Edgewood_Science and Environmental Education Methods

Do you know where/how Earth Day started? What do you think about the idea of "every day is earth day"?

Jill-This is awesome. I've done this with my kids before. Great resource!

Google Earth can be used for so many different things in the classroom. I think you would be able to find good projects and lessons for most grade levels. With the younger kids you can explore the surface of the moon as a class. Older students can look up specific volcanoes and study the effect the volcanoes had on surrounding areas. The opportunities are endless! In terms of earth and space science, students can use Google Earth to explore the many features that exist on earth's surface (mountains, valleys, rivers, etc.) You can choose to look at all the major volcanoes on the surface of the Earth, or study the fault-lines and areas at risk for earthquakes. Google Earth also has a sky feature, in which users can explore the stars and constellations in the sky. You can also explore Mars and the Moon. Just a couple earth science standards that are met are: Science, Standard E: Earth and Space Science, 4th Grade: E.4.4 Identify celestial objects (stars, sun, moon, planets) in the sky, noting changes in patterns of those objects over time E.4.6 Using the science themes, find patterns and cycles in the earth's daily, yearly, and long-term changes Another really cool thing about Google Earth is the ability to watch an area over a span of time. This could definitely be used in the social studies classroom. Students can what the surface of the earth looked like during the time of the ancient Romans, and then can explore ancient Rome in 3D. You can also practice your piloting skills by trying out the flight simulator. Google Earth can be downloaded in several different languages. If you have a classroom with a large majority of Spanish-speakers, it would be a good idea to have Google Earth in Spanish on the computers, as well as in English. Also, students can work together in groups to explore Google Earth. If one student has more experience working with computers, he/she can help a different student with less experien

This is also cool. It is an online community for teachers, and includes lesson plans, tutorials, and tips all regarding how to use Google Earth in the classroom. http://sitescontent.google.com/google-earth-for-educators/Home

Website: National Geographic for Kids www.nationalgeographic.com Science Strand: This site has amazing animal information that could be easily integrated into any science curriculum. The animal information was sorted either by animal type (amphibians, mammals, etc.) or by their habitat (freshwater, forest, etc.). National Geographic also has a designated science section with fun experiments and games that could be incorporated into the classroom or used for fun at home. Science Standards: Could be used for Grades k-5 WI standards F.4.1.- Discuss science themes, describe resources used in home community and nation as a whole (Geography section) E.4.7- Discover how each organism meets its basic needs for water, nutrients, protection, and energy in order to survive. Integration: National Geographic for kids has a plethora of games and activities that could easily be used for either science or social studies. The way the site presents its information would also make it a perfect place to launch a research activity for elementary school students, thus integrating the site into literacy, science and social studies. Differentiation: Through its games, pictures, videos, and articles, this site teaches to multiple intelligences, making it a great tool for differentiation. No matter the ability level or needs of your students there will be a way to use this site so learning can occur.

Academic Standards that I think would be useful for lessons related to this site and that could easily be applied to various age groups for differentiation include: Core Science Content and Performance Standards Standard B: Nature of Science B. 4.1 Use encyclopedias, source books, texts, computers, teachers, parents, other adults, journals, popular press, and various other sources, to help answer science-related questions and plan investigations. Standard H: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives H. 4.4 Develop a list of issues citizens must make decisions about and describe a strategy for becoming informed about the science around these issues. H. 8.2 Present a scientific solution to a problem involving the earth and space, life and environment, or physical sciences and participate in a consensus-building discussion to arrive at a group decision. Environmental Education Standards Standard B: Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems B. 8.10 Explain and cite examples of how humans shape the environment. Standard D: Decision and Action Skills D. 4.3 Identify 2 or more ways to take positive environmental action. D. 4.6 Develop a plan, either individually or in a group, to preserve the local environment. Standard E: Personal and Civic Responsibility E. 4.2 Understand how their personal actions impact their civic responsibilities toward the environment. E. 8.1 Formulate a personal plan for environmental stewardship.

There are various levels and interdisciplinary options for curriculum on this website. Recommended videos include but are not limited to: High Line History (4:19) & High Line Design Video (4:45) Lesson plans are available for grades 2-7 on topics such as: forces, community activism, park design, and machine aesthetic. Curriculum areas include: science, social studies, English language arts, math and arts. To access lesson plans: click on "Schools Program" listed under the main heading "About" and then click on links to download free lessons. Additionally, the picture book The Curious Garden is a great resource about the High Line for younger students in Kindergarten through second grade. I would use this website for a unit of study on stewardship and local environmental activism. The New York High Line project is an inspiring example of urban planning and could be used to encourage students to get involved in land use issues in their own communities. Comparisons could be made to local community gardens or prairie restoration projects and students could be challenged to design or preserve a green space. For example, it could be a yearly class activity to contribute to the design and function of the school yard or another community space. Students could be required to evaluate community needs, research environmental issues and plants specific to the area, locate reusable resources, and participate in class discussions to make democratic decisions. Schools could get all grades involved in brainstorming and voting on sustainable ways to contribute to their community.

This is the video of the first birds of Phoebe's. We can watch them fly away!

This collection is meant to be utilized by teachers state-wide. Resources (activity guides, picture books, trade books, videos) can be checked out through a simple request and sent to teachers through the South Central Library System. Books are checked out for a month but are very easy to renew. Resources for all ages.

Links for fair trade and global marketplace related to education

To accompany Hook, Line, and Thinker curriculum.

This was written to support exploration of Wisconsin's waterways and how they influenced the settlement of the state.

A place for students to create safe "facebook" pages about a topic. This can be incorporated into a final assessment project. 

A weekly summary of what is happening on the planet. Great for earth science! 

Here is one example of a backward design template. A fill-able Word version will be posted in course documents.

A good web site to be aware of and incorporate into science teaching.

Someone had the great idea of putting a camera in a bear's den while they hibernate! Standards that fit under this particular website are: D.4.7 Observe and describe physical events involving objects and develop record-keeping systems to follow these events by measuring and describing changes in their properties, including: * position relative to another object * motion over time * and position due to forces F.4.1 Discover* how each organism meets its basic needs for water, nutrients, protection, and energy* in order to survive

Here is the link to all of the education-related things at DNR. The newsletter: http://dnr.wi.gov/education/newsletter/ Trainings: http://dnr.wi.gov/eek/teacher/calendar.htm

Using best practices from Community Problem Solving (CmPS) instructional methods, EcoInvestigators is designed to get students in grades 3-5 engaged, excited, and prepared to take on and solve environmental problems in their community and beyond. With funding from International Paper, we have developed this program to help teachers use a variety of rich media resources to teach earth system science, explore global environmental problems and challenge your students to take steps to using data to help solve local environmental problems. This curriculum is in the beta phase and PBS welcomes feedback on the resources and activities provided on the site. http://www.pbs.org/teachers/ecoinvestigators/. If you have suggestions or comments, please send them to djblubaugh@pbs.org.

A collection of resources - created for use in the classroom - on environmental education. Check out all of the Surf Reports! 

Follow the DPI EE Consultant on Twitter or just check back for periodic updates for resources, events, grants, and much more!

I stumbled across this web site. Very interesting articles to check out.