After the Hour: Earth Hour

Earth Hour 2014 has come, lights have gone off, candles on, and now has become a memory.  At our house this past Saturday night, once we set the candlelit stage at 8:30, we had a riveting game of "Apples to Apples" with Daddio and Uncle-o as the judges to the fierce competition. There were some toughies! We even lost track of time and went beyond the hour without even noticing.  We followed it up the next day by going on the Earth Hour crowdsourcing site for each of my cherubs to make a small monetary contribution to help a global cause they each believed in.  That task (in and of itself) brought to "light" some interesting environmental conversations.

Globally, how did our planet do for Earth hour?  According to reports, 154 countries (or 162--resources vary) participated in turning off lights for the planet...making it the highest number of participating countries yet in Earth Hour's 8 years.

To see some of the global sights this past weekend, check out the Earth Hour's Highlight 1 Video by clicking here or below.  

Some Stats:

According to The Gulf News.com, Dubai had a reduction of 255,000 kWh from their one hour of Earth Hour. That would be the equivalent of the energy needed to power up 16 average homes over the course of 1 year. That stat was 22% higher than last year's kWh savings.

According to We Are Movie Geeks.com, Spider-Man was a big helping hit. Some of the lights switched off were the Sydney Harbour Bridge & Opera House in Australia and the Marina Bay skyline in Singapore, Canberra (the capital of Australia) had "It's Light's Out For The Reef" lit in candles on the Parliament House Lawn for the Great Barrier Reef. Chicago, Illinois (voted 2014 Earth Hour Capital city) had Spider-Man there in person to "flip the switch" to turn off city lights such as the Willis John Hancock Center, Willis, areas of Navy Pier, and more.

Earth Hour 2014 Spider-Man Global highlights here:

Other sites worldwide that went dark:

• Temple of Karnak in Luxor
• Great Pyramids of Giza
• Beijing's Bird's Nest
• The Eiffel Tower 
• Burj Khalifa in Dubai (the world's tallest building)
• Moscow's Kremlin & Red Square
• Buckingham Palace in London
• Bangkok's Wat Arun Buddhist Temple
• St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City
• The statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janero
• Kuala Lumpur's Petrona's Twin Towers
• The Las Vegas Strip
• Times Square & the Empire State Building in NYC
• Niagara Falls
• more, more, and many more!

For you social media fans...To see some snapshots of hometown & big town pics, check out Instagram's official Earth Hour Page and also hashtag #EarthHour or their Pinterest page.  There's also the @EcoSpidey page over at Twitter.  

I think this is what they call a success!!

Earth hour collage from pics of my people in my house.
Earth Hour Video Highlights 1 from: http://youtu.be/MHbHsK6-6Sk
Earth Hour 2014 Global Spider-Man video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asjgN8a88DA&list=UUyhQYJYlOGyUHhQLHlpNb8g&feature=share&index=1#aid=P9NjCPBAiHg

Spider-Man in Chicago: http://www.wearemoviegeeks.com/2014/03/the-amazing-spider-man-2-earth-hour-celebrate-the-planet/

Use Your Power: Earth Hour

We are knee deep in environmental day season.
Last Saturday was World Water Day.
This Saturday is the 8th annual Earth Hour.

"What is Earth Hour?" you may be asking yourself. Earth Hour is a global event that is held annually the last Saturday of March (this year, the 29th), from 8:30--9:30 pm in your local time zone.  During this hour, people can voluntarily turn off lights/electronics to show their commitment to the environment. The point of the day is that a little action by one, multiplied out, can have far reaching effects.  The visual unity of being part of something bigger than yourself has caused Earth Hour to grow every year since it's inception in Sydney, Australia in 2007.

Earth Hour is even more this year!  Bigger and better than ever before, because this year's Earth Hour Ambassador is a true superhero.  Spider-man to the rescue!!  With the new "The Amazing Spider-man 2" movie on the horizon--and based on the fact that it's Columbia Picture's most eco-conscious movie in history due to the environmental efforts on the set.  These efforts brought the whole project in at carbon neutral...making Spider-man the perfect planetary hero for Earth Hour!

Watch this Earth Hour promo that encourages you to be a superhero for the planet.

Apparently Pocoyo has also followed in Spiderman's footsteps, taking the challenge to heart :

Go with Spider-man's Earth Hour theme & mantra this Saturday night:

"Use your power. Amplified. Multiplied. Globalized."

Additional resources:

• Can't get enough visuals and videos?  Try out this one detailing Earth Hour 2014 with some famous sights going dark from the last 8 years.

• Click here to see former GTG commentary on Earth Hour.

• Learn more about Earth Hour from their website. Or, scan the green QR code here (or click on the link) to see the timeline of how this movement that started in 1 city (Sydney Australia) in 2007 has spread like wildfire, growing each year and gaining more momentum and support.

• Create your own Earth Hour event.  Or, join the Instagram contest March 27th--30th.  For tips or to learn more about this, check out this link.

Earth Hour Logo from http://www.earthhour.org/, 
Earth Hour Spiderman image from http://ecowatch.com/2014/02/15/spider-man-joins-earth-hour/
Earth Hour Spiderman promo video from http://www.earthhour.org/spiderman; 
Pocoyo video from http://www.earthhour.org/pocoyo; 
QR Code generated at http://www.qrstuff.com/
Earth Hour Lightbulb pic from http://www.futprimitive.com/blog/earth-hour-2014/

Because Water Changes Everything

This week (like every week at school) we did our regularly-scheduled dictation activity.  The reasons are multiple--to practice spelling, capitalization, punctuation, listening, and handwriting simultaneously.  I often will do poems (as the words are easier to predict as they fall into rhyme and rhythm).  Sometimes, I go all "eco" on them.  This week was a prime example.

This week, we began by talking about the upcoming environmental days that are in March.  I must say--it led to some pretty interesting conversation! As we were talking, all of a sudden, a plea went up from several of the kids who wanted to know websites and such to share with their parents at home. Hence, a blog post was born!

Right as we were about to begin, one of my fellas asked if he could go get a drink.  As a matter of fact: yes!  That would be the perfect lead in.  (Little did he know that our dictation (see above) was centered around World Water Day:  March 22nd annually.)

After drinks were had, thirsts were quenched, and a simple motion we all take for granted was played out... I showed my class a website that my friend (and former colleague at Carrollwood Day School [or CDS]) Blythe Marulanda created through charity: water.  She and her 4th grade class decided to set up this donation website at the end of their Water Unit, where their focus of inquiry is: "People need water to survive, and they have certain rights and responsibilities regarding its use."

You can access Blythe's site at charity: water, or by scanning the blue QR code below (I have the QR code because my 3rd graders all wanted it...and it is blue, because what other color would a "water QR code" be?!!)

 Additionally, on the CDS website there is a pretty enlightening video about the effects that come from the lack of clean water. It tied in perfectly as a preface to this week’s dictation about World Water Day (click to learn more about this "environmental day!").  My students were struck how water became not only a hydration issue, but a health issue, a sanitation issue, a women's issue, a children's issue, an education issue, and a life improvement issue.

If any of these issues are issues that speak to your heart, you need to consider getting yourself over to CDS's charity: water website and donate to help improve the water quality for people who need it.  What a wonderful way to celebrate World Water Day.


Water Changes Everything. from charity: water on Vimeo.


World Water Day dictation was crafted by me from facts from the World Water Day website, and handwritten by one of my current crop of 3rd graders.
Carrollwood Day School's webpage was a screen shot from the CDS charity: water link.
QR Code generated at http://www.qrstuff.com/
Video from http://vimeo.com/charitywater/whywater

Green With A Side of White This St. Paddy's Day!

Happy St. Paddy's Day to ye!

We are wearin' our green o'er here, we ate corned beef & cabbage, and there was a "car bomb," a Guinness, and/or an Irish whiskey had by one or more in this house (tho not this lassie!).

We are even watching John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara in "The Quiet Man"...an Irish movie from the word "go."   An annual tradition.

2 years ago, we spent the day outside, poolside. Shorts. Tank Tops.  Flip flops.  Leprechaun hats. Mid Maryland.

I think the most striking part however of this St. Patrick's Day was the snow day we had today. No school. Some of the media portals are calling it our "Shamrock Snow." Striking, at 4 days until the first of Spring, we got 8 (or more) inches of snow--here in mid March!  Yowza!!

Unfortunately too, it was yet ANOTHER snow day!  Ironic, because in the height of the winter, we all love snow days--especially us teachers!!!  (Notice the multiple exclamation points!!)  But we are at the place in the year where our school has used it's four days, maxed out, then fit extra days in where we could...and have still maxed out. My daughter's middle school is even two days beyond us and are adding days to the calendar left, right, and then some! I seriously have lost count, but it seems like she'll be going to school until the Fourth of July!

Additionally, today would have been the first day for us after Spring Break. After a week off, the last thing you really want is another day, another bout of shoveling, another day tacked on to the end of the year somewhere.  You hit a place where it's just too much.

Here's where I go all "Climate Change" on you. Extreme weather is at play.  We're talking mid-March:   There was an earthquake and near 90 degree weather in LA. There was less-than-normal-snow down at this year's recent Iditarod in Alaska. In Maryland, we're blanketed in white. These are the pictures of extremes weather due to climate change.

If we aren't careful as a society, there will be no such thing as "the luck of the Irish" for future generations when it comes to a planet.

So the biggest question is....when are we going to realize: it is up to each and everyone of us?!


Pictures from my house--my peeps, my pups!

Blast From The Past: March Green Team Gazette Newsletters

As I mentioned earlier this week, I've been doing a little tripping down GTG's memory lane, archiving as I go. Here are 3 seasons of March Green Team Gazettes from circa 2009--2011, highlighting some of the annual eco events coming up: World Water Day (Saturday, March 22nd this year) and
Earth Hour (Saturday, March 29th from 8:30--9:30 in your time zone)!

Green Team Gazette 4 -Mar 2009 from Vicki Dabrowka

Green Team Gazette 2.7 March 2010 from Vicki Dabrowka

Green Team Gazette 3.7 March 2011 from Vicki Dabrowka

Green Team Gazette: A Historic Timeline

In December of 2008, a concept was born.

After visiting Alain L. Locke School in Harlem with CG Kidz (from the parent company Cynergreen), Eagle Cove School's Science Guy and I were a swift part (along with CG Kidz) in helping Alain Locke become a Green Magnet School.  With that came a Green Kit from Cynergreen/CG Kidz  We had decided a newsletter would be a good addition to that kit.  A newsletter of helpful teaching hints, books, eco-ideas and more.

Green Team Gazette was born, in monthly printed newsletter form.

For 2 and a half years, I crafted that monthly newsletter.

About a year and change in, I was challenged by my brother:

 "If you want to be a writer, then write. Write something you know about."  

I was already doing that.  I was writing a monthly eco-newsletter.  I was reading all the eco-info I could get my hands on.  I wanted to share it with other schools.  It came to a point, I wanted to share it with the world.  It was at that point that I not only became an environmental educator, but also an environmental-blogger.

Green Team Gazette was reborn--this time via Google's BlogSpot and as a webpage.

Over time, the "EdTech" side has infiltrated (which one could argue is truly environmental!)... and my blog has become multifaceted.

At this point:  we are circling back.  My newsletters for that 2.5 years have been housed on the Gibson Island Country School's Website (until our name change/website change in 2010 when we became "Eagle Cove School").  They have all been housed at the Eagle Cove site ever since.

But Eagle Cove School (the school I have known and loved the last 7 years) is closing here in June, and the website will shut down as well.

So, here we are.

I have uploaded my GTG's up to SlideShare.net, and for the next year I will share those same-month issues here.  Even though some of the info is nearing 5 years old, it's all good and current for the beginning environmentalist. May it serve and find you well!!

Find those eco-archives here tomorrow!  Enjoy the GTG history and progression.  Thank you for trekking along with me!!



Images:  Avatar = GTG's iconic symbol
"Green" = created on KidPix by a former student
Recycle sign = from Microsoft word clip art

"A Forest Year" in 40,000 Filmed Stills

If you have 3 minutes, then you have just enough time to read and watch this amazing year+ photo journey of Samuel Orr:

40,000 still photos shot outside a window to the forest outdoors over 15 months.  An amazing movie and picture of time passing right before your very eyes!!

 


Video from https://vimeo.com/59095595

Landfill Logistics

The highest location in Anne Arundel County, Maryland is the county landfill.  That's somewhat of a logical and logistical nightmare when you figure that height is all based on throwaways.

As a a class, we've been there twice--May of 2009 and then again October 2010.  They were working on filling the last section, and it was remarkably noticeable how much higher it was on the 2nd trip than our first one a year and a half earlier. That section of the landfill is slated to be filled by 2030--begging the question, what happens next?  Where will the trash go then?  (For more on that trip, checkout my Landfill Slideshare Presentation.)

Maybe if we see how exactly a landfill works, and get more people on board with that, recycling rates would finally go up...and things would begin to change with our own trashing of our planet.


Source: Reusable Shopping Bags


Infographic from http://www.reusethisbag.com/reusable-bag-infographics/how-a-landfill-works.php

Jumping for Joy & Weaving Your Own Rope

About a month ago now (how does time go that fast!?!), I attended an annual favorite:  the Maryland Association of Environmental & Outdoor Educators' Annual Conference.  Set in Ocean City this year (it's been here several times before, but a few other places in the state the last 6 years I've attended as well), it's a neat time to go to Ocean City--from an environmental standpoint.  It's brisk, the crowds are way down, the beach takes on new light & life, and it's always a conference filled of goodies.  Just the way I like it!

One of the highlights this year (though there were many), was an investigation on "plarn."  What's plarn, you ask?  Plastic yarn.  We had an adventure in weaving with plastic bags.  Who knew!?! The final outcome:  a jump rope, just in time for our school's Jump Rope For Heart fundraiser last week from the American Heart Association.  How perfectly synced is that?

The jump ropes are really a neat investigation in reusing materials (which is higher on the 3R spectrum than "recycling"--on purpose).  A remnant of an old pizza box made the octagonal loom, slices of plastic bag made the yarn, and empty/used glue sticks made the handles.  A little time and effort wove the rope.  My 3rd graders tried their hands at it, and one child had it finished in time to jump with during the Jump Rope for Heart activities in PE class.  No surprise...it works!

Added bonus is the educational value:  The loom with plastic strands looks a lot like a jellyfish...as does a floating plastic bag in the water.  Not good for turtles out there who eat jellyfish.  Additionally, the life span of a plastic bag is about 20 minutes--from store to home.  Then it becomes one with the 95 million other plastic bags you stockpile in your house, or worse yet it becomes trash.  Planned waste.  Thin store bags often are also very hard to recycle.  All too often they glut our environment as the waft on the wind, pollution that ultimately lands in a waterway and makes its way to the ocean.  Senseless waste.

One of the great things about the MAEOE Conference too this year that had me "jumping for joy" is that they posted the a lot of the resources the presenters used.  This one included!! To learn how to make a "plarn" jump rope using this or a few other ways, click here.

For some of the other great finds at MAEOE's conference this year, click this link for 16 other great environmentally-based finds!


MAEOE logo from http://www.maeoe.org/
Pics from my camera--featuring my very own plarn jump rope!

Read Across America Day

The world of reading owes a lot to that master of rhyme, Dr. Seuss.  Yesterday, March 2nd, was Dr. Seuss' 110th birthday.


For the last 17 years, the National Education Association has been celebrating Dr. Seuss and his influence on bringing whim and whimsy to reading with Read Across America.

Watch a brief overview of the "Seusstastic" infomercial about this year's
Read Across America here:

Unfortunately, if you are like me, today the Polar Vortex reared it's ugly head, again, and we're facing yet another snow day.  But the good thing about reading is that it can happen at home, it can happen with a gnome, it can happen tomorrow, reading books of glee and of sorrow.

(Yes, that was my poor attempt to summons my inner-Seuss.)

Click here for some great Read Across America resources (because tomorrow is never too late).

For an added bonus, head over to Class Tech Tips to find out the new Book Wizard app from Scholastic.  You'll find lexiles, other reading level systems, and book summaries.  Perfect if you use Reading Counts or Accelerated Reader!

As for my favorite Seuss quote--from "The Lorax:"

Dr. Seuss bday pic from http://aikahipta.org/2013/03/02/happy-109th-birthday-dr-seuss/
Read Across America video from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVVgyassnr8