PRAIRIE A Learning Initiative about our Heartland
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The Coastal Prairie
WHY LEARN + TEACH ABOUT OUR PRAIRIE? The prairie gave us our livelihood, our icons, our music, our spirit of boundless optimism, and even helped us win our freedom at San Jacinto. Today our prairie is one of the most imperiled ecosystems on our planet. Join us on a journey of discovery as we learn about the prairie’s big story! To ensure the success of our mission to
majority of students from the Greater
protect the Katy Prairie forever, we must
Houston area don't have the opportunity
engage a new generation of
to visit the prairie. What's more, there are
conservationists. It is important for
few prairie environments currently
young people to learn about the prairie's history, its role in shaping our region, and its rich biodiversity. Equally important is an understanding of the immediate risk of losing the remaining prairie and the benefits of saving
available for regular study/
Our prairies host over
visitation within the Houston area except for
1000
small “demonstration” prairie plots in a few parks.
species of animals! (including insects)
what’s left for the future.
Since few students are able to go to the prairie, KPC has initiated a
comprehensive, integrated Seeing the prairie first hand is by far the
educational initiative to teach about
most effective way to share its striking
prairies. This pioneering effort is called
beauty and to learn about its biological,
Prairie 101, and is targeted at students
cultural, and economic importance. Yet,
and educators from kindergarten through
with cuts in funding for school field trips, the
graduate school.
HOME ON THE RANGE At one time the majority of the Greater Houston-Galveston area was blanketed by the prairie. The Katy Prairie was a wonderful diverse part of this grassland wilderness.
A PROJECT OF
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PRAIRIE 101 COMPONENTS 1
Coastal Prairie 101 Website
Online educational resource designed for use
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by educators teaching about the prairies.
DID YOU KNOW? The Katy Prairie Conservancy has protected nearly 18,000 acres of prairie lands since 1996!
Prairie 101 Education Kits Comprehensive
educational kits that contain a prairie curriculum, biological specimens, literature, videos, sound recordings, and other resources to empower teachers to bring the prairie to life in their classrooms. Boxes are generously funded by the Houston Zoo’s Conservation Department.
On the Prairie Events Numerous educational and service-oriented field
Coastal Prairie 101 Teacher Workshops
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4
Interactive workshops designed to
trips for local schools, universities, and service organizations such as Yes College Prep, Student Conservation Association, the Woods
encourage local educators to incorporate
Project, Lone Star College, and Texas A&M
prairies into their lesson plans and provide
University and Unplugged Adventures for the general
teachers with tools and resources that make
public throughout the year.
teaching about grasslands rigorous, engaging, and enjoyable.
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DID YOU KNOW?
PRAIRIE 101 COMPONENTS
Prairie Builder Schools
Great Grow Out
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The Katy Prairie is a rich mosaic of prairie remnants, farms, ranches, wetland, wooded creeks, and human development.
Citizen-conservation project that enlists volunteers to grow plants at home and at
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KPC staff-led effort to encourage and assist schools in designing, creating, and using pocket prairies on their home campuses and infusing their curriculum with
school: they provide plant material for school
prairie lessons. Schools are asked to help other schools
pocket prairies and to help restoration efforts at KPC’s
and groups in the network as well as KPC with their prairie
preserves.
projects (just like barn builders of an earlier era). This helps build community bonds between schools.
PRAIRIE BUILDER SCHOOLS prairie101.org
Traveling Prairie Exhibit Traveling exhibit describing the history,
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biodiversity, ecosystem services, and restoration of the coastal prairie. The exhibit is on a one-
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State of the Prairie Conference Yearly sponsorship of the State of the Prairie Conference; an annual gathering of resource professionals, landowners,
year tour to schools, garden shows, county fairs, and nature centers. The exhibit debuted at the Museum
educators, and the general public that aims to increase
of Fine Arts, Houston during the April 2011 Florescence
awareness of the prairie and provide tools for prairie restoration and education.
Show.
WHERE DO I GET STARTED?
Contact Jaime GonzĂĄlez, KPC Community Education Director at 281.660.6683 or at jgonzalez@katyprairie.org
Photo Credits Greg Lavaty: Eastern Bluebird MIchael Morton: Prairie, volunteer, meadowlark
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Katy Prairie Conservancy 3015 Richmond Ave., Suite 230, Houston, TX 77025 katyprairie.org | 713.523.6135