Mission Monday: Exploring the Wild Wonders of Texas!

At Beasley Elementary, learning recently took a wild turn thanks to a LEAF grant awarded to Stephanie McDowell for her project, Wild Wonders.

Through this hands-on experience, students in grades Pre-K through 5th stepped outside the classroom to explore and interact with animals native to Texas—right in their natural habitats.

The goal?

To help students make real-world connections to their science lessons and spark curiosity about the world around them. And it worked! The excitement on students’ faces as they came up close with the animals was the best measure of success. Teachers shared that the joy and wonder were “infectious,” leaving lasting memories for students and staff alike.

This year, Wild Wonders was incorporated into Beasley’s Math/Science Blitz Day, giving every student the opportunity to engage. Moving forward, the program will be tailored to specific grade levels to align with science TEKS, ensuring even deeper learning connections.

Ms. McDowell highly recommends this program for other campuses, saying:

“Seeing the reactions of the students brought me to tears. The joy and excitement on their faces was infectious. They engaged with the program at an incredible level. It was amazing.”

Thanks to the support of our community, grants like Wild Wonders bring learning to life and inspire students to see the world with curiosity and wonder.