OIL CITY, Pa. — Mr. Rondinelli’s sixth grade students at the Oil City Middle School are learning about Eastern Bluebirds in his reading classes.
They are using PSSA skills to analyze expository non-fiction articles on Eastern Bluebirds, in an effort to help the populations of these beautiful birds make a come back in our local area. The classes covered general information about the birds from specific data about nest box design, season ranges, nest box monitoring, water, interspersion of habitat, and exotic species control of birds that have caused a decline in bluebird populations — to proper nest box placement.
Expository non-fiction is a genre in reading with the purpose to inform or teach. The students have learned facts about the birds such as their scientific name, size identification of the male & female, eggs, incubation, periods, fledgling, nesting and feeding habits.
The culminating activity for the students was the building of bluebird nesting boxes. Every student got to build a nesting box after learning all the habitat information. Seventy nesting boxes were constructed by the students, which they get to keep. The boxes were supplied by a mass production project organized by Mr. Rondinelli and implemented by the Oil City High School’s Wood shop II class, under the direction of Mr. Mourer.
“That’s the beauty of this project, the students get factual information through practicing PSSA skills and then apply it with the hands-on portion of the lesson. The students gain the knowledge. The bluebirds gain the nesting habitat and the students have fun in the process. We involve students at all levels of the education process” Mr. Rondinelli explained.
The Eastern Bluebird is making a strong come back in the local area. In part, thanks to the work of students at the Oil City Middle School/High School Complex.