Prairie School is a comprehensive curriculum, but it can be even better with supplemental resources. The following materials are a great addition to your Prairie School activities.
Illinois Department of Natural Resource Posters
Great materials are available free of charge to teachers from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR):
- Summer Prairie Wildflowers of Illinois poster, coloring poster and educational guide. The coloring poster is especially recommended in conjunction with the Introductory Activity, any of the Prairie Plant Botany activities, the Food Chain Game and the Population Changes in Illinois activity.
- Hill Prairies of Illinois poster and educational guide
- Sand Prairies of Illinois poster and educational guide
- Natural Divisions of Illinois poster
- Butterflies and Moths of Illinois poster
A complete listing is available on the IDNR web site or specific items can be ordered by phone (217-524-4126) or email (teachkids@dnrmail.state.il.us).
Exploring Prairie Wildlife Activity Book
This recommended activity book by Brian Fox Ellis, produced by Wildlife Prairie Park, has introductory text, coloring pages (with great line drawings) and a variety of activities related to prairie animals. Copies can be obtained for educational purposes from the Fox Tales International web site or ordered by phone (309-689-8000) or email (foxtales@foxtalesint.com).
Illinois--The Prairie State ... Reclaiming Our Legacy
The Illinois Newspaper in Education Association's 2004 educational tab is a twelve-page newspaper supplement designed for classroom use. Produced in partnership with the Prairie School Project, the tab covers history, prairie plants and animals, adaptations, weather and climate and basic prairie planting techniques. Background information, illustrations, photographs and newspaper-related activities are combined in format similar to Weekly Reader.
Copies can be ordered from Nancy Bohl of the Illinois Press Association (217-241-1300 or nbohl@il-press.com).
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