2nd Grade Great Minds Grant Field Trip

I wrote a Great Minds Grant for a 2nd grade field trip in connection with their STEAM project: animals and their habitats. The Davenport Schools Foundation accepted my grant proposal and funded the Putnam Museum admission cost for 46 students! The Putnam Museum also provided admission subsidies for close to $100! Buffalo Elementary PTA provided funding for the bus transportation. Thank you, Davenport Schools Foundation, The Putnam Museum, and Buffalo PTA for making this fun day possible!

We left Buffalo around 8:30 am and headed to the Quad Cities Expo Center for Bald Eagle Days. 

Before our 9:30 am show, we were able to visit some of the vendors at the expo center.  Big Run Wolf Ranch was there with 2 wolves, a skunk, and a porcupine!

We saw the birds that would be featured in the Bald Eagle Days show. 

We saw a fox snake and kestrel up close. 

And finally the show! First we watched a short movie about Bald Eagles. We learned about their nests, where they live, and how they were endangered but are making a comeback. Did you know that Bald Eagles don't get the white feathers on their head until they are four years old? And they can fly at 10,000 feet in the air? 

The naturalists had falcons and owls fly from their hand to perches located throughout the auditorium. 

Next: The Putnam Museum! ​

We had lunch in the balcony. 

At 12:15 we watched the movie Tiny Giants  in 3D! This movie followed a scorpion mouse in the desert and a chipmunk in the forest as they encountered different dangers and prepared for changes in their habitat. 

The Putnam employee who gave us our 3D glasses said that we were the best-behaved school group he's had! Way to go, Buffalo!

After the movie we viewed the Mammal and Big River, Black Earth Exhibits. 

On the way home, one student said, "This is the best day of my life!" Thank you to the Davenport Schools Foundation, Buffalo PTA, and The Putnam Museum for making this trip possible.

Stay tuned to see our Animal and Habitat artwork inspired by the field trip and STEAM classroom projects!