Baby Owl to the Math Rescue

Data comes in handy so easily for creating real-world math in the classroom.  When you can combine it with literature, it becomes like virtual nirvana for a teacher.  

This past week I read one of the many books by my favorite environmental writers, Jennifer Keats Curtis. With Eagle Cove School's annual Earth Week, we are fortunate enough to have had her visit with us every year for the last 5-6 years to share writing tips along with her eco-reads... and I have written about Jennifer Keats Curtis before.

The read this last week with my 3rd graders was Baby Owl Rescue.  This story details the importance of  how to take care of an owlet who has fallen from his nest.  (Note to self--bring in the expert such as an animal rehabilitator so the animal gets the proper treatment it needs.)

With the help of the Sylvan Dell website and 38 pages of lesson plans, a great math lesson on adding three multi-digit numbers landed in my lap...and delighted my 3rd graders.  With information from the Great Backyard Bird Count, one of the Sylvan Dell pages included the data per-state and Canadian territories for Great Horned Owls (the same owl friend as in Baby Owl Rescue).  Here is a sample of what my troops were able to do in math to not only build their computational skills, but also to strengthen their environmental awareness simultaneously.

For more ideas and insights on how to use this remarkable book in your classroom, check out the following resources:

• TeachingBooks.Net
• Sylvan Dell's Baby Owl Rescue page
• The Great Backyard Bird Count (Educator and Kid info pages are among the resources--in addition to more real-world mathematical data)
• Jennifer Keats Curtis' Webpage

Baby Owl Rescue pic from http://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=18213; Math sheet from my camera.

Doing the Math in the Aftermath: What 16 Days of Shutdown Cost the National Park System

GTG over here is not a political forum, per se (other than the "go take care of your planet, & stop using evil Styrofoam for goodness sake" mission). However, with the 16-day government shutdown, and it ending in the literal 11th hour before the US loans were destined to default, a lot of life is political these days. (How can it not when tactics are used that are akin to negotiating with two-year-olds and terrorists...but I digress.)

The infographic below is telling. It tells the tale of what 16 days did for the National Park Service. I had heard radio stories about people who had weddings long-scheduled at some of these National Parks, only to be hijacked by the Congressional powers-that-be. Park Rangers, who are far removed from the Metropolitan DC area, were furloughed because they are "governmental employees." Hard hit too were local businesses that rely on their nearby parks to bring in their profits.

Striking and startling stats: 20,000 Park Service employees were out of work as the 401 U.S. National Parks closed down. Ouch! Check out more facts below, or see the full-sized version over at Huffington Post. At school, I just wrapped up a Place Value unit with my 3rd graders, and because of that I am especially struck: I know just how strongly these harsh numbers would have hit my 8 & 9 year olds!! So many comments are bubbling up with me, but I'm going to leave the rant behind, and let these numbers speak for themselves. They speak loudly--yes, they do; especially, when you do the math.

Infographic from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/16/national-parks-shutdown-_n_4108887.html

Shutdown signage pic from http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/10/01/study-1996-government-shutdown-would-cost-more-than-2-billion-today/

Water-Cycling Through a Rainy Weekend

When you have about 2 weeks of glorious, sunshiny weather (weekends included), you know it's just not going to last forever.  The other shoe is bound to fall.  Well, scratch the shoe, and make that raindrops.  Raindrops are a-falling on all our heads over here for about 4 days now. Our preacher today at church said, "For those of you out there praying for rain, you might just want to lighten up on that prayer just a little bit for the rest of us."  It's true!

I've always been one to see a good old fashioned rainy day as a bit of a gift--an opportunity to slow down, give yourself a break, take a nap, and be one-with-the-couch with a good movie.  But after multiple indoor recess days (ask any teacher--these are the bane of our existence), sogginess beyond belief, and it's still a-comin' down, there comes a time when it's a bit much.

So upon pondering the "what's coming down," it reminded me that it eventually makes it all back up.  The water cycle is continuous and crazy like that.  Given that, it felt like a good day for an H2O review-o!

Of course, no one can do it like everyone's favorite comedic scientist can--Bill Nye the Science Guy:




For those of you who are master musicians and have an affinity for a li'l rainy day rap, this one might be for you.  (You can find a version of it with lyrics printed at this link.)




And lastly, here's a shorty from NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center which would serve as a good place for students to try out their vocabulary while discussing the visual water paths on screen.




Here are some great sites for lesson plans to further your examination of the water cycle.  Might make for a great rainy day activity!

• The Water Project
• NeoK12 Water Cycle Resources
• From Learning To Give:  Where Does the Water Cycle Come From?
• An online collection of Water Sources from Manatee District Schools in Florida
• Scholastic's Study Jams
• US EPA's "Thirstin's Water Cycle

Pic from http://blog.moscreative.com/2011/08/25/thawed-out-thursday-top-3-things-to-do-on-a-rainy-day/

Bill Nye the Science Guy video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPJYPo2qhOM

Water Cycle Rap:  http://youtu.be/F9Yi4dAzHsc  (Do note--upon watching this new find, I noticed that the word "Precipitation" is misspelled on one slide.)

Annie Leonard Does it Again: The Story of Solutions

Annie Leonard has been a long time favorite over here at GTG.  She had me at "The Story of Stuff," and kept me with her many other animated shorts speaking out on other "stuff."  She's covered a lot of ground in the last 6+ years.

Her latest:  The Story of Solutions.  A look at "game changing" solutions, making a move away from "more" to "better."  (The timing of its release I find interesting given the situation of our ever-so-effective governmental shut-down!!)  Once again, she nails it.



Check out "The Story of Stuff" website for resources & information, to read her blog or take action, and of course to learn more about all her 8 past projects & movies

To see more on my thoughts on the rock star I think Annie is, be sure to look into the GTG Archives:

• Ode to Annie Leonard   (3/15/2010)
• When David de Rothschild Meets Annie Leonard   (3/22/2010)
• Story of Stuff   (7/7/2010)
• Scary Stuff & Powerful Percentages   (7/10/2010)
• The Story of ...My Garage!  (11/14/2010)
• Black Friday Burnout   (11/27/2010)
• Another Successful Story of Stuff: The Story of Broke   (11/17/2011)
• Meditating on the Materials Economy:  AKA, Studying "The Story of Stuff"  (1/4/2012)
• Annie Leonard's "Story of Change"   (7/20/2012)

Video from https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cpkRvc-sOKk

Senator Simonaire's 2nd Annual Chesapeake Summit

Random Thursday evenings can bring you a myriad of things.  Given they are the night of Sept. 26, 2013 and you are in Pasadena, Maryland at Chesapeake Bay Middle School, what it'll bring you is the 2nd Annual Chesapeake Summit hosted by Maryland Senator Bryan Simonaire and his daughter Meagan Simonaire.  Inquiring minds might want to know what exactly it is that this brings.  Well, it brings together Senator Simonaire, the local community, several students from 11 area schools, and Dr. Donald "Mutt" Merritt on the subject of The Chesapeake Bay and the Oyster Restoration Program.

The 1+ hour program featured "Mutt" Merritt speaking on Horn Point Oyster Hatchery and the "true partnership between all concerned parties that led to the hatchery...and  the 3 factors that have taken our Chesapeake Bay oyster population (wonderful filters that they are) down, leading to the "demise of an inexhaustible resource:"

• Over-harvesting
• Habitat destruction
• Disease
• (and the lesser noted one:)  Misplaced priorities

He also spoke of the environmental, economical, and social importance of oysters--how they are the Chesapeake's equivalent to a coral reef, bringing together habitat and biodiversity, not just for oysters, but for many other marine species.  Add in the historic value of oysters on both Maryland and Virginia's past, and the oysters ability to clean & filter the water of sediment, nutrients, and overall-improve the water quality of the bay and its tributaries...we need these li'l oyster guys to flourish!  Especially since humans have led to their demise.

So insert the kids and the Senator here.

The Chesapeake Summit was started to stress that point that we "always need to be doing better."  Who else to do that and show case that than children?  Senator Simonaire paid tribute to 21 individual students from 10 area schools, and the whole student body of Eagle Cove School for their work to not only help the Chesapeake Bay, but also in areas of conservation, recycling, and environmental education as brought about by the students themselves.  Students from preschool age to high school age were honored for their eco-achievements.  A lot of good things are going on in Anne Arundel County Maryland for the environment and Chesapeake Bay area!!

Eagle Cove School was commended as a whole school for the entire student body participating for many years now in the Marylanders Grow Oysters Program. This year, 60 bags, at about 40 pounds each, were delivered to the water to await pick up by Marylanders as Eagle Cove School served as a drop off point for later pick up by community members.  Children as young as 3 and as old as 5th grade served as that 2,400 pound total transportation system.  Senator Simonaire had citations ready for every Eagle Cove student (in addition to the other 21 students honored), and presented them to the 7 ECS children who were able to attend the ceremony with their parents.

In a world where the nightly news brings along enough bad news per night to fill up your week, it was nice to be surrounded by "the good stuff" for once, seeing these young kids from all these school, doing so many great things for our planet!!

To see pictures of the event over at Senator Simonaire's website, be sure to click here.

To see highlights of Eagle Cove School's Oyster Day last year, click here.

All pictures here taken from my camera the night of the event 

or from the ECS citations awarded by Senator Simonaire.

If You're in the Neighborhood of Cambridge Maryland...

...on Saturday, October 5th from 1-5, this might be just the event for you!

If you're in the neighborhood, come celebrate the Chesapeake Bay and their oyster restoration program at the Bill Burton Fishing Pier.  Bill Burton was known for his outdoor reporting for many-a-year for the Baltimore Sun, and honored & memorialized with a named fishing pier in 2010.  His words say it best in a video I've shared before, but well worth sharing here again!

To read more about Bill Burton from the GTG archives, check out:

A Reel Expert Can Tackle Anything (7-24-2010)

Teach A Kid To Fish And He/She Will Have A Passion For A Lifetime (10-4-2010)

Video from http://youtu.be/dTxOldtb4AE.

R.O.L.E. MODEL

At the mention of the word "role model," what comes to mind.  Perhaps you see religious figures like Mother Theresa or the Pope.  Maybe celebrities, athletes, or world leaders come to mind.  Or perhaps people closer to home enter your brain:  moms, dads, teachers, preachers, grandparents, family friends, coaches, or youth group leaders.  Here's what Dictionary.com's app had to say--which shows it can be just about anybody:

It was along those lines that Eagle Cove School's "R.O.L.E. Model" program was created this summer by our science teacher and a professor friend of his.  Why?  To tie together Eagle Cove's commitment to environmental stewardship with community citizenship. (Not to mention, tying with basic tenets in our school promise, song, and mission statement.)  This year, we are actively looking for and celebrating student role models at school.  "R.O.L.E" stands for "Respect for Others, all Living things, and the Environment."
The purpose?  To inspire students to take action, make decisions & good choices, and show leadership in positive ways by helping out their community--in big and small ways.  During our Friday "Morning Meetings," we are taking a moment to honor and celebrate the kindness and accomplishments of others who have done something positive for their peers and community.

Our first R.O.L.E. Model recipient:  Lennon.  

Lennon was attending a local day care program this summer while his folks went to work. On the first day of his summer there, he came home a bit bummed that they didn't recycle like he was accustomed to at Eagle Cove.  So he talked to his folks, who contacted me, about ways he could bring more recycling to the summer program.  I loaned them a handful of eco books like Michael Recycle that he could share with the kids at the center.  Then, Lennon shared with them how Eagle Cove School recycles juice pouches (like Capri Suns) through Terracycle.  He even did some digging around on the Terracycle website with his family to learn about how it works.  He set up a bin for recycling, and voila!  They were in action!

As can happens in real life, the momentum dwindled after awhile, and Lennon discovered how hard it can be to be one fella trying to save the world.  But in the same respect, he discovered what one person CAN do.  He created a "Recycling Robot" costume with a myriad of recyclables he had inspired the group to collect.  He brought the juice pouches to school to add to our upcycling collection. On the costume, he included this sign (which is a tad hard to read when the picture is enlarged, so here is the text):

"One Goddard School collected 182 recyclables in one week.  There are 385 Goddard Schools in America.  If all of the Goddards collected trash over the summer, in total there would be 840,840 pieces collected.  182 x 12 x 385 = 840,840."

This completely answers the question:  "I'm only one person?  What can one person do?"  Clearly, if every one person did something, collectively, we'd be doing a lot!!

Lennon exemplified what it means to be a role model.  He was completely worthy of earning our first R.O.L.E. Model medallion of honor!

Will every month bring about big ideas like this?  Maybe, maybe not.  But, again, little actions, just like the pebble thrown in still water, can create many ripples. Back to that one person idea again:  we can make a lot of ripples in that water if everyone gets busy and works toward making the world (or our school community) a better place!

For added inspiration (and a bit of "on campus marketing"), here are some of the R.O.L.E. Model posters my class created to help inspire the school community to be role models.  We used school iPads and the Motivational Poster app to create these posters and will be hanging them around school this week.

May the ripples of role model-making begin! 

Special thanks to Lennon's folks for letting me share his story, which is also now a great ECS story!!

Images taken at ECS school highlighting Lennon's project, with the inclusion of Dictionary.com's screenshot of the app's definition of "role model."

Plastic Chandeliers

''I had a vision of them put together

Not like a man, but like a chandelier.'' ~ Robert Frost

When one envisions a chandelier, one pictures a certain level of prestige. One can imagine it as the focal point in the center of an ornate staircase within a mansion, with glittering crystals laying prisms beneath and upon all who enter the foyer.

Katharine Harvey has that ability to create an eye-catching display with her chandeliers, yet they aren't formed of cut glass. Instead, she has a slew of hanging installations created from recyclables. Her Plastic Art Installations are just as breath-taking, yet formed from re-purposing materials.

Katharine Harvey has shown exhibitions at Toronto (where she currently resides), DC, Montreal, Quebec, Calgary, and more. She participated in many shows and artist-in-residencies from the Yukon Territory to Newfoundland.

At her website, you'll find 16 plastic art installations where Katharine Harvey elevates plastic to a new level of sophistication. Just imagine the amount of waste in these that she is diverting from both landfills and recycling centers. (Here's where the recurring reminder that it is far better to "reuse" versus spend the energy "recycling" crops up!!)

Image #1: Chandelier, 2013, recycled plastic, aluminum hoops, monofilament, 21 x 15 x 15 feet (First Canadian Place, Toronto) http://www.katharineharvey.com/artwork.php?w=chandelier_first_canadian_place_2013&c=installations

Image #2: Chandelier, 2012, recycled plastic, aluminum hoops, monofilament, 21 x 15 x 15 feet (Winter Garden Lobby, World Financial Center, New York) http://www.katharineharvey.com/artwork.php?w=chandelier_2012&c=installations  

Image #3: Waterfall, 2013, recycled plastic, monofilament, 18 x 34 x 2 feet (Bank of America Building, Los Angeles, California) http://www.katharineharvey.com/artwork.php?w=waterfall_la_2013&c=installations

Image #4:Chandelier, 2009, recycled plastic, monofilament, aluminum hoops,21 x 15 x 15 feet (Allen Lambert Galleria, Brookfield Place, Toronto)http://www.katharineharvey.com/artwork.php?w=chandelier&c=installations

GTG Summer Quest 2013

Anyone who has been following along for a few years knows that I am a big fan of Maryland Park Quest. I have written about it several times in the past.

(In fact, to do any tripping down the GTG memory lane, click here for past Park Quest posts.)

With the annual motto being "Where a family becomes a team," Park Quest promotes fun-filled outdoor adventure--a concept that is great in our over-teched world. It is a great way to keep "No Child Left Inside." Richard Louv would love it!!


This year is our family's 4th year of taking part in Maryland Park Quests. Of the 24 annual quests of the 24 participating Maryland State Parks, every year prior to this, we have met the 10 park minimum to take part in the "Park Quest Rendezvous," typically at the end of September. This year stands out in a notable way that has been quite different than previous years: this year, in a way, we failed miserably. This year, we completed only 2 of the minimum 10.

But even while I say that we failed, I've gotta say, I don't truly believe it. Yes, we only participated in/ completed 2 quests this year. Rain got in the way of a few, canceling out plans. But I think the real reason we fell short was BECAUSE of all our "a family becomes a team" adventures that fell outside of our Park Quest passport:

• Our daughter graduated from 5th grade which brought about festivities, fêtes, and out-of-town family.

• We replaced our defunct and rusted backyard pool with a bright shiny new one, and we spent time near-daily out there, splashing about.

• We bought bikes this summer and went romping about a number of places.

• We read boatloads of "Magic Treehouse" books with our 2nd grader, and even more books by ourselves, yet together.

• We camped with friends at the start of the summer and had a number of backyard bonfires at home.

• We had multiple day trips with old friends we haven't seen since last summer, and even more good old-fashioned chatty phone calls with other long time pals.

• My 6th grader and I spent a week working through Jeff Kinney's online writing camp over at Boomwriter.com.

• My kids and I drove 13 hours to IL to visit my original homeland and far-away family.

• We had our own family vacation which landed us on the beach in Atlantic City...then later found us on hiking trails, biking routes, swimming holes, and the back yard of a team of 18 sled dogs in Massachusetts. Essentially, during that week, we created our own virtual "Massachusetts Park Quest."

• We wrapped up the summer in St. Mary's City, at water's edge--romping through the 4th oldest English settlement (seeing archaeology at work) and kayaking in the Patuxent River.

These were just the biggies.  (Not to mention, the puppy!)

So although we may not have triumphed in the Maryland Park Quest arena, I think we had a pretty full and adventurous summer. In looking at the overall end goal (= to turn our family into a team), I think we accomplished our mission. Yes, sometimes we hit some bumps along the way (sometimes multiple bumps in the same day)... but that's all part of the adventure too.

So while we may wind up missing the fun, culminating extravaganza at the wrap up PQ Rendezvous (which I whole-heartedly support and love), this year, I have to say that we are going forward richer based on our summer experiences. We may not have completed Maryland's Park Quest, but I do believe we successfully completed our own "Dabrowka 2013 Summer Quest" after all.

Pictures from our summer family adventures.

Back to School Celebrating 20 Years of Bill Nye the Science Guy

It's back to school time (we started just this week), and it's that time of year that is symbolic with learning... and of course, back to school.  Along those lines, this fall marks the 20th anniversary of the Bill Nye The Science Guy!  In fact, we're just a few days shy of that anniversary.  According to Wikipedia, the show debuted on Sept. 10th, 1993 and ran its 100 episodes until June 20, 1998.

In recent years, Bill Nye has come out even stronger on his climate change stance, and has received some "heat" on the subject by some folks who STILL aren't quite buying it (or his scientific stance on evolution and more).  But, to be seeing this "Science Guy" saying the same things (yet stronger) here for two decades is quite telling.  More so as the "ppm" ("parts per million") of carbon dioxide continue to go up and far exceed the recommended 350 ppm for climate stability and environmental safety. (We are currently over 400 ppm of CO2--all of which can lead toward excessive and erratic weather, warming of oceans, melting of polar ice caps, and more.)

It's a problem that hasn't gone away yet...much like the fact that we all are all still fighting the "Earth Day" fight, 40+ years later.  Interestingly enough, burying our heads in the sand isn't solving it either.  Maybe it'll help as he hits the dance floor on mainstream television's show "Dancing With the Stars" this fall.

Click here to see this clip on YouTube.

Video first seen at http://www.care2.com/greenliving/bill-nye-explains-his-passion-for-science-climate-issues-video.html; Photo from the Bill Nye Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bill-Nye-The-Science-Guy/48947135361

A Newbie in the Eco-World I Call Home

Our family of 4 has now expanded. 

We are now a family of 4, 2 canines, and some fish.

Welcome to Faolán, our "Little Wolf" or "River Gift," Portuguese Water Dog. A descendent of our former dog Nemo (who has since passed), who was born (Faolán's great great grandpappy was our Nemo's daddy).  Our then-pup, just as our now-pup, was from the same breeder that helped bring Bo to the White House.  

Allergies overrode rescue dogs in our house. Yet puppy lovin' is high!!!  (Our 3-year-old Shih-Poo isn't quite so sure yet, though!)

May we sleep tonight!!!

(Not to mention, the first week of school this week!!)

Images from our camera!

Apple Recycling

It's no surprise to anyone--2 of my favorite topics are "eco" and "edtech."  

Hence this little world:  Green Team Gazette.

Earth911 reported today that Apple has put into place an iPhone trade-in policy, called "Reuse and Recycle."

How does it work?  Head to the Apple Store the next time you want to upgrade your phone--and take your old one.  The odds of getting a trade in (with a monetary saving toward your new phone) for it are on the rise.  In doing this, it catches Apple up to where other cellular providers/manufactures have been for awhile. (Apple does have a recycling program in place for iPhones/products that are in disrepair for awhile, yet at no charge--signalling the difference in this new policy.)

Given the fact that annually, 135 million cell phones (in the US alone) go to landfill (and even more to the junk drawer), this could be a major eco pro!  Check out the infographic below from Sprint.

Infographic from http://earth911.com/tech/cell-phone-recycling-infographic/; iPhone pic a screenshot from my phone.

Dueling Banjos

Here's Kermit the Frog proving, once again, although it's not easy to be green, you certainly can do it in style!

You too, Steve Martin!  Kudos for the smiles today, gents!

Steve Martin and Kermit the Frog in "Dueling Banjos" from Steve Martin

Video from http://FunnyOrDie.com/m/87w0

The Sights of Western Massachusetts

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

August in Western Massachusetts presents you with some stunning sights. A shock of red or orange in a vista of green trees is probably one of the biggest. How can the leaves be changing color already? Not many, but that hint that autumn is around the bend. The dramatically cooler low 70's lean toward that hint too...even when it seems its been a mild August with unseasonably mild month.

Other remarkable & memorable Mass sights this week:

Stacks and stacks of firewood awaiting the winter ahead of fireplaces and wood stoves. I've never seen such volumes of firewood...but then again, I've never had to prep for a New England winter!! (This pic is such a slight fraction. We passed a few establishments that had multiple piles of wood in the parking lot...the picture not captured!)



Windmills (er..."wind turbines") and solar panels everywhere. Noticeably so!! An environmental sight to behold. (More on this in a future post.). There's quite a sustainability contingent up in the Berkshires. We composted food at the end of the meals at our lodge, Stump Sprouts. (There was also an out building with a solar shower there.) We also used a composting bathroom at Hilltown Wilderness Adventures and saw other features of their Eco Village including their eco-cabin & green house; there was recycling galore everywhere we went; & we found many organic dining establishments with a wealth of vegetarian options.

The dimensionally greenness! The hills and mountains of the Berkshires gave such a rich picture of a hearty, woodlandish summery outdoors. Great hiking, biking, & swimming hole territory!! Especially beautiful was the Chesterfield Gorge, a National Wild & Scenic River.

The tallest mountain of Massachusetts (Mount Greylock) and an amazing view.

Sled dogs! They're not just for Alaska or winter time anymore. Fabulous experience at Hilltown Wilderness Adventures with Marla!! Puppy kisses for everyone!

The Eric Carle Museum, with a special gallery on Knuffle Bunny's Mo Willems. A double win for this house!!



Mass MoCA (= Museum of Contemporary Art) was another eye opening museum. Where else can you find dragons made or reusable materials and fountains made from styrofoam block?



But no bear or moose...
tho definitely signs of that a bear had been there!




And good people. Everywhere we went, people were amazing. A true climate of kindness. Kindness, sustainability, and the richness of the outdoors...a true and genuine find, and the makings of a good vacation.






Quote from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/. Pics from my camera.