Wachstumshormone

Nov

28

Sowing the Seeds of Place and Community-based Learning

Filed Under Citizen scientists, Place-based Education, Service learning | Leave a Comment 

Slough(small)

by Becs Boyd

APlace and Community Based approach can be transformative for students and teachers, schools and communities. Making this approach work means taking a fresh look at the school community, the wider community and the environment, and working out how they can best support each other. Change takes time, and success, naturally, relies on a healthy physical and social learning environment, with good relationships between educators, administrators and students. Many schools will already be connecting students with their local place and helping them discover how to make their own Place in the world a positive one.

Here are some pointers drawn from the experiences of real schools, students and teachers to help plant the seeds of Place in new school communities. Read more

Nov

23

Lessons for teaching in the environment and community

Filed Under Activities, Environmental Education, Environmental Literacy, Jim Martin, Place-based Education, Schoolyard Classroom | 1 Comment 

“Lessons for Teaching in the Environment and Community” is a regular series that explores how teachers can gain the confidence to go into the world outside of their classrooms for a substantial piece of their curricula.

Part 4: Inquiry

An Introduction to the World of Discovery….
by Jim Martin, CLEARING guest writer

“We carry with us the wonders we seek without us. There is all
Africa and her prodigies in us; we are that bold and adventurous
part of Nature, which he that studies widely learns in a compendium
what others labor at in a divided piece and endless volume.”

- Sir Thomas Browne
Religio Medici

We are, indeed, the wonders that we seek. To discover them, we must look deep within ourselves, to that part which can reach out to the world and comprehend it. Then release ourselves to know.
scatonrcOdd, that we must release what’s within us to know what is outside. Traveling within is a process, best taken a step at a time. Enough steps taken, and your teaching will change.

The change flows from a tack in perspective, a paradigm shift, if you will, that presents you with a new, very functional and accessible view of teaching: what it ought to be, what it can be. But, like discovering your inner self, you don’t get there by hearing about it; you have to make the journey yourself.

ALERT: You need to be a CLEARING subscriber to read the rest of this article. (See box in right sidebar)
(enter password then hit return on your keyboard for best results)

This is the fourth installment of “Teaching in the Environment,” a new, regular feature by CLEARING “master teacher” Jim Martin that will explore how environmental educators can help classroom teachers get away from the pressure to teach to the standardized tests, and how teachers can gain the confidence to go into the world outside of their classrooms for a substantial piece of their curricula. See the other installments here.

Nov

21

Kettle Falls: Engaging in Real Work

Filed Under Children and Nature, Environmental Education, Environmental Literacy, Programs | Leave a Comment 

IMG_3029-1by Val McKern

Kettle Falls Elementary School believes that by engaging kids in authentic work, attitudes can change toward both work and community.  As a second grader, Todd started the year with little interest in school, had a difficult time focusing on discussions and avoided work whenever possible.

His teacher sought ways to help him stay focused but he continued to struggle.  In January, the second graders began seeking the answer to the question “What does it take for wood ducks to survive in the Colville River ecosystem and how can we help?”

Todd was initially intrigued by the fieldwork to the Colville River and became an exemplary student while studying the ecosystem.

As Todd became more engaged in determining how humans impact the ecosystem in both positive and negative ways, he became more focused.  Soon it was Todd leading the discussions during the science talks and sharing how to improve the Colville River ecosystem for wood ducks. He became adamant about protecting the ecosystem, encouraging students to “leave no trace”.  When reading difficult texts, Todd was engaged and even asked to move to a quiet place to study before participating in group protocols.

Each success for Todd led to a new success.  When writing his final product, a wood duck narrative based on fact, Todd continuously sought excellence through revisions, even asking to stay in during recess to perfect his writing.  His pursuit of excellence transferred to artwork and handwriting, where high quality became Todd’s goal.  His work was selected to send to the Cornell Ornithology Lab newsletter.

When the opportunity came to present their findings at the Ducks Unlimited Banquet on a Saturday evening, Todd completed his application letter promptly.  Once selected, he practiced during recesses to perfect his presentation.

Todd’s enthusiasm for helping wood ducks survive was clear as he shared the trail camera photos of nine wood duck drakes that were near the nesting box that Todd had built and the actual eggshells from two different duck species that had used the nesting box during the spring.

Todd’s knowledge and love of wood ducks made his plea to support ecosystems moving and they were able to raise substantial funds for Ducks Unlimited by auctioning student artwork and nesting boxes.

By engaging our students in real work, Kettle Falls Elementary School students learn they can make a difference in their community while pursuing academic excellence.

Submitted by Val McKern, Principal
Kettle Falls Elementary School

Nov

21

CREST Farm to School

Filed Under Environmental Education, Environmental Health, Environmental Literacy, Farm-to-School, Food, School Gardening | Leave a Comment 

CRESTphoto1by Bob Carlson

CREST is an environmental education center operated by the West Linn-Wilsonville School District which is located just south of Portland, Oregon. One of the key CREST programs is the CREST Farm . The farm is located on surplus district property. Currently, a half-acre of land is producing vegetables for school cafeterias and other uses. Last summer, middle school and high school interns learned how to grow, maintain, and sell vegetables from a farm stand on site. Next summer, the students will operate a 20 family CSA in addition to running the farm stand.

The farm is also used as a field trip destination for K-12 students year round. Each season approximately 600 students visit the farm. Learning activities are tailored to the needs of individual teachers or teams of teachers. Many of the trips emphasize wellness and the benefits of eating fresh healthy fruits and vegetables. Other field trips focus on sustainable agricultural practices that help conserve resources and promote a healthy ecosystem. Lessons include biodynamic farming practices such as maintenance of soil health, natural pest management, crop rotation and wise use of water. Students participate in hands on activities including: planting, thinning, pruning, composting, amending soil, and harvesting.

All of the farm lessons promote ecological literacy by helping kids understand their connection to food and how the production of food can affect ecosystems. They gain an understanding of the delicate balance of ecosystems and the interconnected web of living things.

One of the goals of the farm is to give students a chance to make a difference in their community and the world by participating in service learning. Some students participate in projects that provide food to local food banks and support sustainable agriculture projects in other communities and other countries.

A number of CREST staff help run the farm and create meaningful educational experiences for students.  A professional farmer lives on-site and provides technical expertise, a part-time grant-funded educator runs field trips and the internship program, and an AmeriCorps member recruits community volunteers and establishes systems for distributing the food to school cafeterias. She is also offering tasting programs to schools to promote increased consumption of vegetables and fruits.

Submitted by Bob Carlson, CREST Director
Phone: (503) 673-7349
Fax: (503) 570-2969
11265 WIlsonville Rd.
Wilsonville Or. 97070

Nov

20

Buy the book – get a bonus – and help CLEARING!

Filed Under Resources | Leave a Comment 

BOCandSobelbooks

This offer is for a limited time only because I have just 10 copies of David Sobel’s book Place-based Education: Connecting Classrooms and Communities available.  But here’s the deal: buy a print copy of The Best of CLEARING, and I will add a copy of Sobel’s book ($12 on Amazon) as a free bonus to the first 10 people who respond!

How can you go wrong?

UPDATE (11/10/11): There are only 6 copies left.

The Best of CLEARING contains many great articles and essays from past issues of CLEARING, making it an incredible resource for your environmental education library. Add to that one of the seminal books on place-based education by one of the foremost educators and authors on the subject, and you’ve got a really great deal!.

For more information, and to take advantage of this limited availability offer, click here. Thanks.

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