In Los Gatos California, the first-grade students of Stratford Elementary School are making a big difference for invertebrates. This winter the students embarked on a signature science project to study endangered species in their community. The students chose an invertebrate to focus on, the Ohlone tiger beetle. The students set out to not only learn about this tiger beetle but to take action to protect them.
The project incorporated various learning activities to deepen students' understanding of endangered species conservation. First, they researched the Ohlone tiger beetle and its protected status, guided by experts like Mr. David Pearson, who shared invaluable insights into the world of tiger beetles. Pearson, a professor at Arizona State University, is known as an expert on tiger beetles. His book, “A Field Guide to Tiger Beetles in the United States and Canada," includes information and photo illustrations of more than 200 North American tiger beetle species. Endemic to California, the Ohlone tiger beetle only occurs in coastal Santa Cruz County. The species was only discovered and described in the early 1990s. On October 3rd, 2001, the Ohlone tiger beetle was declared an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.
Next, the students took their lessons outside their classroom to engage their community in actions to protect tiger beetles. The students organized a campus clean-up day, raising awareness about the beetle's plight by removing litter from their school’s playground with their families. This hands-on approach empowered students to become advocates for change while reinforcing important lessons about environmental stewardship. Teacher Shannon Gartin commented, “The students learned that people can be the problem to animals becoming endangered and so people need to be the solution to the problem, and if we all work together, we can absolutely make a difference.”
Ahead of their clean-up day, the students recruited sponsors for their event to pledge funds towards an environmental non-profit. We were so honored that the students chose to donate their funds to Xerces! Together with their teachers and families, the students worked diligently to spread awareness and raised over $5,000. Parents praised the project's integration of learning and community engagement, noting how it sparked conversations beyond the classroom. Teachers commended students for their empathy and determination to address the plight of tiger beetles, hoping that this project would leave a lasting impact on their lives.
If you feel inspired to take up the cause for invertebrates by hosting a fundraiser, we encourage you to check out the Xerces Society’s peer-to-peer fundraising platform. Need ideas? Please reach out to us at [email protected] to discuss.
