Swainsboro Elementary students had a wild start to the week as the Georgia Southern University Wildlife Center visited on Monday, November 3. The interactive assembly gave students a close-up look at native Georgia species, including birds of prey, reptiles, amphibians, and a few “creepy crawlers.”
Carson Woods of the GSU Wildlife Center said their mission is to provide quality environmental and wildlife education focused on native Georgia fauna. Woods added, "I enjoy visiting schools to help students learn about wildlife and discover what’s living in their own backyards."
The visit is tied directly to recent classroom learning. “Our third graders just completed Amplify Unit 2 on animal classification,” explained teacher Haley Brantley. “The students learned to distinguish between vertebrates and invertebrates by studying nonfiction texts, so this was a perfect hands-on extension of that lesson.”
Principal Lara Norton expressed her appreciation for the program. The Wildlife Center, she shared, has long been a favorite with her family. "The Georgia Southern Wildlife Center has always been a personal favorite family memory," Norton said. Over the years, she has enjoyed taking her children there to learn and have fun. Now, she’s excited to bring that same opportunity to students at SES.
The event reflected the school’s continued commitment to hands-on learning experiences that connect classroom concepts with the natural world.
