Ocean Elders

In Native American cultures and tribal communities, the elders are known for their widsom. They are the revered older members of the tribe that brings knowledge, sage advice, patience, honor, and expertise.

It was from that mentality merged with The Seventh Generation Principle (based on the Iroquois Great Law of Peace--which also served as the model for the US Constitution) that the Ocean Elders was created. From their website: 

"Ocean Elders is an independent group of global leaders who have joined together to serve as a catalyst in the conservation and protection of the ocean and its wildlife. These individuals use their collective influence, supported by science and data, to promote ocean conservation, pursue the protection of the ocean’s habitat and wildlife, and preserve its ecosystems and species biodiversity."

With sustainability at the center and the vision to work to benefit the next 7 generations ahead, the Ocean Elders are committed to protecting our oceans. They also are committed to the Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water--a fundamental piece of ocean conservation.

I view them sort of like the Marvel Marine Superheroes or the Eco Avengers, who are here to help save the oceanic day! At the very least, here to LEAD the way. The list of people involved--the Ocean Elders--reads like a "who's who" of the environmental world... which is where I think I get the superhero vibe. It's an impressive list of likeminded leaders.  You can find links to the bios of each of these elders here.

• H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco: Explorer, Environmentalist
• Richard Bailey: Founder, The Brando, Tetiaroa Society, & Blue Climate Initiative
• Sir Richard Branson: Founder & Chairman, Virgin Group & Founder, Virgin Unite
• Jackson Browne: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Environmentalist
• James Cameron: Founder, CAMERON Companies & Founder, Avatar Alliance Foundation
• Dr. Rita Colwell: Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland & Johns Hopkins University
• Jean-Michel Cousteau: President & Chairman, Ocean Futures Society, Explorer, Film Producer
• Dr. Wade Davis: BC Leadership Chair in Cultures & Ecosystems at Risk, University of British Columbia
• Dr. Sylvia A. Earle: President & Chairman, Mission Blue: The Sylvia Earle Alliance, Oceanographer
• Dr. Jane Goodall: Founder, The Jane Goodall Institute, UN Messenger of Peace
• Graeme Kelleher: Former Chairman & CEO, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
• Sven Lindblad: Conservationist, Explorer, Founder & Co-Chair, Lindblad Expeditions
• Gerry Lopez: “Mr. Pipeline,” Surfer, Shaper, Actor, Yogi
• H.M. Queen Noor of Jordan: International Public Servant, Founder, King Hussein Foundation
• Catherine A. Novelli: Former U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, & the Environment
• Dr. Frederik Paulsen: Explorer & Chairman, Ferring Pharmaceuticals
• Prof. Bertrand Piccard: Explorer & Chair of the Solar Impulse Foundation
• President Tommy Esang Remengesau, Jr.: Former President, Republic of Palau
• David E. Shaw: Managing Partner, Black Point Group LP & Co-Chair, Aspen Institute High Seas Initiative
• Nainoa Thompson: Master Navigator & President, Polynesian Voyaging Society
• Ted Turner: Chairman, Turner Enterprises, Inc. Founding Funder of UN Foundation Founder of CNN & TBS
• Captain Don Walsh: Oceanographer & President International Maritime Incorporated
• Bob Weir: Founding Member, Grateful Dead, Environmental Advocate, UN Goodwill Ambassador

• Ocean Elders Emeritus 
• Sheila Watt-Cloutier: Environmental, Cultural & Human Rights Advocate
• Neil Young: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Activist, Humanitarian
• José María Figueres: Former President, Costa Rica & Co-Chair, Global Ocean Commission

• In Memoriam
• Dr. Walter Munk: Emeritus, Institute of Geophysics & Planetary Physics, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
• Dr. E.O. Wilson: University Research Professor Emeritus, Harvard University

The inspiration for Ocean Elders began in April 2010 on the Mission Blue voyage. This trip had more than 100 scientists, business and philanthropic leaders and long-time/big-name entertainers going to the Galapagos Islands to support Dr. Sylvia Earle's TED Wish to garner protecting the ocean. By combining both a base of experts in the field along with social and business/governmental leaders, their mission could move farther and faster. These Ocean Elders, much like tribal elders, serve as the voice of ocean and environmental conservation. 

Some of the their big projects include being involved with the following: Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition, Cuba's Marine Ecosystems, Half-Earth Project, Hope Spots, Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage, Monaco Explorations, Palau Pledge, Roots and Shoots, & 1,000 Solutions to Protect the Planet. You can learn more about each one on their Showcase page.

May we all be the wise ones.

May we listen to these leaders.

May we learn from their voices of advocacy, sustainability, and our future.

May we all learn to be stewards, protecting our oceans.

Image from https://www.oceanelders.org/, video from https://youtu.be/dEwprXvNev8

Cowabunga Creativity Over At Canva

I've been a longtime fan and user of Canva and have written about it a time or two. And I will adamantly say: things are always getting better over there. 

Earlier this summer I took a PD class at my school taught by a colleague all about creating dynamic visual presentations. No surprise: Canva was a featured tool. In addition to discussing Canva's modifiable templates for presentations, graphic organizers and more, there is a bounty for teachers. Their Canva For Education feature is downright amazing for educators.

During the work portion of our PD, I got the opportunity to play around with Canva's AI element "Magic Design." Using this built-in AI tool, presentations nearly write themselves, complete with content and graphics, giving you a few templates from which to choose. Beyond that, you can tweak the verbiage, the font, the images and more. I was able to create this presentation in about 15 minutes for my upper elementary graphic design elective, modifying the text with just a simple AI prompt that I typed in.

The Elements of Design: Funtography by Vicki Dabrowka

Canva has a wealth of design tutorials and tools on their site on all topics. Using Magic Design to Create a Presentation includes a detailed explanation and video on how to use Magic Design.

While Magic Design is pretty darn amazing, there's still so much more you can do using Canva and its latest supercharged elements. 

Richard Byrne from Free Technology for Teachers is one of my go-to websites for the latest in edtech. These are 3 of my many favorite posts of his regarding Canva:

• His June 26, 2023 post: How to Magically Make a Presentation in Minutes
• His December 3, 2022 post: 50 Canva Tutorials for Teachers
• His June 29, 2023 post: The Coolest Canva Use I've Seen

Two other really amazing resources I have found include the following:

• Stock Photo Secret's August 23, 2022 post by Ivanna Attié: 20 Cool Canva Projects for Kids

• Amanda Fox's book The Canva Classroom: 42 Ultimate Answers to Templates that Rocket Student Engagement (The Hitchhiker's Guide for Educators Series. I read it one afternoon recently and my gears for projects were whirring! Additionally, there are several QR codes built into the book linking to Canva templates that Amanda created. Once you scan the code, it saves a copy of the presentation/activity into your Canva projects so that you can edit and adapt it. A wealth!

Once you discover Canva, you won't be able to stay away!!

Image created at canva.com; Presentation created at Canva.com--viewable link: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFmdnTA-pE/oY481mKfVgHxWS8rVJZSUA/edit?utm_content=DAFmdnTA-pE&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

World Blue Mind Day: July 23rd

I love days that are dedicated to the environment. I sporadically write about them (you can click my "environmental days" GTG tag). There's even a whole online digital calendar of days dedicated to it at TerGo's Eco Calendar.

One day that didn't make the TerGo eco-calendar is tomorrow/July 23rd (annually)'s World Blue Mind Day. 

World Blue Mind Day....not to be confused with World Water Day--Annually March 22nd--the United Nations observance created in 1993 that raises awareness about the global water and sanitation crisis.

Likewise, not to be confused by World Ocean Day--Annually June 8th--another United Nations designated day (since 2008) which works to enlighten and engage the public and policymakers about the importance of tending our global oceans for a healthier climate.

Obviously, both of these days are important on their own eco-standing!

World Blue Mind Day was created in 2014 by Wallace J. Nichols with the publication of his book "Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do." It is one of my top 10 favorite books of all time, and I am certainly a fan of the philosophy and science and wellbeing behind the book. Likewise, I gravitate toward water and have written about #BlueMind many times.

The point and purpose of World Blue Mind Day annually is to "soak" up the physical, mental, and spirtual benefits of being in and around water. Wallace J. Nichols says it best here in this short video: 

You can find World Blue Mind Day & Wallace J. Nichol's discussion board event here on Facebook.

For a list of "100 Ways to Practice Blue Mind for Life, Wherever You Are," check out this open post on Wallace J. Nichols' Patreon page. Then, indulge in 1 or 99 of them (or somewhere in between). 

What are you going to do this World Blue Mind Day?

Image from https://www.facebook.com/events/467866881827270/?active_tab=discussion; Video from Blue Mind on the Slow Coast from Dr. Wallace J. Nichols on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/234709602

Plastic Free July

It's July. What's your plastic intake looking like?

If you are participating in the Plastic Free July movement/challenge, you numbers are looking low and impressive.

But even if you aren't, today may be a good day to try. 

12 years ago, in 2011, Rebecca Prince-Ruiz started this movement with some colleagues in her local Western Australian Government. Just like Earth Hour, which also began in Australia, this movement has grown through the years as a way to bring about awareness of not only what we use, but also the power of our purchasing dollars and our voice. Change always seems to hit the loudest when it starts hitting companies in their pocketbooks and wallets!! By using less plastic at the front end, we help eliminate it in our waste streams and landscapes. 

In 2017 Rebecca Prince-Ruiz created The Plastic Free Foundation and you can check out her Plastic Free July website.  This video shows the impact of Plastic Free July 2022.

Whether you read about it last year here on GTG, have been a long time pursuer of less plastic, or are just wanting to start today, it certainly is never to late!

Things you can do today:

• 
  Check out the Plastic Free July Website
• Check out the Action Picker Challenge (click the link for the PDF of the thumbnail pictured here).
• Visit Plastic Free July's YouTube Channel
• Take part in one of Howard County, Maryland's remaining weekly virtual sessions on July 19 and July 26 to learn tricks on how to easily eliminate plastic from your life. (Earlier sessions were held June 28, July 5, and July 12.)
• Give yourself the challenge below created by WWF .

It doesn't matter that it's the middle of July. What matters is that you start. What's your step towards a plastic free lifestyle?

Plastic Free July 2023 badge & Action Picker from https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/resources/assets/; Plastic Free WWF Challenge screenshot from https://www.hausvoneden.com/sustainability/plastic-free-july-a-month-of-action-with-daily-relevance/; Video from https://youtu.be/47QU5rkJ8C4

Record Heat Waves

Dorothy, we aren't in Kansas anymore. 

Well, actually you may be, but these days--this year--it's proving to be hotter than ever before as record heats are hitting everywhere.

About a week and a half ago, we were going through the height of the heat wave where I live. There were days that I swear it felt like the humidity was actually killing me. Well, that might be slight hyperbole. 

Last summer about this time I was indoors a lot due to recovering from knee surgery, I didn't feel the intensity of heat, nor the personal intensity of not having my backyard pool. (It had since gone to the above-ground-pool graveyard due to rust and death). This summer, it's hurting not having "my happy place."

But, news reports are telling me it wasn't just me. Though, truthfully, I'm not sure that's a good thing! 

Headlines as of late:

• CNN on July 8: "Global Heat in ‘Uncharted territory’ as Scientists Warn 2023 Could Be the Hottest Year on Record"
• Euronews on July 7th: "El Niño is Back: Surging Temperatures Bring Extreme Weather and Threaten Lives"
• Washington Post on July 10th: "A Sprawling Dome of Heat Will Engulf Most of the Southern U.S. This Week. What to Know: Live Weather Updates"
• The Guardian on July 4th: "Monday Was Hottest Day for Global Average Temperature on Record, As Climate Crisis Bites" ~ With sideline commentary being that July the 3rd was the highest global temperature EVER recorded, including record highs in Africa, China, and Antarctica.

I've seen different numbers for that last data point of the Earth's highest EVER recorded temperatures--anywhwhere from "at least 100,000 years" to hotter than anytime in 125,000 years," and certainly more than our recorded data.

Makes sense why I was feeling it! And we have a history of hot here in our recent past, according to the Climate Change Guide website:

So now what? I always go back to the idea of "hope" being a verb. With all these records listed out there, maybe NOW is the time for political leaders to listen. It's time for all of us to take action. Innovation to the rescue. What can we all do to shift the needle--both literally and figuratively?

In the meantime, if it's hot where you are: stay hydrated and keep cool in the peak heat hours in the middle of the day. If you can't where you live, find a cool place like a library or other public space. You can always check out Heat.gov for heat and health related tools and information. Additionally check out the CDC's Beat the Heat infographic.

Title image created with canvas.com, top 10 global chart image from https://www.climate-change-guide.com/hottest-years-on-record.html.

Set Your US Sights On the Northern Lights: July 12 & 13, 2023

Given a solar storm is on the horizon for Wednesday & Thursday, July 12th and 13th, the news has been buzzing about the possibility of the northern lights being visible in parts of about 17 states and Canada. According to Time Magazine's article "How You Can See the Northern Lights This Week Across the U.S," those states include those in the northern half of the United States (listed here alphabetically): Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Vermont. Depending on where you live will indicate where and when you may see them.

I decided to look it up as I only had a cursory knowledge of what this light wave show was all about. I learned that actually, this phenomenon of beauty is actually the result of a storm of energized sun particles hitting the Earth, which is mainly protected by our planetary magnet field--except at the poles. This quote from space.com's article "Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis): What They Are & How to See Them" (by Stefanie Walden and Daisy Dobrijevic) had a great tagline: 

"The northern lights are an atmospheric phenomenon that's regarded as the Holy Grail of skywatching."

This video from The Brain Stuff Show tells even more, including some mythology and also how it was named "aurora borealis" by Galileo Galilei in 1619.

According to Time Magazine's article, here's the best way to see the aurora borealis:

• 10 pm to 2 am in your local time zone.
• Find a north-facing view without a lot of skyline, homes, or tree clutter in the way. (Higher ground may help with this.) However, lights could come from any direction.
• The further you are from light pollution of city lights the better.
• Weather and clouds could block visibility.

Can't get enough? Read more by checking out these articles:

• Smithsonian Magazine's "The Northern Lights Could Dazzle the U.S. This Week"
• NPR's "The Northern Lights are Coming to Several States This Week. Here's How to See Them"
  
• CBS News' "Solar Storm on Thursday Expected to Make Northern Lights Visible in Maryland, Other States"

Title image created using canva.com; Map image from https://www.woodtv.com/weather/clouds-may-block-aurora-display-this-week-for-west-michigan/, video from https://youtu.be/eJV_wlCm6ms,

Southern Wildlife

We recently vacationed "down south." Nature is a bit different down there. It's wilder and bigger than this midwest-raised girl experienced, that's for sure. The swampland brings about its own wildlife with palms and Spanish moss and creatures all of its own. Having lived about 6 years in Tampa-area (many years ago), I first learned that there. Exotic and large birds like herons and egrets were common... as were larger turtles and alligators and snakes I wasn't used to. They all felt so prehistoric in comparison to the wildlife I was used to from my childhood.

A lot of bike riding this trip brought about a lot of opportunities to check out nature. My sightings this trip reiterated that wild and wonderful (and slightly still-startling) sense of nature included:

• Blue heron
• Hawk
• Baby gator
• Turtles
• Armadillo
• Sand dollars ("feet-plucked" from the sand while in the ocean)
• Pelicans & other seabirds fishing in the ocean (another thing you don't find in Middle America)

It was a good reminder of how important it is to travel and see new things. Even just a handful of states away, the wildlife is different. The culture is different. The tastes of local food, the customs, and vernacular and more.... Wandering around and getting lost was a great way to soak it all in, and unplug along the way. Opening your eyes and mind to new experiences should always be welcome!

Image created using PicEdu with my own photos.

Mixed Messages

We've recently returned from a US beach vacation at a popular beach destination. It definitely got my #BlueMind on with time hearing the waves hit the shore, frolicking in the water while the tides coming in, and also having relaxing pool time when I wanted a lower key, less sandy, close to "home" place to hang out.

We stayed in a condo situation, so we would walk to the local grocery store to get some provisions to have some meals at home. Given that, we produced trash and recycling.  

It was here I started to noticed the mixed messages in the community:

There was no recycling. And sadly, the bulk of our waste was plastic. Yet we had one option--the trash chute. 

How is this possible in a community where all of this is in place:

• Environmental tourism was definitely key with the beach, kayaking, boating, biking, and other outdoor adventures.

• Everywhere we went, there were notifications about being aware of nesting sea turtles--encouraging beach patrons to turn off lights at night, using red-light flashlights so as not to confuse the turtles, not disturbing any nests that are found, and filling holes on the beach for safe passage.

• The clerk at the grocery store, as she was packing our items in a paper bag, said that they hadn't used plastic bags in this county for approx 5 years.

• Several of the restaurants we went to had either no straws or paper straws. One of the cafes we went to had in their menu that they were plastic-straw-free since 2016.

• Beach messaging was highly dedicated to leaving no trace behind.

I don't understand how there can still be such mixed messages here in 2023 in a community that is seemingly so eco-friendly. Yes, perhaps it is on the establishment where we stayed that there was no recycling. But, there also a lot of plastic cup consumption at the beach bars we visited. Again, glass at the beach (along with the potential of inebriated patrons) don't mix. But yet, that's also a lot of plastic waste. Were they recycling? That I don't know.

Sadly, it's the world in which we live in. Add in, we are completely greenwashed in that recycling will solve the problem. Yet according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), globally, only 9% of plastic is recycled--which is better than the 4% of plastics that are recycled in the U.S. In the US, 73% of plastics land in the landfill. 

How are we still here in 2023. 

I have no answers, other than in part it starts in the stores and with production, and certainly ends in consumption (which has "quadrupled in the last 30 years"). That, and of course, the idea that we can--and should--do better!

Innovators! We need you to solve our problems! What can we do to have fewer mixed messages--not only the beach, but everywhere!

Image created at Canva.com

11 Outdoor Adventures to Have This 4th of July Weekend

July 4th weekend is here! Trying to figure out what to do? Here are 11 ideas on some outdoor adventures (because 11 is the perfect number mathematically, given the holiday's date: 7/4....7 + 4 = 11!) 

Who's to say you need to do just one?! Whatever you do, have a fun one and see if you can get outdoors!

For 39 more ideas on how to spend the weekend, check out Erin Cavoto's article "50 Fun Things to Do on July 4th to Keep the Whole Family Entertained" from The Pioneer Woman's website which inspired today's post and imagry!

Image created from Canva.com.

Labyrinth Locator

I was reading "Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto" by Tricia Hersey, and among the many poignangt lines in the book, this one particularly struck me: 

It reminded me of a chapter in Annabel Streets' book "52 Ways To Walk" where she discusses getting lost...in a maze. Labyrinths to be specific. Actually, mazes and labyrinths are different, in that mazes have multiple paths that branch off, while a labyrinth is a continual path that leads to center. The purpose, while whenturies old, is to provide the purpose of contemplation, rest, and relaxation. A literal "walking to nowhere" and "somewhere" simultaneously.

As with everything these days, you can find a nearby labyrinth online. Go toLabyrinth Locator, and you have a portal for labyrinths worldwide. A simple search tool lets you hone in on where you are and how far you'd like to travel, and it will show you where the nearest one is in your radius.

Makes me want to locate one and transport there, then wander until I get lost.  Until then....I'll just have to go on walkabout and get lost where I am.

Quote image created at Canva.com; screenshot from https://labyrinthlocator.com/home

Microplastics are Everywhere.

What did you do the last hour? I went to the neighborhood coffee shop to grab a hot green tea and have some quiet time while waiting to go set up for a summer PD class I am teaching some school colleagues. Apparently I also inhaled 16.2 bits of micro plastics. Add that up, that amounts to an inhaled ingestion of microplastics per week, which is equivalent to the amount of plastic in a credit card. Yikes!

Sadly, it's not news (or shouldn't be) that we consume microplastics in our food. Plastic is everywhere. Fish consume plastic from marine debris in the seas. Unfortunately too, plastic can sometimes find its way into farm animals' feed. And, it has also been found in fruits and vegetables.  Those of us who eat (aka: all of us) end up eating whatever it was that they ate.  

Microplastics are classified as any plastic material that is less than 5 millimeters long. They can be produced intentionally (like glitter) or be by-products of degraded plastic.

I learned about this new way of taking in microplastics first by seeing this Instagram post from Plastic Pollution Coalition. From there I found the following article on IFLScience's UK-based website and written by Maddy Chapman: "We Inhale A Credit Card's Worth Of Plastic Each Week - Where Does It All Go?" (June 19, 2023). They referenced the Physics of Fluids study about inhalation of microplastics. The particles, once inhaled, larger were found in the upper airways, including the nasal cavity and the back of the throat. Over the course of a week, this amount totals to being about a credit card sized quantity. 

Thinking it through, not to be gross but that's a lot of icky plastic boogies and phlegm on top of ingested microplastics via food. (And yes, there are studies that indicates microplastics found in human waste and even human blood and breast milk.) Thinking all of THAT through, it certainly has the potential for major health concern over time. Even the thought of 52 credit cards stacked on the table to indicate a year, feels frightening when you consider that all ends up in your system--and all on the microbits of plastic that we eat by way of food consumptions! This definitely indicates we need to take a serious look globally at our plastic production and consumption to address the issue at hand.

Credit card being inhaled image created using the AI text to Image element at Adobe Firefly https://firefly.adobe.com/generate/images?prompt=a+person+inhaling+a+credit+card&style=photo&seed=97454&seed=9162&seed=47619&seed=31438&aspectRatio=square&locale=en-us, Plastic Pollution Coalition Instagram post https://www.instagram.com/plasticpollutes/?hl=en

Summer Solstice 2023

According to Space.com summer officially began today at 10:57 am, EST. (And you thought it was just all day June 21st!) The reason there is an actual, specific time is because it the exact time that the sun is directly overhead 23.5° North Latitude (the Tropic of Cancer). It is for this reason that the first day of summer is the longest day of the year, summer solstice, and the official "first day of summer" and the next season here in the Northern Hemisphere. (This, of course, makes it the beginning of winter in the Southern Hemisphere, and the first day of winter.)

What were you doing at 10:57 am EST?

Here, I was in the middle of a professional development class. (Yes, the first week of out of school and beginning of summer vacation). It's a dreary, kind of cool, rainy day and it feels pretty far from being your idyllic sunny, first day of summer. Based on both parts, I have yet to feel like it's actually summer yet... but we needed the rain.

Where I'm at, we scored a 5:38 am sunrise and a 8:37 pm sunset, making our longest day of the year 14 hours, 58 minutes. Not too shabby. Although, it does counter my initial instinct of "Oh no! Now the days are getting shorter! The end is near!😱" I need to kick in the inner conversation: No, no it's not. Just breathe, dear. We have 6 entire months of days getting shorter to get us to winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, and December 21st. We have more than just a little time!

To find out just how many daylight hours you have (both here today and every day between now and winter solstice), check out the Farmer's Almanac Sunrise-Sunset Calculator. About as easy as it gets, all you need to do is put in your location and choose your date. Case in point, I'll only have about 10.5 hours of sunlight on my next birthday. Better soak up the sun now while I can!

Images from https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/ and https://www.rochesterfirst.com/weather/weather-blog/the-summer-solstice-means-youre-going-to-have-a-long-day-tomorrow/ (though not in Rochester, the concept is the same)

Happy Father's Day Weekend!

I ran across this and it really spoke to me for Father's Day. Thank you Josh Clark for this 2016 tweet!

May all the meaningful men, fathers, grandpas, uncles, and father's figures in your life be treated like family champions today!

photo screenshot from https://twitter.com/joshclarkis/status/744656537679888385

Father's Day Nature Cards

Father's Day is less than a week away. Are you planned and ready for how to make the father or father-figure in your life feel special?

If not, there's still time to prepare and make a homemade, heartfelt, and nature-themed card. Check out this video created by Mother Natured, then get outside and get your materials (and your puns) and start creating!

(And, there's a companion video for Mother's Day, if you are into planning ahead for next year! 😉)

Video from https://youtu.be/9lM_4A7uLS8 

End of the School Year Reflection

This week marks the end of my school year. I think if I'm counting correctly, it's the end of my 31st year of teaching. I suppose that makes me a well-established veteran teacher. But the funny thing about teaching is that the more you know, the more you realize you don't know. Not to mention, there's always something new in terms of trends (including those from the last few years with remote, hybrid, and pandemic teaching), and kids evolve and change. Kids I'm teaching now in this post-Smartphone & AI-era are much different than those in my first year of teaching in the early 1990s. 

This year I'm tired here at the end of the year. Yes, the end of the school year necessities are always exhausting with report card writing, packing up or tidying up classrooms, post-planning meetings, end of the year extras, and more. But this year feels more exhausting. Again, the past few years have definitely taken their toll as we've crawled to the end of the Covid years. Makes me wonder if we all are still living a little bit in that aftermath still, slightly traumatized. 

But this year too for me has been full of extra challenges. Over the last 11 months I've had two significant knee surgeries, one on each of my knees. Rehabilitating them and experiencing my first FMLA leave a new experience, one that was physically and mentally taxing (prepping sub plans for 6 weeks is never easy). On top of that, we have had 4 deaths in the family over the last 5 months, one of them within the last month, overlapping the end of the school year demands. I had a partner-colleague leave midyear which impacted the nature of my job (and my location within the school building, which means packing up my space), and we've been training his replacement--all of which will be good, but of course it takes time. And then there's the part of me which is the mom, wife, daughter, in-law, sister, friend ... all of which has its own separate demands too.

Maybe it should be of no surprise that I'm tired!!! It's been a year!

I think that this what happens to all of us. Every year has its typical rhythms and cadences, but every year is always so different by its own specific details, impacts, events, surprises, and anniversaries. Every year, your students/your classes are different, each with their own needs and challenges, making no class ever the same. Thinking about that, it strikes me that I've probably been 31 different teachers in my 31 years of teaching--perhaps even more considering summer positions and camps along the way. 

Teachers get some grief about being off for 3 months of the summer. In my personal experience, the days of "3 month-summers" have dwindled to just barely two. The demands on teachers and their plates over the years have also grown significantly. In some ways, it seems teachers are expected to be superhuman with a slew of added responsibilities. This poster kind of sums it up: 

So if you know a teacher, go gentle on them at this time of year. They may be hanging on by a thread.

And if you are a teacher, go gentle on yourself. Your summer has come (or is coming soon). Take time for you. Rest and catch up with yourself, so you can be right and ready and rejuvenated this fall. You've earned it! 

Images from https://www.svgheart.com/product/schools-out-for-summer-end-of-school-sayings-svg-file/, https://educationtothecore.com/2022/05/22-relatable-end-of-the-year-teacher-memes/,  https://i.pinimg.com/736x/82/43/2c/82432c3a8e3b501dc5a87b0fd8e2c346.jpg and https://www.weareteachers.com/wp-content/uploads/Feature-Image.jpg

All Roads Still Leading To AI

It really does seem like everywhere I turn here, even at the end of the school year, that all roads lead to AI (that's "Artificial Intelligence" to anyone who may be living under a rock). 

I'm taking a one-day workshop this summer on the subject, and it seems like every other email I get to my school email address is inviting me to attend another. The offerings are growing like gangbusters, fast and furious--as are the AI websites (for teaching, in particular).After reading The AI Classroom: The Ultimate Guide to Artificial Intelligence in Education (The Hitchhiker's Guide for Educators Series), and perusing the Facebook feed of the The AI Classroom group, it's definitely clear that part of my summer (when the R&R is well underway and I start getting back in the groove of reading for professional development again) that I need to spend some time investigating the growing number of sites out there dedicated to AI.

This post in particular from The AI Classroom Facebook Group has led me on my latest detective investigatons. This graphic by Dan Fitzpatrick (one of the Admin of The AI Classroom FB page and also one of the authors of the book) is fascinating. 

Here are the links to these websites for you to start your own investigation. I have a feeling this is a "to be continued" kind of conversation in the months/year ahead!

Teachable Machine

GrobotsAI

Packback

Teaching AIssistant (notice that extra 'I'...it's important!)

WowTo

And, while running across the websites for those 5, I ran across this article from Ditch That Textbook: "30 AI Tools for the Classroom." Then I got a link for this teacher resource from Richard Byrne in his Practical EdTech eNewsletter I get weekly.

Yes, this is definitely going to be an ongoing conversation!!!!

Photos screenshots from administrator and author Dan Fitzpatrick's post in The AI Classroom Facebook Group, a public group anyone can join.

June 5: World Environment Day

It's not an advertised fact that June 5th annually is World Environment Day. This truly is unfortunate give that it has been around now as a designated UN General Assembly global day since 1972. 51 years since it was established, and this year marks the 50th anniversary of the first celebration in 1973 where the slogan was "Only One Earth."

50 years later, there is STILL only one Earth, and yet it faces a lot of hardships in many ways, but particularly from and environmental standpoint.

This year, World Environment Day is hosted by Côte d'Ivoire in partnership with the Netherlands. The theme: "Solutions to Plastic Pollution." You can follow the social media hashtags at #BeatPlasticPollution. You can learn more about the necessary and nefarious effects of plastic by watching this video below, as well as watching and reading the United Nations Environmental Programme's visual feature here. Big takeaway: globally we produce about 400 MILLION tons of plastic pollution a year!

For resources to learn even more, check out the following:

• Get Involved: Get Solutions (3 more interesting videos [on local governments, business & finance, and people & communities] and a wealth of other info in their Practical Guide.

• Read the UNEP Report on how we can reduce plastic pollution by 80% by 2040 & watch the video here at "Turning Off the Tap: How the World Can End Plastic Pollution and Create a Circular Economy

• Learn more about Côte d'Ivoire hosting this year (and watch another fabulous video) at this link.

World Environmental Day Logo from https://socenv.org.uk/theme-announced-world-environment-day-2023/, Video from https://youtu.be/-wp99xFa76U

2023 Graduation Season

I've been feeling a little contemplative and reflective lately. I think the end of the school year has you doing that, much in the same way a funeral does the same. Hence the need for graduation speeches and eulogies for both of those events. Wise words to transition to the next step along the way.

If done well, a good eulogy and a good graduation speech stick with you for a long time.

Given that, when I ran across a few articles about graduation speeches from this year, it really struck me that these are all good words to live by. Some are wise. Some reverent. Some irreverent, but equally wise! 

May they serve as inspiration!

The Guardian's Michael Cantor's article: " 'To the Class of 2023, I Say Three Words: You Poor Bastards’: The Year’s Best Graduation Speeches ~Included here are excerpts and video from the following:

• Patton Oswalt ~ actor & comedian, at William & Mary
• Isabel Wilkerson ~ journalist & author, at Occidental College
• Raphael Warnock ~ Georgia senator, at Bard College
• Tom Hanks ~ actor, at Harvard University
• Karine Jean-Pierre ~ White House press secretary, at Rice University
• Sanna Marin ~ Finnish prime minister, at New York University
• Nikole Hannah-Jones ~ journalist & author, at Spelman College
• Oprah Winfrey ~ talkshow host, actor & producer, at Tennessee State University
• Lester Holt ~ journalist, at Villanova University
• Mae Jemison ~ astronaut, at University of Delaware

GatesNotes: The Blog of Bill Gates: 5 Things I Wish I Heard at the Graduation I Never Had

Image created at www.canva.com

Have a Meaningful Memorial Day

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start to summer. For many, sumer is the time when they really get out and explore nature. With the thrill of summer ahead (especially for teachers and students who are wrapping up their school year), summer is like the promised land.

But, rather than lumping this weekend right in with summer, I hope you find time this long weekend to honor, remember, and celebrate those who have fought for our country.

Image created at Canva.com

ABCs of Artificial Intelligence

Earlier this month I posted that I was reading "The AI Classroom: The Ultimate Guide to Artificial Intelligence in Education" by Daniel Fitzpatrick, Amanda Fox, and Brad Weinstein. Since writing that, I have finished the book and it has given me both a lot of AI websites to investigate, and a lot of food for thought.

One of the things I have been thinking a lot about, especially when talking with people who are still very new to the concept of AI (and often times bringing the mega fear factor of "why would we open this Pandora's box?!"), is the fact that we have actually had artificial intelligence swirling about quite a bit over the last decade. Many times in subtle ways, but also in a great number of ways we haven't even considered as algorithms give us that "thing" we just so happen to be thinking about or discussing.

Given that, what has begun swirling about in my mind is an ABC list of AI, to show that while yes, it is a very powerful and growing phenomenon, it's been here for awhile!

Alexa and autocorrect

Big data and built-in bias (based on the models AI can be fed)

ChatGPT & other Chatbots

Deep fakes (where a video has been altered digitally and is believable with the intention to spread misinformation)

Email & document programs predicting your sentences you are about to type.

Facial detection & recognition 

Google search advertisements (based on your previous searches)

Healthcare-related AI virtual assistants which buy nurses and pharmaceutical companies (and those of us who use them) back time and money.

Instagram, Facebook, social media, & search algorithms

Jobs: machine learning engineers, data scientists, and natural language processing (NLP) engineers

Kitchens with voice activated lights, coffee pots, and reverse-engineered image to recipe generation

Language learning chatbots

Maps & navigation (it's more than just GPS)

Netflix's viewing suggestions

Opening your phone with Face ID 

Predictive text

Quantitative data processing in financial institutions which can apply automation and anti-fraud systems

Robotics like Roomba vacuums and more

Siri, "smart" home devices, and self-driving cars and other autonomous vehicles

Text-to-Image, Text-to-Audio, Text-to-Code, and more

Universe: Taking us beyond this planet to outer space. The Mars Rover is a great example.

Voice generators and voice-to-text technology

Wetware, or cybersecurity slang for the human element of IT (versus "hardware" or software")--human error accounts for most of the problems in tech data breeches

X, Y, & Z....These got hard. For them, go to Joe the IT Guy & his A-Z list!

Image from https://www.amazon.com/Classroom-Artificial-Intelligence-Education-Hitchhikers/dp/1959419110/ref=sr_1_1? and https://innovationorigins.com/en/hey-siri-please-stop-using-your-artificial-intelligence-for-a-moment-our-weekly-recap/

World Bee Day: May 20th

Since 2017, the United Nations has commemorated May 20th as World Bee Day to draw attention to bees (and other pollinators) to showcase how vitally important they are to our food system. The date was chosen to commemorate Anton Janša, a beekeeper and bee expert from Slovenia (born in 1734).

This year's theme is "Engaging in Pollinator-Friendly Agricultural Production" to heighten awareness how valuable pollinators are to flowering plants--many of which are major food items in our groceries such as fruits and vegetables, and even nuts and seeds. A healthy bee population indicates strong biodiversity, which is important in many ways to our planet's ecosystems....not to mention our human health!

In fact, it is estimated that about 75% to 95% of our Earth's flowering plants need help with pollinations. Yes, bees and butterflies too, but also moths, flies, beetles, wasps, bats, and small mammals can help with this task of moving pollen from one plant to another. Potentially this accounts from anywhere from "1.2 and 5.4 billion dollars in agricultural productivity in the United States." 

"Without bees to pollinate crops, yields on about 35% of agricultural land worldwide would suffer, and 87 of the world's leading food crops would be affected."

To further highlight the importance of bees and Unesco's Women for Bees organization, program godmother Angelina Jolie was in a March 2021 photoshoot of National Geographics photographer Dan Winter's to bring attention to the importance of bees. No surprise, it has resurged this year in honor of World Bee Day.

To learn more, check out...

• The United Nations' World Bee Day homepage
• Protecting Bee's website's 25 Facts About American Wild Bees
  
• The International Federation of Beekeepers' Association
• Apimondia’s Trees for Bees Campaign
  
• For a list of pollinator dependent foods, go to Pollinator Partnership's list of over 30 foods.
• Unesco's Women for Bees website 

Image from https://www.apimondia.org/world-bee-day.html, https://www.un.org/en/observances/bee-day, video from https://youtu.be/5d5BYpyq79c

One Green Thing: Top Take Aways from the Book

Earlier this year I wrote a post all about the seven service superpowers from One Green Thing--Heather White's book and website. Created to help combat eco-anxiety, Heather uses this assessment tool to help focus people to their strengths and point them in the direction of inspired activism.

Earlier this winter I read her book. It was excellent. Not only does it talk about eco-anxiety, what it is and how to cope with it, but it gives some very actionable ideas, all centered around the 7 "service superpowers." [To learn more about that, check out my post on that subject.]

While my highlights were many, here were the elements I found most striking and serve as my top 6 thematic takeaways (and reasons why you should read her book for more information).

The Bad News First. 

But don't worry, as there is a lot of good news too.

Eco Anxiety Is on the Rise

One thing Heather quoted was "The Eco-Anxiety Trifecta" which she said is comprised of "anxiety, loneliness, and environmental stress" (p.145 from Heather White's book, One Green Thing: Discover Your Hidden Power to Save the Planet). [All quotes from this book will be tied to parenthetical page numbers.] She's largely talking about Generation Z (aka: anyone born after 1997) With generalized anxiety, suicide, and depression on the rise since 2011--along with increased screen time and then a pandemic--anxiety and loneliness go hand and hand. (paraphrased from p. 145). Since 2018, the United Kingdom has had a "Minister for Loneliness" (and other countries like Japan are beginning to follow suit). Layer in the fact that people and news outlets are finally now talking about the climate crisis (whereas for years it was a largely absent news topic), it has given our Gen Z'ers a lot of concern about what we adults have left them. 

Striking Statistics

These statistics startled me.

• "Only 8% of plastics are recycled." (page 6)
• "A study commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund found that we eat about a credit - card size worth of plastic each week." (p. 196) 
• "Most families throw out 3 kg [6.6 pounds] of otherwise edible food a week." (p. 267) This then leads to the following two statistics: 
• "Food waste generates 8% of global carbon emissions." (p. 181)
• “If food waste were a country, it would be the world’s third-largest emitter of CO2, after China and the United States. ” (p.181)
• "The fashion industry contributes 10% of global carbon emissions." (I)

All of this leads me to think (after a decade of writing this blog): How is this possible? Shouldn't the numbers be so much different after so many years? Shouldn't we be doing better? As with politics, I'm finding we aren't always as quick to learn or move in a forward direction as I think we should. Some of this is due to greenwashing. We feel like we are doing a great job because we are "recycling," but recycling is a complicated system, and many of our infrastructures can't handle it all...leaving us to believe we are nobly doing the right thing for our environment, but then things start falling through the cracks.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity keeps our planet healthy. Unfortunately, as animal species diminish, we start creating a less diverse plant and animal system, which sadly then can create major issues. This is called "zoonosis" where habitat distruction and overcrowding leads all more susceptible to disease. Insert pandemic outbreaks here. (Paraphrased from p. 220-221.) Because of this, we need to work to protect our threatened, vulnerable, and endangered plants and animals from higher levels of endangerment and extinction.

Climate Justice
Social justice is tied to environmental justice. The climate crisis leads to greater incidents of extreme weather like drought, wildfires, hurricanes, as well as water pollution. This then can impact more and more people. "Malaria, diarrhea, malnutrition  and heat stress will be the biggest causes of death." (p. 135) Sadly, the biggest countries for polluting wind up heavily impacting other smaller more vulnerable countries. So wealthier countries like the US who are creating some of the bigger problems are gifting these other countries a pretty crummy gift.

Additionally, within our own country, it tends to be the black, indigenous, people of color who are living in poorer areas, near harmful factories spewing off waste and polluting the air. They are further from the green spaces, making the areas concrete, heat jungles more so than white neighborhoods, so overall health is worse, and as a population, they are more vulnerable. Equity and climate change and justice go hand in hand. (Paraphrased from p. 158)

The Good News, As Promised!

The "Brené Brown of Environmentalism"
The Foreword of One Green Thing was written by Erin Brockovich. Might have heard of her. She called Heather "the Brené Brown of the environmental movement because she makes environmental action personal, doable, and joyful" [Forward, page x] It is through the collective action of small steps which grow upon each other that momentum is created. Fun and easy repeatable habits become rituals, making it more likely for you to keep doing it. The more you do it, the more you inspire others to do it. These are the basic tenets of Heather White's philosophy. (Paraphrased from page 6-10.)

With each of the 7 superpowers in the book, she dedicates a chapter to each. She also gives concrete coping methods to help you decompress (in ways that are ideal for each "superpower"), while also giving you ideas on how to be energized to work for our planet. She also invites laughter, joy, community, creativity, and humor. Even if it is laughing at yourself, it opens up for a release and helps you embrace both the positive gains and helps make the difficult times more manageable. (Paraphrased from p. 148.) I know I for one had lost a little bit of the joie de vivre with the monotony of the pandemic. We need to remind ourself that we all feel better with a little bit of laughter. Yes, things can be difficult and overwhelming and serious... but life was meant to be lived, and that includes laughing and lighthearted approaches too. Especially if it helps us maintain our motivation and our momentum!

The Benefits of Being Outside

When we get outside and connect to nature, it provides a lot of benefits. It addresses our stress, slows our breathing, and can increase our general sense of health and wellness. Even just 5 minutes of time outdoors can lower our blood pressure. It's all about balance--we live live indoors and online and 24-7 connected. Our physical, mental, and emotional health need a break. We are made to spend time outdoors--walking, observing, and taking part in nature. More schools are connecting educational programs with environmental and outdoor education. (Yay! Maryland was listed, alongside with Oregon & California, as being leaders!) This in turn helps students strengthen their critical thinking skills. (Paraphrased from page 225.) In order to create generations of kids who care about nature, we need to get them out there and show them what it is like to be an environmental steward.

Small Steps Make a Big Difference & Final Thoughts

Some of us get stopped (by our own selves) when we feel we can't "do it all" or make a huge difference or do it perfectly. We may fall into the rut of a "what's the point" mentality. But the collective, small green things all add up. Take for instance this statistic: "Close to 70% of Americans are experimenting with more plant-based protein." (p. 180) This is powerful when you look at the following fact: "the ten most climate-damaging foods, in order from most to least harmful based on emissions required to produce them, are beef, lamb, butter, shellfish, cheese, asparagus, pork, veal, chicken, and turkey." (p. 180) Any flexitarian approach to reducing your meat intake helps the planet. Do you need to go all out vegan or vegetarian? No! Every little thing helps. Taking on small green actionable things feels wholeheartedly doable. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. In between counts.

This book is full of the many ways you can take small steps to make a difference. I love that it's geared to fit your personality through these 7 superpowers, meaning you can more easily be guided to what feels natural. Just think of the collective difference we all could make if we did just one green thing!

Book image from https://www.amazon.com/One-Green-Thing-Discover-Hidden-ebook/dp/B09D7J665V, screenshot of 7 superpowers from https://www.onegreenthing.org/profilesoverview, Van Gogh quote from https://cmpdigitalupdate.com/-Quote--71--Thought-Provoking-Tuesday, eco-anxiety image from https://climate-creativity.com/blog/eco-anxiety-article/, biodiversity image from https://www.safeworldhse.com/2020/04/biodiversity-types-importance-loss-conservation.html