive the materials for the upcoming school year.
Educators need to have access to a computer lab and the Internet for the students to be able to use the mapping application to follow the bear. Educators also need to be able to access the Internet (YouTube) in their classrooms. An Educator Guide with activities, as well as video lessons, is provided to participants.
Explore additional DNR education and outreach opportunities at mi.gov/dnreducation.
About the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations.
For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.