Every year third grade students participate in a year-long learning experience called Amigos Alados. Amigos Alados, or “Winged Friends” in English, is an international environmental education and friendship program offering instruction on migratory bird life for elementary students in the Western USA and Mexico. The program aims to sensitize students to the birds’ needs for protection and habitat conservation, cultivate friendships between students from both countries and help them to become advocates for birds and overall environmental protection.
For the program’s conclusion, students must create a service project for the community. Collaborating with the Design Thinking class, students worked within their own “bird teams” to develop birdhouses from recycled materials that meet the specific needs of their migratory birds. Students had to ensure their designs included protection from the elements and ample space for nesting and raising young. This three-week project included research, design/construction, and a final written statement about their creation. As the design process unfolded, students encountered challenges and setbacks. Some materials proved difficult to work with, while others required innovative solutions to achieve the desired outcome. Yet they overcame these obstacles with perseverance and teamwork and made some truly unique birdhouses. Be sure to check them out at Open House!