The Nongame Conservation Section of the GA DNR Wildlife Resources Division is pleased to offer
a $1000 grant to a third-, fourth-, or fifth-grade teacher (including science specialists) who
demonstrates exceptional energy and innovation in teaching life sciences. Much thanks goes to the
DNR Nongame friends group, TERN, for making this opportunity possible.
Through education, research, and management, DNR Nongame Conservation safeguards Georgia's
native diversity of wild animals, plants, and their habitats while also encouraging outdoor enjoyment.
The purpose of this award is to recognize and assist an exceptional teacher who uses Georgia’s
nongame wildlife (animals not fished for or hunted and rare plants not harvested) as the context for
learning the following grade-level Georgia Performance Standards:
3rd Grade Life Science
S3L1. Students will investigate the habitats of different organisms and the dependence of
organisms on their habitat.
a. Differentiate between habitats of Georgia (mountains, marsh/swamp, coast, Piedmont,
Atlantic Ocean) and the organisms that live there.
b. Identify features of green plants that allow them to live and thrive in different regions of
Georgia.
c. Identify features of animals that allow them to live and thrive in
different regions of Georgia.
d. Explain what will happen to an organism if the habitat is changed.
S3L2. Students will recognize the effects of pollution and humans on the environment.
a. Explain the effects of pollution (such as littering) to the habitats of plants and animals.
b. Identify ways to protect the environment.
• Conservation of resources
• Recycling of materials
4th Grade Life Science
S4L1. Students will describe the roles of organisms and the flow of energy within an ecosystem.
a. Identify the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers in a community.
b. Demonstrate the flow of energy through a food web/food chain beginning with
sunlight and including producers, consumers, and decomposers.
c. Predict how changes in the environment would affect a community (ecosystem)
of organisms.
d. Predict effects on a population if some of the plants or animals
in the community are scarce or if there are too many.
S4L2. Students will identify factors that affect the survival or extinction of organisms such as adaptation,
variation of behaviors (hibernation), and external features (camouflage and protection).
a. Identify external features of organisms that allow them to survive or reproduce better than
organisms that do not have these features for example: camouflage, use of hibernation,
protection, etc.).
b. Identify factors that may have led to the extinction of some organisms.
5th Grade Life Science
S5L1. Students will classify organisms into groups and relate how they determined the groups with how
and why scientists use classification.
a. Demonstrate how animals are sorted into groups (vertebrate and invertebrate) and
how vertebrates are sorted into groups (fish, amphibian, reptile, bird, and mammal).
b. Demonstrate how plants are sorted into groups.
S5L4. Students will relate how microorganisms benefit or harm larger organisms.
a. Identify beneficial microorganisms and explain why they are beneficial.
b. Identify harmful microorganisms and explain why they are harmful.
In addition to the $1000 grant, registration fees to the 2017 Southeastern Environmental Education
Alliance Conference & Research Symposium (March 5-7, 2017 – www.eealliance.org) will be
provided. The recipient is encouraged to submit a proposal to present their project at the
conference, but doing so is not required. The recipient may be asked to write an article for EEA’s
newsletter, The Link.
Fact sheets and other information about Georgia’s rare, threatened, and endangered
species are available at www.georgiawildlife.com/rare_species_profiles.
For more information on this grant opportunity, please see the following websites www.eeingeorgia.org and www.georgiawildlife.com/education/educator-resources
- or contact Anna Yellin ([email protected]) or Linda May ([email protected])
at the GA DNR Nongame office in Social Circle: 770.918.6411.
Application Deadline: September 19, 2016 (e-mailed or postmarked by).
Applications may be sent to Anna Yellin at [email protected] or:
Anna Yellin
GA DNR-WRD, Nongame Conservation
Teaching Conservation Grant
2065 US Hwy. 278 SE
Social Circle, GA 30025
Please initial the following checklist and complete the 10 questions:
Checklist to consider prior to submitting grant application:
_____ My grant proposal promotes the understanding of environmental issues facing wildlife
(animals and plants) and Georgia habitats.
_____ My grant proposal does not seek more than $1,000.
_____ If funded, I commit to follow-up communication with GA DNR Nongame
staff concerning the execution of this grant, including a brief final report.
Media to accompany this report (photos, video, PowerPoint, etc.) is encouraged.
_____ I understand that my project(s) must include ADULT supervision on school grounds.
Grant funds may not be used to cover transportation costs (buses, gasoline, etc.).
_____ My principal or director has approved this project.
_____ I have viewed the application’s scoring rubric (point-weighted questions) and
understand the guidelines that will be used to score my application.
_____ If funded, I understand that a check will be made out to my school / organization.
Winner will be notified by October 11, 2016 and funds awarded by October 25, 2016.
Grant funds must be spent by May 15, 2017.
_____ If funded, I agree to retain all receipts and provide these upon project completion.
_____ If funded, I agree to submit a final report to DNR postmarked by June 15, 2017.
All receipts must be submitted with final report.
Name of Contact Person:
School or Organization Name:
Your Title or Position with this School/Organization:
Principal/Director’s Name (person who has given approval of this project):
Principal/Director’s Signature (If completing online, typed name suffices):
Address:
Phone number:
E-mail:
Fax number:
Project Title:
Questions to Answer: Complete on separate paper/file if needed.
1. In 100 words or less, describe your target audience. Include the number of students who
will participate as well as their age range. (5 points)
2. List the Georgia Performance Standards you will cover with this project, including
Life Science GPS’s for your grade level and any other curriculum standards. (10 points)
3. Why is this project a valuable asset to your program? (5 points)
4. What supplies are needed? Please include photos and/or a diagram that can further
explain your project. (15 points)
5. List your proposed project’s main learning objectives. (10 points)
6. List the activities that will be used to meet these objectives and how learning will be
assessed, with an approximate date of completion for each. Do you plan to incorporate
activities from Project WILD, Project WET, Project Learning Tree, or similar
environmental education programs? (15 points)
7. In 100 words or less, explain any short- or long-term effects in your students and/or in the
community that you expect as a result of this project. (10 points)
8. In 100 words or less, can this project continue after funding ends? Can it serve as a
model for replication in other communities? (10 points)
9. Please present your budget in a chart to show all anticipated expenditures for this project
including each item’s quantity and cost, as well as any in-kind (donated supplies and/or
volunteer time) and/or matching funds if applicable. (10 points)
10. Additional points will be awarded for projects that are not funded otherwise, as well as
exceptional project proposals, namely those that incorporate Georgia’s rare or
endangered species. (10 points)