Soaring Together: Building Community and Protecting the American Bald Eagle

At the start of the school year, our social studies lesson centered around animal habitats, naturally leading us to nests. We talked about how eagle nests are enormous—far bigger than any they might spot in their backyard trees. Intrigued by this, we ventured outside, where I drew a 7-foot circle with chalk to demonstrate. I let the students decide how to explore this “giant” nest. One student wondered how many people could fit inside. We enthusiastically tried this out in our chalk nest. To our amazement, we found that a 7-foot circle could hold 16 children and 7 adults!

During our visit to Edgerton Park the next day, the students independently decided to construct their own giant nest and began collecting pine needles and other materials. Clearly their interest had only grown. Their curiosity shaped our learning, activities, projects, and community partnerships. I reached out to my friend Lori Carnes, a member of the Raptor Research Project in Iowa.  With her guidance, my students made daily observations and journaled weekly about of a pair of American Bald Eagles. From mid-September to the end of the school year, we watched as the pair built a nest, laid eggs, incubated them, and welcomed their new hatchlings. We observed the eaglets mature from day one to week twelve, all the way to fledging the nest.

Throughout this period, I created an eagle learning center in the classroom with vocabulary, photos, stuffed eagles, books, and more. I integrated numerous cross-curricular lessons and activities that not only captivated the students but enriched their learning experience. A member from our local chapter of the Audubon Society directed us to two eagle nests located in New Haven, just minutes from our school. Mr. Carter visited the classroom with a bird scope and a set of binoculars for each student. He shared information about the eagles on State Street and eagles in general. Afterward, we took the students to Edgerton Park and taught them how to use the binoculars like true birders.

I wanted to find ways my students could raise awareness about the Bald Eagles on State Street and all the eagles across Connecticut. With this goal in mind, my students began creating a 3D model of State Street to be displayed in our school lobby. Their model was comprehensive, featuring detailed descriptions of the environment surrounding the nest itself, and the broader ecosystem. Additionally, they prepared a school wide presentation highlighting the significance of conserving and protecting these magnificent birds. Each student crafted a poster conveying a message about what we can do to protect the bald eagle. They also spoke passionately about the bald eagle, engaging in a short Q & A session with the whole student body. It was truly inspiring to witness first graders’ fervent dedication to the eagles and their enthusiasm for learning shine through as they shared their knowledge with others.