Unleashing the Beast, One Hour At a Time

The bipartisanship beast, that is.   The "us" versus "them" mentality.  The "You say 'YES,' so I say 'NO'" folks.   The "You say 'po-tay-to,' therefore I say 'po-tah-to' peeps.   All of this rigid bipartisanship is making me say "blah bah blah!"

I shouldn't be surprised, as it's not a foreign entity, especially  not in politics, and clearly not during an election year (particularly this one).   It's even not a surprise in the realm of environmentalism--treehuggers versus tree-cutters, big oil versus clean energy, the "Story of Stuff" over-consumption versus consumerism and materialism. US versus THEM.

Given all of that, is it any surprise that Earth Hour 2012 would be any different?  The point of Earth Hour is to be part of the global movement to show pride and preservation in our planet and to bring awareness to the issue of depleting resources, "conservationalism," and climate change.  The latest and greatest to counter Earth Hour's vision of turning off the lights for an hour from 8:30 to 9:30 pm the last Saturday night in March is "Human Achievement Hour."   Running concurrently with Earth Hour, the creators are encouraging people to do just the opposite: to purposely leave ON the lights to praise all the inventions that have gotten us to where we are now.  Similarly, while they are promoting individualism as a way to blast, what they call "government coercion." 

"Human Achievement Hour" is the brainchild of Competitive Enterprise Institute.  Feeling that Earth Hour's platform is to "vote with your light switch," they felt a true vote needed another choice.

Their big pitch from their website: 

"To celebrate Human Achievement Hour, participants need only to spend the hour from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm on March 26 enjoying the benefits of capitalism and human innovation: Gather with friends in the warmth of a heated home, watch television, take a hot shower, drink a beer, call a loved one on the phone, or listen to music."

Oh brother.

Let me see if I have this right:  Team "Human Achievement Hour" is sending high praise to all the folks who go forth wildly, wastefully, using the most non-renewable resources.  Yeah, that makes sense down the line!  Let's all use up a ton of energy purposely!  Let's leave on all the appliances and lights to ratchet up our electricity bill.  While we are doing it, let's adopt fat slovenly habits so we can sit there, surfing the net, and becoming more of a nation of obesity! Good idea!

Don't get me wrong... I love the Internet!  Thomas Edison was clever as can be to bring some light into the world.  (Heck, I wrote a massive research paper about him in the 4th grade, singing his praises then, and singing them now.)  I'm a big fan of the TV and/or the DVR if and when there is quality television on.  And don't even get me started about the love affair I have with my iPad and iPhone! But seriously, do we need to sing high praises to these achievements by turning them all on simultaneously?  Can we not love achievements AND (beware, this is the crazy part) adore a clean, healthy, planet, trying to secure the longevity of its resources?   Do we NEED every light on in the house to say "thank you, Thomas Alva Edison?"

As I told a friend of mine:  I think on this gray morning, with lights on, in front of the computer paying bills, surrounded by my movie-playing iPad, my smart phone, with my calculator and Diet Coke nearby, I'm already 'celebrating' Human Achievement Hour.  I celebrate it daily.  Since when do we have to choose between planet and progress?  I thought we lived in a world with both.  By turning off my lights tonight for Earth Hour, I have approximately 8,759 hours left in the year ahead to use lights and electronics any way I see fit. 

Sanity and balance, people!  Whatever happened to "moderation in all things?"  In this bipartisan world where people are becoming so polarized that they only see black or only see white, they are forgetting that by living on the ends of the spectrum, they are missing all the shades in between.   Life IS in the middle.   Life IS in the gray.   Truthfully, the sooner we all come to see that and try to adopt a "meet ya in the middle" mentality, the better off we all will be.... politically, peacefully, planetarily!


Banner photo from my buddy's FB Page, adapted from http://en.paperblog.com/earthhour-2012-saturday-march-31st-at-830-pm-151543/' Black and white/Earth addition picture from http://www.greenster.com/magazine/earth-hour-7-days-to-go/; Scrabble pic from http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/life/earth-hour-is-a-family-affair-31634.html;

On the Edge of Earth Hour: Saturday, March 31, 2012

An hour is a mere 60 minutes or 3,600 seconds.  In the grand scheme, it is not a massive amount of time, especially if presented with a favorable activity.  Yet, if well-placed, and synchronized, it can become a very powerful statement.  Earth Hour is the perfect example of that. 

From their video, the Earth Hour video text does a good job of summing up the power of an hour:

It started with an idea.

An idea that became a symbol.

A symbol that became a movement.

A movement that unites people to protect our planet.

135 countries.

5251 cities and towns.

1.8 billion people reached.

How will you go beyond the hour?

This voluntary hour of "lights out" started the last Saturday of March in 2007 in Sydney Australia.  Each year it has grown exponentially.  The simple statement of turning out your lights from 8:30 to 9:30 pm in your time zone is a voluntary, globally collaborative "show of action" in support of  the environment.  Is an hour of lights out going to save our planet?  No. But the commitment toward our planet and the spirit of global union both show how many individuals doing a small thing can transform into something massive!

So make a "date in the darkness" this Saturday night from 8:30--9:30 pm with your candles or for moonlit walks.  Make memories, and make a statement!

To learn more about Earth Hour from a "Green Team Gazette" perspective, here are some great places to visit: 
--Earth Hour Archives on Green Team Gazette

--On Feb 16th, 2011, I testified at the Annapolis Maryland House of Delegates in front of the Health and Government Committee to put into MD law Earth Hour as a legal MD Commemorative Day.  (Sadly, House Bill 223 did not pass.)

Earth Hour Official Websites:
--Global Earth Hour Website
--USA's Earth Hour Website
--Earth Hour's You Tube Channel
--Earth Hour on Twitter
--Earth Hour on Facebook
--World Wildlife Fund's Earth Hour Page

Go Beyond the Hour
--Eager for more?  Is 60 minutes not enough? Check out the "I Will If You Will" Challenge where you can view others' challenges to help protect the Earth...or make one of your own!


Earth Hour banner from http://www.earthhour.org/media-centre/images, video from http://youtu.be/FovYv8vf5_E

Welcome to World Water Day 2012

Welcome to World Water Day:  a United Nations celebrated day of the environment, celebrating aspects of freshwater sustainability.  Held annually every March 22nd, it's a great day to focus on the renewable yet overused resource of fresh water. 
Check out this informative video from the UN World Water Day site to learn more--especially how food production, consumption, and choice is tied to our water supply!


For a boatload of 4 more videos, a multitude of printable posters, and a number of educational materials, click here to visit the UN World Water Day 2012 Website.

For links to World Water Day Resources of "Days Gone By," click here.
Click this link to read more about World Water Day from the Green Team Gazette archives.


Images and videos from http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/campaign.html#videos

World Water Day: March 22nd, 2012

Every week (Tuesday, to be specific) we do dictation in my class for our Eagle Cove School Monthly portfolios.  We do so (as a school) to practice handwriting, spelling, phonics, attentive listening skills, and more.  It can be about anything:  a seasonal poem, spelling word sentences, a social studies concept, something along the lines of a "green" theme... the sky is the limit.  This week, we are opting to go green.  I'm tying it in with this Thursday's World Water Day. 

Learn along with us as we do our dictation:
World Water day is every year
On March 22nd.  It is
Really an important day because a
Lot of people get
Diseases from their local

Water.  It can even cause death.
A million women and
Their children walk
Each day over 3.5 miles to
Reach water that might be

Dirty.  Sadly, 1 in 8 people do not have
Access to clean water globally.
You do!  Don't take water for granted!

To learn more about World Water Day, here are some great resources:

• UN Water: World Water Day
• Take Action and Walk for Water & Sanitation
• GTG's World Water Day: March 22nd
• GTG's Opening Your Eyes to World Water Day = March 22nd, Annually   (WATCH THE VIDEO!  Must See "TV"!!)

World Water Day photos from http://www.flickr.com/photos/unworldwaterday/6064487465/, http://www.wash-united.org/media/club-news/club-news/article/world-water-day-2012-the-world-walks-for-water-and-sanitation-kicks-off.html?no_cache=1

Sláinte

Ahh... The Wearin' o'the Green!!

Here we are again, tipping our hats at this ever-so-green time of year.

Here's a collection of sites where the focus is on all things green, both Irish-ly and environmentally speaking! May they be the pot o'gold at the end of your rainbow!

From the GTG Archives:

• Living o'the Green
• Eat Green
• Wearing o'the Green

Arts & Crafts:

• Eco Friendly St. Patricks Day Crafts For Your Kids
• Celebrate Green - Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebratio​ns and Traditions for the Whole Family
• 5 Fun and Eco-Friend​ly St. Patrick’s Day Projects!

Celebrating Green:

• Eco Friendly St Patrick's Day Party ~ From Green Mommy in a Plastic World
• An Eco-Green Happy St Patrick's Day
• 3 Eco-Friend​ly Ways To Make Your St. Patrick’s Day Even Greener ~ from Eco-Thinke​r
• REALLY Go Green for St. Patricks' Day with Eco-Friend​ly Activities ~ from Greener Ideal

Living Green:

• Eco Clovers for St. Patrick's Day 2012 - Sustainabi​lity: Business, Life, Environmen​t ~ from Taiga Company

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

And rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

~ an old, Irish blessing

Sláinte this St. Patty's Day!

Images from http://freebies.about.com/b/, and http://thefrugalgirls.com/2012/03/st-patricks-day-printables-for-kids.html,

Pre St. Patty's Day

Here's a li'l leprechaun "luck o'the Irish" on the cusp of St. Patty's day to get you in the mood for celebrating the wearing o'the greenness!

10 Green Initiatives to Take for St. Paddy’s Day

Pic from http://www.onlinecertificateprograms.org/blog/2012/10-green-initiatives-to-take-for-st-paddys-day/

2nd Annual Parade of Earth Heroes

It's that time o'year again when yes, the birds are tweeting, the trees are budding, the flowers are popping, and spring is in the air.  But... that is NOT all!  'Tis also the season of my class' environmental biographies and the eco-parade of environmental leaders.


I love these 3 books from the Earth Heroes Series: Champion of the Ocean and Champions of Wildlife (both by Carol and Bruce Malnor) and Champion of the Ocean (by Fran Hodgkins).  They are fabulous and I have written about them in the past:

• Wall o'Fame: Earth Heroes!
• Because I Can't Get Enough: Earth Heroes Part Deux

This year's Earth Hero Parade and powerful biographies included the following environmental leaders (as poignantly written by my ECS 3rd graders--kudos to my clever writers!!!):

Wangari Maathai: "Wangari fought for equal pay for women.... She began planting trees in her own yard.  This was called the Green Belt Movement... She was a great environmentalist.  I hope she will go down in history."

Roger Payne: "Roger released an album called "Songs of the Humpback Whales" in 1970.... Roger still needs people to believe in whales. This is why Roger Payne is an Earth Hero."

Jane Goodall: "Jane was an amazing Earth Hero.... She saved the chimps... She was a United Nations Messenger of Peace... She has done a lot of things in her life we should be proud of, and we should be thankful for her."

Theodore Roosevelt:  "The biggest thing he did was to become the 26th president... He thought it was very important to protect the environment.  That is why Teddy Roosevelt was a good Earth Hero."

William Beebe:  "He was one of the first people to go underwater in a bathysphyere.  He loved learning about ocean animals and sharing that information with others."

Ronald "R.D." Lawrence: "He loved the outdoors...  He was helpful in getting the Endangered Species Act passed.... I liked Ron because he studied and took care of wolves."

Eugenie Clark: "She was the first person to study the megamouth shark... She is still living today, and she is doing many things to help the ocean and help us learn about sharks."

Archie Carr: "He learned so much about sea turtles... He published ten books on turtles and nature.... Archie Carr helped the sea turtles of the world."

Tierney Thys:  "Tierney studied ocean sunfish for over 10 years.  She knew they weren't just a 'big floppy fish'... She is important because she did a lot for the environment by connecting people all over the world to her sunfish research and to oceanography."

 Art pictures from my classroom, book images from Amazon.com

E-Wasting Away In Mobile-RitaVille

I am in countdown mode.  It is T-minus-10 days until I am eligible for a new cell phone.  Since my current phone has been acting funky and frustrating for at least 6 months... so, what I once previously loved, is now no longer my friend.  I'm giddy with excitement and ready to move forth with new-to-me technology.

Of course, it comes at a price (both literally and environmentally).  This e-waste infographic below does a great job of detailing exactly how much!  Plus, it showcases the importance of repurposing, recycling, or selling your old device.  Personally, I'm eager for the day when there's a "buy back" (or a "return back") program where the manufacturer builds that in with the creation and pricing of new devices.  It seems especially important here in this age where the newest "latest greatest" item is out-dated before the "new car smell" (so to speak) is even worn off!  Additionally, it feels like it should be a corporate responsibility to handle the overwhelming rate of this growing environmental problem of e-waste. Time and technology will tell!

Infographic via: ServerMonkey.com, the Industry Leader for Refurbished Servers
iPhone pic from http://www.livehacking.com/tag/iphone/

Livin' Life in the Dojo

As I've mentioned before, as the year progresses, I'm trying out more and more finds in the edtech world.  At the DC EdCamp I attended in January, one discovery was Class Dojo.  Class Dojo is an online behavior management tool that's pretty darn cool.  My class loves it, and they are eager to earn "delights" and steer clear of any "dings."

As I was in the early stages of trying it out, I was in need of some tech assistance.  Email conversations led to some Skyping with one of the three head Class Dojo-ians.  Next thing you know, I was invited to be a guest blogger--you just never know where Skype may take you. 

That blog post posted on Monday!

To check out my "thumbs up" review of Class Dojo, check out my "Class Dojo Delights and Dings" post over on the Class Dojo blog site. 

To catch a sneak preview of how it starts, read on!




Class Dojo logo & pics from http://blog.classdojo.com/ (The Positive and Negative behaviors are the ones I have designed and am using in my class). Class Dojo Acrostic written by me and posted on the Class Dojo Website.

I Saw The Lorax, And I Speak For The Trees

Yesterday my 2 cherubs and I went to see "The Lorax." I was sporting my "Love the Earth" t-shirt and in the mood to hug a truffula tree.  Being the "green" schoolers that we all are, my kids were excited beyond belief.  Additionally, I was thrilled that there was now another movie out there in addition to Big Miracle (which I loved) that had a strong environmental message for children.  I wanted to LOVE it.  I wanted it to be "THE BEST MOVIE EVER!"  I wanted it to be THE beacon of environmentalism and get everyone to change their ways.  I wanted it to be the recommended "If you only see one movie in your lifetime, this should be it!!"


Can we say high expectations, anyone?  I must admit, I sat there and watched it with trepidation.  I had high hopes, and I had heard some very good reviews from some of my good friends (aka: reliable sources) who saw it and loved it.  Yet I'd heard many reviews from the left, the right, and the middle saying it was perhaps not enough "eco," yet too much "other," leaving everyone a little high, dry, and disappointed.  Yes, I sat there and watched it with trepidation, which probably isn't ever the best vantage point.


My verdict:  It was cute. Period. End of sentence.  As an environmental educator, I'm disappointed in that response, but that's where I land every time I try to land somewhere else. There were definitely parts I really liked, and there were parts I really wanted to like but... Eh.  The opening song and the final scenes/song were great, and perhaps my favorite. The movie also had a well-placed text of the very poignant quote: "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."

 I also really found smirk-worthy humor in the selling of O'Hare's bottled air, and the commentary that apparently anyone would want to buy something in plastic bottles.  My kids definitely saw the similarities to the 5-gallon "air jugs" and how they are remarkably reminiscent of 5-gallon water bottles.  Not a thinly-veiled comparison at all!! 


I will say, I definitely give thumbs up to Discover The Forest, for using the Lorax to speak for the trees.  By clicking the titled link, you'll get a slew of outdoor activities to get yourself out there and reasons to "care a whole awful lot."  Thumbs up too for Universal delivering it on Dr. Seuss's 108th birthday on March 2nd.  That was a nice tribute to the author du jour.  Definite kudos to Ted Wells 4th Graders for getting "The Lorax" movie site to ramp up their green offerings. And, most certainly, thumbs up to the book and its revitalization in stores.  Dr. Seuss had his finger on the pulse back in 1971 so very well!

Thumbs down to the Mazda CX-5 advertisement, with their "Truffala Tree Approval Rating" and using the Lorax to sell cars.  Somehow, I don't think Dr. Seuss or the Lorax would go for that commercialism, materialism, or the factory pollution that would be made creating said-Truffala-Tree-approved-automobile.  Same-same for IHOP's Lorax-inspired cuisine line.  And there's more, which the Green Mom in the Burbs detail in their blog article: "I am the Lorax, I Speak for the Merchandisers."

I think what I'll truly need to do is watch it again, in the comfort of my home, when it comes out on video. Knowing what to expect, without taking in any curiosities, fear factors, or expectations, I think I'll be able to have a clearer vision and perhaps a better view. Do I recommend it?  Yes, I do. Remember: It was cute. It most certainly has a good message.  It gets people thinking, hopefully...which is always a good thing.


Lorax "Explore Nature" poster from http://www.treehugger.com/culture/the-lorax-hawk-us-forest-service-discover-the-forest-campaign.html, Book photo from www.amazon.com,  Discover the Forest PSA from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKiUevIghNI

Not Quite Making the Grade

Nobody likes seeing a D- on a completed project or their report card.  Nobody!  The reason, which is obvious: We all know how close to an F that really is.  Given that fact, it was a sad discovery at last weekend's Eagle Cove School/Magothy River Association Bake Sale in Pasadena to see that a D- is the grade scored by the Magothy River (which is right outside the ECS campus).  Ouch! 

The score, as assessed annually by the Magothy River Association's "Magothy River Index," was officially a 22%.... a far cry difference from the A scoring 80--100%.   The score was derived from these 3 factors:  water clarity, dissolved oxygen, and SAV's (submerged aquatic vegetation).  It's a cyclical relationship:  the SAV's need the proper water clarity to grow, and marine wildlife needs a sufficient level of dissolved oxygen to maintain life. 
I suppose the good news is that we scored the same percentage (and same D-) as in 2010, but when you look at our whopping 45% in 2006 (which is merely an average C), we are most certainly going the wrong direction.  Additionally, 2011 broke another record--record low salinity.  Why does that matter?  It causes a high oyster mortality rate.  Why are oysters important?  Ask any current or former 3rd grader at ECS (since they do oyster studies in 3rd grade science), and they'll tell you that oysters filter the water, which then in turn helps improve water clarity. 

To learn more (and to go into more detail), click here to check out the Magothy River Index for 2011. Click this link to see the entire health report card of the Chesapeake Bay.  Sad but true, not much better.

So, clearly, this is the bad news, but as I posted on the GTG Facebook page earlier this week, this video below projects the good news (along with some great inspiration) for restoring the Chesapeake Bay.  Maryland's Governor Martin O'Malley has a Bay Restoration plan in place to improve the Bay by 2025.  Let's cross our fingers that Maryland citizens and governmental officials can make that goal a sustainable reality here in the next 13 years!


Map from http://www.neris.com/cma/1dobbinsisland.jpg, Video from http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QLdhGXSqWSU#!

Leaping Through Leap Year

We all know that February 29th only comes around once every 4 years.  And most of us know mostly why we have it.  But, if you are a little shaky, or want to share the rationale with your cherubs, check out the following YouTube which does a nice job of creatively explaining "What is a Leap Year?"  You may come out of it a little bit wiser on this 366th day of this year!!



Video from http://youtu.be/56zlm9qhVGc

The Park on the Magothy River Where History and Environmentalism Meet

There's a little nugget of a gem on the Magothy River in Pasadena, Maryland that combines history and environmentalism.  No, it's not Eagle Cove School (however, yes, it's true, these both also describe our li'l academic gem).  Rather, it's Anne Arundel County's "Future Site" of the historic Beachwood Park.

Right now, Beachwood Park is a nice, unassuming, wooded plot of land, that is about 65 acres.  With it, it holds a hidden pieces of history lying beneath the fallen leaves.  Yet, it was alive in the  mid 1940's to the early 1960's. Then, Beachwood Park was a fabulous, family-centric fishing hole and beach resort--primarily for the African American community of Anne Arundel County. 
With the assistance of the Magothy River Association, the plans for Beachwood Park are for it again to be a great place to hit the river via kayak, picnic, go for a hike, or catch a fish or two.
As Laura Kang, Eagle Cove School's Head of School wrote in a parent/faculty email today: 

"The 4th and 5th graders had a great session yesterday with Dr. Joyce Jennings, whose grandfather owned the land right next to Beachwood Park, which was an African-American owned beach in the 40s and 50s. She essentially spent her summers there. Hearing her memories of the riverboat cruises, the merry-go-round, learning to swim, picnics in the pavilion, games of chance and hearing such greats as Billie Holiday, Sam Cooke, James Brown perform was so interesting. Best of all, she put the history of Beachwood Park in the larger historical context of African-American history from the late 1600s on. She also was in the first class to integrate Pasadena Elementary. She is a retired Baltimore City school principal who now is a caseworker with disabled children in PG County. The students all took notes and will do a short write-up that we will use as a basis for future signs for a history/nature trail in the park."

To see "Part 1" of  Kaitlyn Carr's Pasadena Patch article which ran today, click the link below to see her article entitled  Eagle Cove School Helps Preserve Beachwood History.

Soo.... if you are hungry this Saturday, February 25th and are near the Pasadena Peninsula here in Anne Arundel County, check out Angels Food Market and the Eagle Cove School/Magothy River Association Bake Sale from 9:30--1:00. In addition to the Bake Sale, Paul Spadero of the Magothy River Association will have an interactive gizmo that teaches about local environmental issues.  Now, as for the food....I've seen the growing collection of goodies and I've got to say: there's going to be a motherload of taste sensations!!
For more historic information about Beachwood Park, check out the following:

• The City Paper's Beachwood Park Memoirs (5-18-2011)
• The Capital's "Hometown Annapolis" Environmental Group Hopes to Revitalize Beachwood Park (11-30-2011)
• Anne Arundel County's Recreations & Parks Cartop Boat Launch and Fishing Spot - Beachwood Park (Future Site)

Double image from http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/TOP/2011/11/30-20/Environmental-group-hopes-to-revitalize-Beechwood-Park.html,; map from Google Maps

Speaking for the Truffula Trees

Ah...the glory of a 3 Day Weekend ~ Presidents' Day.  I love my job, but every now and then, a well placed 3 day weekend is a glorious, fabulous thing for the family.  In honor of our day off, the kids and I are heading to a movie.  Of course, the conversation of movies quickly got us to talking about "The Lorax," which the kids are dying to see.  The countdown to the nationwide reveal is a mere 11 days or so:  March 2nd.  A perfect  release date, in that March 2nd would be Dr. Seuss' 107 Birthday.



Interesting too in that the movie has made news recently with the fourth graders from Ted Wells' Brookline, Massachusetts class.  Having noticed that there wasn't much green on the movie website for this benchmark book on environmentalism, they made a video and posted a petition on Change.org to Universal Studios.  And it worked!  For some of their media making news, click here or watch the video where Diane Sawyer names Mr. Well's class as the "Person of the Week.".

To add some Lorax life to you lessons, here are some great sites to check out to Seuss-ly spruce up your curriculum, and gear up for falling in love with the Lorax!!

Scholastic's Thematic Unit based on the Lorax Movie

Seussville's "The Lorax Project"

Scholastic Lesson Plans for the book "The Lorax"

Cybraryman's Dr. Seuss Page

Homeschooling Thematic Lorax Plans
Humongous Dr. Seuss Giveaway from Teaching Blog Addict


Movie Trailer from http://youtu.be/1bHdzTUNw-4; The Lorax book pic from www.Amazon.com.

A Marvelous, Maxed Out, MAEOE of a Weekend

You know you've had a full weekend when you have had:

• Two 3-hour session of eco-art and inquiry
• Six 1-hour sessions from everything from climate change, marine debris, student empowerment and more
• A 1.5 hour keynote
• A 1.5 hour plenary panel
• And inspiration beyond belief.

Making it past the first day of MAEOE, the second day was a great one, and a full one.  I decided to let my camera do the talking while I let all the good ideas settle and ruminate!  Good stuff, great weekend!

Free slideshow made with Smilebox

Photos from my camera (including pictures of the conference bulletin), and incorporated into a Smilebox presentation.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho... It's Off To MAEOE I Go!

Well, it is that time of year again.  Time for the annual MAEOE (aka: "Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Educators") weekend conference.

Pronounced properly, MAEOE sounds like "mayo."  MAEOE is the Maryland organization that grants schools with their "green" status.  The conference theme this year is "Fulfilling Environmental Education's Promise: Authentic Learning and Real World Impact."  MAEOE has a whole weekend filled with sessions integrating all sorts of eco-issues with other curricular content and the great outdoors.

Day One has been a full day so far, with 2 half-day sessions for me.  Figuring that this is just two offerings out of a sea of many, a lot of neat things were happening, and the MAEOE joint was jumping!

Session one for me was "Engaging Youth in Ecology Through Arts and Nature."  It was led by Desiree Shelley, the environmental educator from Baltimore's Parks and People Foundation.  This foundation creates curriculum for after school programs for Baltimore City youngsters.  Given it's after school, activities need to be very hands-on.  What better way to do that than getting the kids outside or incorporating art and creative expression.  It was a full morning, with a lot of take-aways (including make-and-take aways) as we learned about:

• "Designs in Nature" (a activity incorporating fractals and geometry),
• Tree cookies (log slices where you can count the rings and then paint with images of the stories you create about the imagined life of that tree),
• Spiderwebs and the Iktome tales of Native American culture,
• Ways to make bird houses out of recycled objects like milk cartons or jugs,
• Making "habitat mosaics" with paper for indoor art, or with times to make outdoor stepping stones,
• Taking black and white images of the urban neighborhood and painting in the nature,
• And much more!

If you are interested in learning more or in obtaining some these lesson plans, contact Desiree, as she's been kind enough to open herself up as a resource here through GTG!

Kim Dixon of the Baltimore Zoo led my 2nd session entitled "Using Inquiry to Explore Nature." She gave us a brief description on how inquiry-based learning has a different dynamic than the more linear scientific method with it's ebb, flow, and "I wonder" approach, being more student-inspired and student-driven.  Then Kim went on with a fun exposure to guided inquiry.

The grand finale was an outdoor trek to the beach for an experience in open inquiry. (Did I mention the fact that the conference is being held at a beach-side conference hotel in Ocean City!).  She allowed us to go into Zen observation mode to see what it is we see, and come up with our own inquiry investigation, then present our results to the group.

Ours:  Do the sand ripples from the wind change as you get closer to the water? With a close measure using the uber-scientific "ripple to ruler" ratio, we discovered that... WAIT!  I could tell you the answer, but that would counter the purpose of actual inquiry! This is the part of the program where I urge you to make your own hypothesis and investigation, and find your own beach to answer your own wondering!

Getting us out there, encountering not only what inquiry is but how it feels, is always good for us teachers (even those of us who sometimes might want to just sit in the back and just take notes--especially right after lunch!)  And, it's the point of the MAEOE and the "Green" School movement:  no child left inside.  Clearly, that applies to teachers too!!


Snapshots from my camera; MAEOE logo from www.maeoe2012.wikispaces.com

Pinteresting Stuff: Ring Around the Dendrochronology

I'm a recent convert to Pinterest.  I battled myself on it for awhile:  "Like I really need another addiction."  Of course, I said that too with Facebook, Twitter, "Words with Friends," and now "Scramble With Friends."  I should know by now I don't ever win that battle.

Anyhoo, it was through my Twitter PLN (Personal Learning Network) of folks I follow, that I saw that Pinterest actually had an educational element to it. This I have verified, through finding all sorts of educational boards and neat teaching ideas. (There's a ton of stuff on there for Homeschooling too, a few pals have told me!)  It's also a great place to go for arts and crafts, many of which use recyclable items. 

It reminds me of my reading (years ago) of Sarah Ban Breathnach's book "Simple Abundance" and her urging to make visual visionary boards.  Pinterest is most certainly a digital way to do that.  Being highly visual myself, it didn't take long before I was sucked in.  So much for that aforementioned-battle!!

But it is interesting...my fullest board so far is my "Good Brain Space" Board.  Finding quotes seems to be something that is not my quest alone, I have discovered.  Qutoes are all over Pinterest!!  One of my favorite lately, I think in part because of the organic nature of it (but moreso due to the actual quote itself) is this one:

This quote truly has been staying with me for days.  Maybe it has in part since my 3rd graders were talking about tree rings and how botanists use them to for dating the tree in science just a week or 2 ago.  Dendrochronology.  It has been leaving me to ponder my "educational dendrochronology."  For my class.  For my own children who live in my house.  For myself.  It's made me curious about what my own rings reveal in each of these categories.  It has made me want to notate it... draw it out... label it up, almost like a science diagram.  I think it could be revealing to see in each these circumstances:  my class, my kids, and most certainly for me.  Where are  the rings wide?  Where are the rings narrow?  How are my 3 "tree maps" mentioned above the same, and where are they different?  Where am I most proud?  Where do rings need more attention?

In pondering it, I do think I'm quite proud of my own li'l little Math Month Tree Ring as of late.  I have mentioned ECS's Math Month a bit in GTG here lately--see here or here).  The Pasadena Patch online newsletter focused on Eagle Cove School's Math Month this past weekend (click here for the article).  As the head cheerleader for that month-long event, I feel like I've created a nice, wide "love of math" ring for my students...and that most certainly feels good!

Yes...the making of my own visual tree rings might indeed make for a good brain space exercise!!

(Interesting too, as an aside:  Dendroclimatology is the study of tree rings to learn about global climate and climate change.  Who knew?! Not me... yet, as my son told me after his first day of Kindergarten science this year:  "Physics!  It is all Physics.  Nature likes circles.  Circles are physics."  Irony, synchronicity, and tree rings are too--circles that is!  But herein lies the connections of cool quotes, tree rings, good brain space, eco blogs, and physics!! I love it when that happens!!)

Book image for "Simple Abundance" from http://www.barnesandnoble.com/, Tree Ring Image from ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com, and of course, my Pinterest Boards.

Marvy Math Month @ Eagle Cove School!

January 31st finds us at the end of Math Month at Eagle Cove School.  Tomorrow, February 1st, is the day the last projects are due in from our PreK to 5th grade population.  All classes worked together to put a project or two together (to find out more, see my Jan. 29th "Math Month Meets Eco-Stats & A Touch of Tech" blog article), while our 2nd to 5th graders also worked on individual projects as well.  Even our youngest PreK'ers made mitten graphs and button-clad snowmen.  Our 8-paneled stage enclosure is filling up nicely, with more to come tomorrow, for sure!

"Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas."              ~Albert Einstein

No matter how many years these boards get filled (and this is my 4th of being in charge of cheerleading this month and seeing that all projects get hung), and I swear, each year tops the one before it!  So many neat, new, original project ideas... from individual students as well as from classrooms as a group, art, science, and more! And even more in-class projects in the books we read in library, the songs we sing and play in music, the rhythm we count out in gymnastics in PE, and the foreign words we count in Spanish! 

Yes, yes indeed... it's a marvelous, mega, math world in which we at Eagle Cove School live... and we love, love, love it!!  

"Go down deep enough into anything & you will find mathematics." ~ Dean Schlicter

Photo from my camera, from my school!

Math Month Meets Eco-Stats & A Touch of Tech

January is Math Month at Eagle Cove School.  Given that, we encourage math exploration across the grade levels, send home math calendars for enrichment activities, read about math, incorporate math in all our special/enrichment classes, and work up both individual and class projects that then get posted in the Mega Math Museum in the gym.  It's a big deal!  

QR Code Caption:  Styrofoam cups

take ____ years to biodegrade.



As the teacher/cheerleader who runs Math Month, it's exciting each year to see the different projects that come in.  Every year is unique and different, and it's always a surprise what the kids will bring in.  It's a delight, too, to have even our youngest munchkins come running up to me at recess to tell me all about the math they are working on and the project that they'll be bringing in soon!  They are excited about math, and I love it!!

Given my "green" leanings, I always try to build in an environmental project or two for my whole class projects.  This year, for one of my whole class 3rd grade projects, I decided that it'd be timely to tie in a math project with a few of our new ECS iPads.  Using the Kaywa QR Code Generator, I loaded it with some statistical data from my eco-library:  how many years does it take for a plastic grocery bag to biodegrade; how many weeks does it take a banana to break down; how long does it take Styrofoam to biodegrade; etc.   

So my young math minds made some prediction using the blacklines below in the SlideShare.  They predicted the order (from least to greatest) that they thought the following items would biodegrade:  cardboard milk carton, sheet of paper, banana peels, aluminum cans, cigarette butts (which always brings 8-9 year old to chuckles), plastic grocery bags, plastic cups, and Styrofoam.  Then they made reflections about their findings.  Some surprises... that's for sure!  At this point, I had my "Math-Month"ians complete a graph and a paragraph frame of their findings.  2 examples are in the SlideShare below.  To go the extra mile for an amazing presentation, I had them take their rough draft graph to the computer lab to type in the blanks on a pre-installed black-line on our school server in the computer lab. 

The computerized end-results were completely a thing of beauty, and I swelled with pride in that "proud teacher" moment.  Their comments were rich:  "Wow! After this, I am going to use less plastic," "I think I need to recycle more," "I was totally surprised by the numbers!"  In the end... our Math Month project had great results, both with its in-class commentary and with the dynamic presentation it made. Plus, it might even teach the Mega Math Museum viewers a thing or too.  That, too, makes me swell in "green" teacher pride!

Biodegradable qr code math graph pdf

View more documents from Vicki Dabrowka

QR code from my document above as created from http://qrcode.kaywa.com/

Soaring Like an Eagle With Synchronicity

"Synchronicity" is when 2 (or more) events come together in perfect harmony.  We had a moment of exactly that--synchronicity--yesterday in 3rd grade. 

This week we have been reading the story "Fly, Eagle Fly" by Christopher Gregorowski.  In it, an eaglet is found, and raised as as a chicken, with chickens.  A friend of the farmer is insistent that the eagle, as it grows, should be allowed to fly as it is one with the sky--an eagle.  Meanwhile, the farmer is insistent that since the eaglet was raised as a chicken--it essentially IS a chicken.  My students were drawn to the story, and found truth in the theme that one should always be themselves.  Being from "Eagle" Cove School our conversation turned more and more to eagles, and my students were able to learn a lot about them as raptors, as predators, as our national symbol, and as a symbol for the environment--going from being on the endangered species list due to DDT and now back again. 

I structured one part of our reading activity around writing an "Eagle Poem." With this, I had my students imagine what it might be like, being an eagle.  I wanted them to write from that perspective.  The poem need not rhyme, but rather it started with beginning phrases such as "It sees... It hears... It feels... etc."  

About the time we started talking about this in class, the sun started peeking through the January sky in a rather unseasonal way.  In fact, the 50 degree weather was more than rare for a January.  Given we have eagles on the island just across the Magothy River from us (and we have the name "Eagle" in our Eagle Cove School name), it seemed only right to go OUTSIDE and imagine what we might hear, see, feel, etc.  With clipboards in hand, out we went.  The rhyme-less poems my students created were down right amazing.  Outside seemed to make all the difference!!

In case there was any question...I am a big proponent of Richard Louv and "No Child Left Inside."

Looking out on the water, knowing an eagle or 2 live on the island across the adjacent river, the kids could imagine what it would feel like to personify an eagle flying overhead. 

Based on the end product, my students clearly consulted their inner eagle, and were most certainly inspired by the great outdoors!  Makes me completely love teaching... especially on a day like this!!

Fly, Eagle, Fly pic from http://www.amazon.com/Fly-Eagle-African-Tale/dp/0689823983; other pics from my camera!!