Project Achievements

The entire Conservation Tales team has worked very hard to create our books, but we also have worked hard to engage our communities in learning about conservation, literacy, and art. This page lists the project's achievements and activities. To date (Sept. 2, 2019), we have received two awards, published 11 books and 1 educational game, submitted one peer reviewed journal article and one book chapter. We have received 9 grants, given 13 presentations at conferences, seminars and workshops, and participated in 28 community outreach and engagement events. The entire team has been very productive, and we are proud to continue growing our record of achievements.
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Read about the Manatee Match Card Game

Educators, read about the Manatee Match Card Game and the learning activity that accompanies
​it in this article from The Hoosier Science Teacher.
​
Awards
  • Diversity Scholarship Award, April 2020, April 2019, April 2018, April 2017. 
    ​Ball State Office of Institutional Diversity recognizes scholarship, creative projects, teaching and service to promote diversity. 
  • ​Artisitic Citizenship and Community Arts Award, April 20, 2018. Ball State's School of Art recognized the seniors in the Spring 2018 team for their contribution to conservation, education, and community outreach through the arts.​
    • ​Janice Carter, Sarah DeMars, Sierra Hensley, Sami Pfaff, Kendra Schemmel
Publications
  • McConnell, T. J., & Luginbuhl. (2020). Conservation Tales: Orangutans. Barbara Giorgio-Booher, Art Director. Illustrated by Jim Melton, Amber Turner, & Sara Jarvis. Designed by Alica Braun. Photographs by Abbey Jessup. Muncie, IN: Airway Publications. ISBN 978-0-9600063-5-9.
  • McConnell, T. J., & Reidy, A. (2020). Conservation Tales: Tigers. Barbara Giorgio-Booher, Art Director. Illustrated by Emma Fulkerson, Tobi Morris, & Sydney Johnson. Designed by Alyssa Merkel. Photographs by Abbey Jessup. Muncie, IN: Airway Publications. ISBN 978-0-9600063-6-6.
  • McConnell, T. J., & Giorgio-Booher, B. (in review). Children’s Books to Develop a Scientific Mindset and Environmental Activism in Elementary Schools: The Conservation Tales series. Chapter proposed for Cultivating a Scientific Mindset in the Age of Inference. P. Short, Ed. Submitted August 30, 2019.
  • McConnell, T. J., Giorgio-Booher, B., Reneker, M., Bockover, J., & Page, A. (2020). Manatee ID Card Game: Student activity to practice authentic science process skills. Manuscript submitted to The Hoosier Science Teacher, 43(1). 
  • McConnell, T. J., Bloom, A., & Bockover, J. (2019). Conservation Tales: Elephants. Barbara Giorgio-Booher, Art Director. Illustrated by Emma Fulkerson, Jacob Agnew & Jalah Bynm. Designed by Alicia Braun. Photographs by Alyssa Merkel. Muncie, IN: Airway Publications. ISBN 978-0-9600063-3-5.
  • McConnell, T. J., & Brown, M. J. (2019). Conservation Tales: Giraffes. Barbara Giorgio-Booher, Art Director. Illustrated by Braeden Raymer & Jim Melton. Designed by Natalie Rokosz. Photographs by Alyssa Merkel. Muncie, IN: Airway Publications. ISBN 978-0-9600063-4-2.
  • Page, A., & McConnell, T. J. (2019). Conservation Tales Junior: Bats. Barbara Giorgio-Booher, Art Director. Illustrated by Sami Pfaff & Sierra Hensley. Designed by Natalie Rokosz. Muncie, IN: Airway Publications. ISBN 978-0-9600063-1-1.
  • Bockover, J., & McConnell, T. J. (2019). Conservation Tales Junior: Bees. Barbara Giorgio-Booher, Art Director. Illustrated by Sierra Hensley & Sami Pfaff. Designed by Natalie Rokosz. Muncie, IN: Airway Publications. ISBN 978-0-9600063-2-8.
  • McConnell, T. J., Giorgio-Booher, B. (2019). Manatee Match card game. Illustrations by Sami Pfaff & Katie Kordesh. Design by Natalie Rokosz. Airway Publishing, Muncie, IN.
  • McConnell, T. J. (2018). Conservation Tales: Sea Turtles. Barbara Giorgio-Booher, Art Director. Illustrated by Sarah DeMars & Julie Xiao. Educational Activities by Rebecca Tripp. Designed by Kendra Schemmel, Photographs by Kyra Johnson. Muncie, IN: Airway Publications. ISBN 978-0-9863369-9-7.
  • McConnell, T. J. & Brown, M. J. (2018). Conservation Tales: Seahorses. Barbara Giorgio-Booher, Art Director. Illustrated by Emma Mills-Rittmann & Olivia Peterson. Designed by Natalie Rokosz. Photographs by Kyra Johnson.  Muncie, IN: Airway Publications. ISBN 978-0-9863369-8-0.
  • McConnell, T. J. & Stallard, S. (2018). Conservation Tales: Manatees. Barbara Giorgio-Booher, Art Director. Illustrated by Katie Kordesh & Sami Pfaff. Designed by Natalie Rokosz. Muncie, IN: Airway Publications. ISBN 978-0-9863369-7-3.
  • McConnell, T. J. (2018). Conservation Tales: Bees. Barbara Giorgio-Booher, Art Director. Illustrated by Sierra Hensley & Sami Pfaff. Designed by Natalie Rokosz. Muncie, IN: Airway Publications. ISBN 978-0-9863369-5-9.
  • McConnell, T. J. (2018). Conservation Tales: Salamanders. Barbara Giorgio-Booher, Art Director. Illustrated by Janice Carter & Sarah DeMars. Designed by Natalie Rokosz. Muncie, IN: Airway Publications. ISBN 978-0-9863369-6-6.
  • McConnell, T. J. (2017). Conservation Tales: Bats. Barbara Giorgio-Booher, Art Director. Illustrated by Sami Pfaff & Sierra Hensley. Muncie, Designed by Brooke Gabrek. IN: Airway Publications. ISBN 978-0-9863369-4-2.      
  • McConnell, T. J. (2017). Conservation Tales: The Cerulean Warbler. Barbara Giorgio-Booher, Art Director. Illustrated by Sami Pfaff. Designed by Brooke Gabrek. Muncie, IN: Airway Publications. ISBN 978-0-9863369-3-5.     
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Grants
  • Conservation Tales Immersive Learning Program. Office of Immersive Learning Sustainable Course Program. Tom J. McConnell & Barbara Giorgio-Booher, PIs. (March 15, 2020).
    Conservation Tales: Community Outreach at the Midwest Museum of Natural History. CSH Immersive Learning MicroGrant. (Approved March 13, 2019). 
  • Community Day at the Midwest Museum of Natural History. ( January 8, 2019).
  • Conservation Tales: Production of Manatee outreach materials. CSH Immersive Learning MicroGrant.  (November 18, 2018). 
  • Conservation Tales: Developing community outreach for environmental education and literacy. (Approved March 28, 2018). Discovery Grant, Ball State Foundation. Tom J. McConnell and Barbara Giorgio-Booher, Co-PIs.
  • Conservation Tales: Student Travel Supplement. (Approved January 11, 2018). College of Sciences and Humanities Dean’s Office. Tom J. McConnell & Barbara Giorgio-Booher.
  • Conservation Tales; Immersive Course Student Travel. (Approved December 20, 2017). Office of Immersive Learning Student Travel fund. Tom J. McConnell, PI; Barbara Giorgio-Booher, Co-PI. 
  • Conservation Tales: Children’s Book Product Team. (Submitted November 15, 2017). College of Fine Arts Immersive Mini-Grant. Barbara Giorgio-Booher, Principal Investigator; Tom J. McConnell, Co-PI.
  • Conservation Tales: Children’s Books About Wildlife Conservation. (Approved December 4, 2017).  PI: Tom J. McConnell. Co-PI: Barbara Giorgio-Booher. ASPIRE: Create Grant, Sponsored Programs Administration.
  • Conservation Tales: Children’s Book Production Team. (Approved November 28, 2017). College of Sciences and Humanities Immersive Micro-Grant. Tom J. McConnell, PI; Barbara Giorgio-Booher, Co-PI.
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Presentations
Presentations given
  • McConnell, T. J. (2019, November). “Inquirizing” Environmental Education Programs: Highlighting the Natural Ties between EE and Inquiry. Invited presentation at the 2019 Conference of the Environmental Educators Association of Indiana. McCormick’s Creek State Park, Spencer, IN. November 2, 2019.
  • McConnell, T. J. (2019, October). Conservation Tales Gulf Coast Series – Integrating Inquiry, Literacy and Wildlife Conservation for young readers. Presentation to be given at the 2019 Annual Conference of the Florida Association of Science Teachers, St. Augustine, FL, October 26, 2019.
  • Giorgio-Booher, B. (2019, October). Art Immersive Project: Conservation Tales. In Catalyst for Change: Community Partnerships, Barbara Giorgio-Booher, session chair. Themed session at SECAC Conference, Chattanooga, TN, October 17, 2019.
  • Giorgio-Booher, B, & McConnell, T. J. (2019). Conservation Tales: Developing a Children’s Book Series. Friends of Bracken Library series, Ball State University, Muncie, IN. April 18, 2019.
  • McConnell, T. J. (2019). Conservation Tales: Development of a Children’s Book Series. Presentation at a meeting of the Robert Cooper Audubon Society, Muncie, IN. March 13, 2019.
  • McConnell, T. J. & Giorgio-Booher, B. (2019) Conservation Tales – Integrating environmental education, art and literacy for children. Presentation at the 2019 Hoosier Association of Science Teachers, Inc. Conference, Indianapolis, IN, February 18, 2019.
  • Giorgio-Booher, B. & McConnell, T. J. (2018) Immersive Learning and Creating a Culture of Engagement. Presentation proposal submitted to 2018 Annual SECAC Conference, Birmingham, AL, October 19, 2018.​
  • Giorgio-Booher, B. & McConnell. T. J. (2018). Collaboration between art and science: Educating children about wildlife conservation. Presentation at the 2018 Conference of the Mid-America College Art Association (MACAA), Lincoln, NE, October 3-6, 2018.
  • McConnell, T. J. (2018). Communicating Science to a Non-Scientific Public: Working with educators, authors and visual artists to bring scientific research to a lay audience. Invited presentation in the Department of Biology Fall Seminar Series, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, October 12, 2018.
  • Giorgio-Booher, B. & McConnell, T. J. (2018). Conservation Tales - Children’s Books about Wildlife Conservation: Immersive Learning and Creating a Culture of Engagement. In Special Session: Biologic Ecologic.  Presentation at 2018 Annual Southeast College Art Conference (SECAC), Birmingham, AL, October 17-20, 2018.
  • McConnell, T. J., & Giorgio-Booher, B. (2018). Conservation Tales: Integrating STEM, literacy and arts with Environmental Education. Presentation at nErDcamp Indy 2018. Chapel Hill Center, Avon, IN, July 29, 2018.
  • McConnell, T. J., & Giorgio-Booher, B. (2017). Conservation Tales: Developing illustrations for a science education book for children. Presentation at the Final Friday Interaction at David Ousley Museum of Art, Ball State University. Muncie, IN, October 27, 2017.
  • McConnell, T.J., Giorgio-Booher, B., Islam, K., Pfaff, S., Delancey, C., MacDonald, G., Hensley, S., & Gabrek, B. (2017). Conservation Tales: Environmental education with diverse characters for young readers. Presentation at the 2017 Conference of the Environmental Education Association of Indiana, Morgantown, IN, October 14, 2017.
  • McConnell, T. J. & Giorgio-Booher, B. (2017). Conservation Tales: Bridging literacy, STEM, and the arts through trade books. Presentation at the 2017 nErDcamp Indy, Avon, IN, July 20, 2017. 
Outreach and Engagement
  • A Twinkling for Sea Turtles: A tale of moonlight, streetlights and sea turtles. Virtual presentation for the Charles. W. Brown Planetarium’s #YourUniverse series broadcast on FaceBook Live, May 15, 2020.
  • Growing Through Gardening (Oct. 12, 2019). Community outreach at event sponsored by the Delaware County Master Gardeners,  held at Minnetrista, Muncie, IN.
  • First Thursday ArtsWalk (Oct. 4, 2019). Exhibit and activities at MadJax, Muncie, IN.
  • BSU Employees Craft Show (Sept. 28, 2019). Exhibit at community crafts event at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, Muncie, IN.
  • First Thursday ArtsWalk (Sept. 5, 2019). Exhibit and kids’ activities at Made in Muncie Potter, Muncie, IN.
  • Community Arts Expo (August 29, 2019). Arts expo sponsored by Emens Auditorium, held at Cornerstone Center for the Arts, Muncie, IN.
  • BPAS Summer Fest (July 27, 2019). Book signing event at Black Pine Animal Sanctuary, Albion, IN.
  • First Thursday ArtsWalk (May 2, 2019). Exhibit and kids’ activities at Made in Muncie Pottery, Muncie, IN.
  • Earth Day Fun Day (April 27, 2019). Kids activities and book sale at Earth Day events. Baker Park, New Castle, IN.
  • First Thursday ArtsWalk (April 4, 2019). Exhibit and kids’ activities at Made in Muncie Pottery, Muncie, IN.
  • Educator Empowerment Workshop (April 4, 2019). Teacher professional development workshop based on conservation actions and inquiry activities in Conservation Tales workshops. The STEM Connection, Indianapolis, IN.
  • Community Day Conservation Workshop (March 23, 2019). Community engagement and education workshop based on Conservation Tales books at the Midwest Museum of Natural History, Sycamore, IL.
  • Conservation Tales Art Exhibit (January 31, 2018 through July 27, 2019). Exhibit in the Rotary Gallery at the Midwest Museum of Natural History, Sycamore, IL.
  • Recycled Art Project (November 13, 2018). Sea Turtle sculpture activity for children, Ross Community Center, Muncie, IN.
  • Fall Family Fun Day (October 6, 2018). Children’s Activities based on Conservation Tales: Bats, Minnetrista, Muncie, IN.
  • Living Lightly Fair (September 29, 2018). Delaware County Fairgrounds, Muncie, IN.
  • Nature Play Day – Bats (June 14, 2018). Delaware County BY5, Forest Park Senior Center, Muncie, IN.
  • Indiana Book Festival (June 9, 2018). Indiana Department of Education at Minnetrista, Muncie, IN.
  • Earth Day Fort Wayne (April 22, 2018). Little River Wetland Project at Eagle Marsh, Fort Wayne, IN.
  • Book Reading: Bats. (April 17, 2018). United Way Literacy Campaign, Grissom Elementary School, Muncie, IN.
  • Book Reading: Salamanders. (April 12, 2018). United Way Literacy Campaign, South View Elementary School, Muncie, IN.
  • First Thursday Arts Walk. (April 5, 2018). Made in Muncie Pottery, Muncie, IN.
  • Book Reading: Bees. (March 22, 2018). United Way Literacy Campaign, South View Elementary School, Muncie, IN.
  • Conservation Tales activity table and book signings. (September 23, 2017). Michigan Bat Festival, sponsored by Organization for Bat Conservation. Detroit Science Center, Detroit, MI.
  • Conservation Tales activity table. (September 16, 2017). Indiana Bat Festival. Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN.
  • First Thursday Arts Walk. (September 7, 2017). Made in Muncie Pottery, Muncie, IN.
  • Conservation Tales book signing. (July 20, 2017). nErDCamp Indy, Chapel Hill Center Elementary School, Avon, IN.
  • Conservation Tales activity table. (July 8, 2017). Illinois Bat Festival, sponsored by Organization for Bat Conservation. Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL.
  • Conservation Tales: The Cerulean Warbler. (June 17, 2017). Oakhurst Special Saturday, Minnetrista. Muncie, IN.
  • First Thursday Arts Walk. (October 6, 2016). Twin Archer Brew Pub, Muncie, IN.
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