Barefoot Badminton & Exploring the Idea of Earthing

After a very rainy-season springtime, with less than stellar temperatures, a rash of 3-4 sunny days of glorious temperature (in a row!) is down right nirvana.  Earlier this week, at school we had a half day "Hump Day," which developed into an afternoon of boy-bonding with my son.  We wrapped up the evening with a riveting game of backyard badminton.  Based on the way we played, badminton is would never be considered an Olympic sport at this house!

We giggled as our birdie flew every which way but the right direction.
My son was much more of a diver than me.  By the time we were done, his knees were grass-stained-green, and the bottoms of both of our bare feet were were far from flesh-colored at this point.

Sitting at the back patio table, I found myself contemplating the day. It made for a nice time and place to reflect upon our afternoon, watching the dusky sunset begin its blanketing descent.

It also got me thinking of some some of the Shawn Stevenson Model Health Show Podcasts I've listened to lately where Shawn discusses the concept of "Earthing." This of course, further reminded my copy of Richard Louv's "Vitamin N" that I'm eager to dive back into after report card writing season is over.

"Earthing" or "Grounding" is simply defined by reconnecting to the Earth's energy by way of bare feet. The benefits are many:

These two videos below further help simplify the many reasons why Earthing has so many positive effects, and it helps you grasp the idea of grounding.  (Of course, I'm chuckling at the irony here this eve given that my husband was wrestling with ceiling fan electrical issues and the house's grounding wire while I was pondering the Earthing version of grounding...in order to help us all feel more "grounded!")

What is Earthing? from Earthing.com



To further your own investigations of Earthing, check out these links.  Then, go take off your shoes, and let the crisp spring grass tickle your toes and reconnect you to the Earth!  Or better yet, make a badminton date of your own!

• The Earthing.Com Website
• Shawn Steven's videocast of "Inflamation & Earthing"
• Dr. Sinatra's Heart MD Institute video "Grounding"/"Earthing"
• The Art of Unity's "Earthing--'The Most Important Health Discovery Ever'"
• Clinton Ober's book "Earthing:  The Most Important Health Discovery Ever"

Images from https://pgoaamericanprofile2.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/what-is-badminton.jpg?w=670&h=405&crop=1, https://www.instagram.com/p/vPVl8XByzn/, and https://hrexach.wordpress.com/2015/03/24/opinions-vary-what-is-earthing/
Earthing.com video from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4F8mterVGE

MidMonth #Climate Manifesto: 10 Year Anniversary of "An Inconvenient Truth" #AIT10

What were you doing 10 years ago?

(Here's the part where we all start doing our own historic, personal & mental math, figuring out just exactly where we were and what we were doing, way back when.  And hopefully it is NOT a scene similar to the one from the 1989 movie When Harry Met Sally when Billy Crystal [in an attempt to make conversation] asked his young girlfriend where she was when Kennedy was shot, and the pretty young thing answered, "Ted Kennedy was shot?")

So, 10 years ago = 2006.

10 years ago yesterday (May 24th), An Inconvenient Truth came out.  For those of us who lived through the "dangling chad" era of the Bush-Gore Election of 2000, An Inconvenient Truth brought a new light to politics and to Al Gore himself, 6 years later. Seen more as an intellectual than an a fallen future president, Al Gore and his image instantly turned (with the tables) with this movie alone.  Well, at least for those of us in the environmental sphere. "Al Gore for the Win!"...regardless of presidential status.

Given all of this, history leads to hashtags this week as #ait10 is sweeping the Twitter-waves.  Take Action has inspired this hashtag along with the invitation to share our story of our memories and how this pivotal film has hit us--both then and now.

“In this 10th-anniversary year of the release of the film, I am proud of the progress we have made. Solutions are now within reach. But more than ever, there is no time to waste. We must bring these solutions to every corner of the globe.”— Jeff Skoll, founder and chairman of Participant Media and executive producer of An Inconvenient Truth

Here is a good place to follow up on #ait10 and see some pretty amazing video commentary.  Some of the featured speakers:

• Jordan Howard, Jordan Howard, activist, Social Goods Strategist
• Ed Begley Jr., actor and environmentalist
• Bill McKibben, founder, 350.org
• David Suzuki, cofounder, David Suzuki Foundation
• Michael Brune, executive director, Sierra Club
• Tara Deporte, founder and executive director, The Human Impacts Inst.
• Lilly Belanger, program director, No Impact Project
• Davis Guggenheim, director, 'An Inconvenient Truth'
• Gregg Renfrew, founder, Beautycounter
• Nancy Pochis Banks, artist
• and more!

I love watching these commentaries and how this movie impacted each of these individuals.  You see the birth of activism.  It's empowering.  It's what we need.  People being strong, believing in "whatever" it is that they believe in.  It gives passion and purpose to people.  It moves you to be moved.

I am only sad that we are still arguing the existance.  Dan Gutman, children's author and novelist, put it poignantly the other day on Twitter:

Seriously, people.  On the spectrum, what's more important? Our existence or which bathroom we use.  And let's just make sure we are washing our hands, regardless of which bathroom we use!

On this 10 year anniversary, I re-watched An Inconvenient Truth... it's probably my 3rd or 4th viewing ever--but it's certainly been awhile.  Seemed like the reflective thing to do, here, 10 years later.  Again, my eyes opened, and again I pondered... so what if we are wrong,, and the worst case scenario is that we improve our planet. OMG! What if we improve the planet!!?!

For those of you who haven't seen it in 10 years....or forever, you can find it at Amazon and you can rent the DVD at Netflix.  I'm sure you can happen upon it elsewhere as well.

If you're like me, and you can't quite get enough, as it feels like it just propels you to become one with the Earth and your own inner activist, go forth and check out these TED Talks:

• Case for Optimism of Climate Change (Feb. 2016)
• What Comes After The Inconvenient Truth? (Feb. 2009)
• New Thinking On the Climate Crisis (March 2008)
• Averting the Climate Crisis (Feb. 2006)

Images from http://www.postonline.co.uk/IMG/604/91604/10-years-ago.jpg; http://www.postonline.co.uk/IMG/604/91604/10-years-ago.jpg; http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/mt/assets/national/gore-top.jpg; Dan Gutman screenshot from https://twitter.com/DanGutmanBooks?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Eyes & Ears Still in Awe of Prince EA

Because I just can't seem to get enough from Prince Ea.

And because he seems to be everywhere I turn:

• The Shawn Stevenson Model Health Podcast
• The School of Greatness Podcast with Lewis Howe Podcast
• The Addicted to Success Podcast

Seems fitting here on a "all report card writing kind of weekend."  A lot of "need to do," and not as much true on, spot on living.  Need to change that up!! With the weight of the report cards off, I think it might just be able to happen, this next wkend ahead!!

What "One Song" are you going to sing this week?

Prince Ea's video from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja-n5qUNRi8; image from http://lybio.net/wp-content/uploads/Prince-Ea-Everybody-Dies-But-Not-Everybody-Lives.jpg

Graduation, Reflection, & Speech Writing-- The End Is Near

My 5th Grade students are writing their graduation speeches this week. Promotion. Moving on. The passing of the torch. They are readying to leave us and our campus this year... Next year they will be going forth to our Middle School campus, on to new adventures, and on to new experiences.

While they are gearing up to do that, a dozen days before the end of this school year, I am reading through 18 speeches.

It is during this time that I am reminded of the school year we all enduring, and the history of the last 9-10 months. I'm struck by a lot of memories my students are sharing, the ones we have all enjoyed. I know that there are most certainly a lot of personalities in this class of mine... and I have enjoyed watching them blossom as we have been growing together through the year.

I have also learned a little bit about me through this whole "5th Grade thing". When I started this year, I never thought I would be teaching 5th Grade. My plans were to teach Technology and be "The iPad Lady," Everyone loves the iPad Lady.  I remember the call I got from Head in the middle of August saying "I'm really hoping you'll do me a favor." I thought she wanted me to make a PowerPoint for the back to school meetings!  She didn't.  It was a tad bigger than that. Instead, she asked me to start teaching the Fifth Grade class due to a teacher going on leave.  Little did I know where this would take me.

Initially I thought it would be for 2 weeks.. 5 weeks... maybe even 12 weeks.  It was more.

And more, it certainly was.

I think this year has taught me, more than anything, that life is what happens when you're busy planning for one thing that happen, but then something completely different happens.

So... I became a Fifth Grade teacher. At first for the short term. Then for the long term.

In doing so, I opened my heart to these 18 people in my class who are so full of energy, humor, vim, vigor, and zest. Sometimes they make me crazy.  But I would guess that probably the reverse is true. No matter what, I think we have learned a lot from each other, and I think maybe... perhaps... We have had fun along the way.

Maybe the truest question is:  who has learned more? Them? Me? It's potentially a toss up!

These 18 students of mine are sitting at the crossroads of Elementary School and Middle School. The 3 months of summer is what separates them from being the "big man on campus" and the "new kid on the block." As they transition between the old and the new, my students will indeed graduate from being assured of where they are in 5th grade at the Lower School campus.... to being at the doorway of a new place, as a new face, of Middle School.  But my students bring with them every bit of who they are and where they have been.  They bring with them an understanding of "Yes! I can do this."

They are strong... they will persevere... and they will take this new adventure by storm! I know them, all 18 of them. Therefore, I know it is true!

Images from https://waterslandingpta.com/2013/04/19/5th-grade-graduation/ and http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/p/keep-calm-its-almost-time-to-graduate/ and http://1quotes.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Graduation-quotes-Sayings.jpg 

Discussing Design & Making the Most of MakerSpaces

Last Saturday I was at an all day educational leadership workshop entitled "Composing Our Symphony."  To a degree, that's how it works for us teachers: workshops on the weekends.  It is then that teachers give up their time, in pursuit of furthering their craft.  Teachers exchange leisure time and family time in order to NOT have to write up sub plans. It's THAT big of a deal to write sub plans! Yet interestingly, in most fields, workshops are NOT on weekends, and sub plans are NOT a necessity. This falls in the category of "one of the many things most people probably haven't got a clue about teachers!"  We give up our weekends, our family time, and sometimes even our evenings, all in the pursuit of our own love of learning and perfecting what it is we do in the classroom.

Given all of that:  It was a great day of learning, fellowship, and a community of educators.

It usually is!

The common thread during our day o'learning and our two sessions plus keynote that I attended was "design."

Keynote Speaker Sean McComb, 2014 National Teacher of the Year, closed the conference by speaking about about designing a life & career based on passion and purpose.  You could feel in his passion how it was he was awarded that accolade.  Most certainly well deserved!

Silvia Mata Marin opened the conference by speaking on her role as a graphic designer who focuses on "Social Design."  What is Social Design?  we didn't know either, until Silvia eloquently spoke on how it is the combination of collaboration, & creativity of people, places, problems and projects in order to bring about social change and social justice.  She was impassioned (and rightfully so) about the central American immigration process of unaccompanied minors to America.

And I spoke...there in the middle.  Making the Most of the Maker Movement. Discussing the design process, sharing the current trend of DIY 2.0.  High Tech, low tech, no tech.  It's the way hands-on teachers have been designing their classrooms for eons.  But, at its center, is the design process.

Hence the trifecta of our design day.  Which probably was a happy accident, inadvertently by design. But certainly the way in which we all "Compose a Symphony."

As a speaker, it was certainly the largest crowd I'd ever had, at maybe 80 people.  People laughed at my jokes (in the right places--which always feels like a "win" in the middle of presentation).  The 2 secrets of my success: Quin, and the snippet/trailer from Maker: A Documentary on The Maker Movement, both below!






Circling back, I again hold true to the idea that it is through innovation that we will be able to heal our planet and solve our collective problems (environmental and otherwise).  Given that, we must work to encourage and urge our students to become creative problem solvers. It is through being tinkerers and innovators that they will unlock the problems we are facing, fixing them, making our world a better place!

It doesn't happen accidentally:  we need to design it!


Images from: http://izquotes.com/quotes-pictures/quote-there-is-the-happiness-which-comes-from-creative-effort-the-joy-of-dreaming-creating-building-henry-miller-347915.jpg, https://realtimeboard.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/design-process.png;  Videos from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9lvW6ZY-Gs, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mklywR7TQxs

Prince EA to the Rescue Again: "Can We Auto-Correct Humanity?"

Most of us have seen one or both of these Einstein quotes as they have made their rounds around Facebook and beyond.

As plugged in as we have all become, many feel that Einstein 

predicted it all, long before now.  Here, in fact, are the stats:

I've written about my own love-hate relationship with technology before.
Here, here, and here.

I return back to my new favorite, Prince EA.  He'd also be Team Einstein on this one, tackling the question:  "Can We Auto-Correct Humanity?"  Makes you want to go and check yourself and your own addictions, doesn't it.


For the wealth of all that is Prince EA, check out his expansive YouTube Channel. Another great place to find him is over at the Shawn Stevenson's Model Health Show.

Then...go put your phone, iPad, computer, device down, and go be real... go look up... go be where you are, without recording or photographing it. Take advantage of your low batteries to recharge your own battery!!


Video from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRl8EIhrQjQ; Photos from http://appsplit.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Phone-Addiction-Checking.jpeg, http://www.liftupideas.com/technology-destroying-relationships-also-victim/, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2929268/Was-Einstein-right-Physicist-said-feared-technology-surpass-human-interaction-photos-time-not-far-off.html

Happy Mother's Day: Past, Present & Future

Cheers today, to all the mothers out there.

The ones who have little ones to hold.  The ones who maybe are celebrating their first Mother's Day. The ones who are celebrating their own mothers.  The ones who are celebrating the mothers or even the children they have loved and lost. The ones who have never had their own children, but are indeed mothers in their hearts in so many ways to other people's children.

In honor of Mother's Day and the beauty of the sun and love that abounds, here are 3 videos and a bounty of love to celebrate Mother's Days of the Past, the Present, and the Future!

Past:  Get the historic low down on why we celebrate Mother's Day!


Present: Be present today. That IS the best present. Go outdoors and enjoy the beauty of Mother Nature. Bask in the beauty of the day & honor all that is central to all mother-kind!


Future:  To all the kids out there today--may your Mom help you be all you can be in the future!




images from http://ecosmartworld.com/tag/eco-friendly-ideas-for-mothers-day/
videos from: Past: http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/mothers-day/videos/history-of-mothers-day;
Present:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVBdF2QU3Kk; Future:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ3k6BFX2uw

Prince Ea's "Man vs Earth"

I think I have found my new modern-day superhero. His name is Prince Ea. His focus: to bring wisdom to words, peace through poetry, magic through music-filled imagry, and radical change through inspirational rapping.

In 2009 he founded an organization called “Make SMART Cool,” where SMART stands for "Sophisticating Millions and Revolutionizing Thought." Its goal: to promote positive social change in a myriad of ways through events, speaking engagements, performances and more.

Here's his "Man vs Earth" video, which speaks volumes and details his connection with standforthetrees.org.



To learn more about Prince Ea, check out his website.

Video from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrzbRZn5Ed4, image from http://respect-mag.com/2016/01/conversations-in-light-with-prince-ea/ 

The Double Mystery of the Missing Bees

Houston, we have a problem.  Actually 2:

Case 1: Buzz is Missing!

Who's Buzz, you're wondering?  Buzz is the name of the bee on the Honey Nut Cheerios box.  And he's visibly absent!  On purpose.

In part of General Mill's Honey Nut Cheerios new awareness & marketing campaign, Buzz is not a smiling feature on boxes in Canada.  #BringBackTheBees and the missing Buzz are to bring awareness to the plight of the pollinator.  Bees are vital to many food sources, and they too seem to be disappearing.  There's a cure for that--planting flowers that bees love!  It really is that simple!

Here's their powerful video about how our buzzing friends need our help.

But wait...there's more:

Case 2: The B's are Missing!

Another company is reporting a case of a missing person.  Er, well...not person, but actually some missing letters to highlight the same plight. Burt's Bee are missing their "B's!"  As they said, it's "A _ig idea from _urt's _ees!"  Add in, they are challenging all to take to social media and share out posts with more missing b's along with the same #BringBackTheBees.


It's exciting to see 2 companies take dramatic marketing moves in order to make a difference. Wouldn't it be exciting if more companies did the same thing.  For the bees and other ways to bring about a better, healthier planet!

Here are 2 infographics that will help you see how vital bees are to us, and how we can do something vital for them!

Honey Nut Cheerios video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fbMQUVYuRQ; Burt's Bee's video from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L_VSb9rJ_0; plants for bees pic from https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cdj26z3UEAAiJTZ.jpg; Honey Nut Cheerios pic from http://brandchannel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/honey-nut-cheerios-bring-back-the-bees-600.jpg; food from bees pic from https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdjNHTJW4AAAqWs.jpg; Burt's Bees pic from https://www.thecloroxcompany.com/corporate-responsibility/blog/bringbackthebees/ 

"If the World Were 100 People" Video

 "Films for Action" always posts some pretty amazing shorts.  Here's another one (from Good Magazine) that fits the bill. Both produced and written by the team of Gabriel Reilich Animation and Jake Infusino, "If the World Were 100 People" visually captures what our global numbers would be if based on the number 100.

In a world where political noise is loud, obnoxious, distasteful, and vitriolic, this is what we really should be listening to.



Film s For Action logo from https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/303042924.jpg?mw=1920&mh=1080&q=70; Video from http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/if-the-world-were-100-people/

Happy Earth Day 2016

Sending you my very best 

this Earth Day...

with a few more inspirational ideas 

(this time, visually) 

to add to the ones from my last post.

What's something special 

you're doing today 

to make the world a little brighter 

and a little better?

Images from http://usearthday.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Earth-day.jpg; http://www.designmantic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Andrea-Pippins.jpg, & http://cdn4.kidsdiscover.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Earth-Day-Infotoon-Kids-Discover.jpg

Earth Day 2016: Trees For The Earth

This Friday, April 22nd is Earth Day.  The 47th Earth Day.  We've been around awhile trying to do this "help our planet" thing.  Looks like we're still doing it.  But, as I've said before, every little step is a step in the right direction, and together we are strong.  So let's keep doing those little steps.

All of us!

This year's theme is "Trees for the Earth."

To get you in that spirit, here are some resources for this 47th Earth Day:

• Earth Day Tool Kit from Earthday.org

• 10 Creative Acts of Kindness for Earth Day

• Earth Day Lesson Plans at Education World (Of particular interest here is their Earth Day Webquest)

• GTG Archives

• Cybraryman Environment/Earth Day page

• Discovery Education Earth Day Resources For Your Classroom

• NEA Earth Day Curriculum Resources, Grades K-5

• KidSoup Earth Day Activities for Preschool & Kindergarten

Interestingly enough...Earth Day just so happens to fall during Climate Education Week (April 16th--23rd) and National Environmental Education Week (April 17--23).

Images from: http://www.earthday.org/, https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/c4/eb/f5/c4ebf578c32cc330a9683258eb8bde91.jpg, and http://alldonemonkey.com/2014/04/21/10-creative-acts-of-kindness-for-earth-day-the-good-long-road-random-acts-of-kindness/

MidMonth Climate Manifesto: "Racing Extinction"

Earth Day is around the corner.  Might be a good time to watch an #eco documentary to get you in the right brain space.

"Racing Extinction" might be just the documentary!

In this movie, the production team details the potential of the 6th mass extinction and the first to be driven by human decisions and activities that are driving climate change. I first learned about the making of this movie by seeing something over at OneGreenPlanet.org about the "Racing Extinction" team displaying images of endangered animals on Vatican City's St. Peter's Basilica.  More amazing images and video footage for that are available here.  In the same manner of projected images, the team has shown similar images on the Empire State Building and NYC's United Nations Building.

Of course, from the beginning of this trailer, it's not for the faint of heart. But, important messages that need to be hear sometimes are like that.  The exposé scenes just in the trailer alone show crimes to endangered species. Those startling nature of that makes you mad, and it is often through anger that people take action.  I'm sure this is the exact emotion that the "Racing Extinction" team is going for!

To get the movie in front of you, check out RacingExtinction.com for a multitude of ways of where you can get it.  Likewise, there are a lot of resources, videos, and action steps also available at their website.  Excellent things to think about this Earth Day ahead, making plans on how we can start turning things around for our planet through both education and action!!


Panda image from http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/racing-extinction-team-displays-animals-in-vatican-city/; Trailer from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwxyrLUdcss

Recycling Right... & Reiterating the Order of the 3 R's

"Recycling" is a household word these days--or at the very least, it should be.  We've been talking about it long enough, that yes indeed it should be. (Though I will say it still startles me when I am somewhere like a shop or a store that only has one bin, but I digress.)

I think most of us feel like we are wearing our white hats like "Scandal" gladiators, doing good for the world, when we recycle.

Well, maybe they are green hats!

But recycling is tricky.  It's this seductive idea that makes us feel like we are all out there on "TeamGreen," but there's still so many items with those triangular chasing arrows on them that really can't be recycled.  So we feel like we are recycling like a champ, keeping items from the trash bin, when what really happens.... things wind up in the landfill.

It's rather deflating.

These 2 videos help you get more personal with the plastic products you are bringing into your homes--items which you may ultimately "get rid of," one way or another.  It brings up the point that your decision starts with your dollar and what you spend your money on, so make your monetary vote count.  It also reminds us that the motto "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" is purposely written in that order.  (Some people even start with "Refuse!")




Pics from https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2013/04/01/10/59/recycle-98854_960_720.png and https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8383/8558569053_aa89a5f01d_z.jpg;
Videos from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qTelxi3MjU and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HuZ6_LOxY8

Going on Walk-About With A Walking Curriculum

From the First Family to your family, getting outdoors and taking a walk is good for you.  It's a great way to commune with nature, get some fresh air, deal with whatever stressors are working through you, and just take advantage of the calming effects of nature.

Not surprisingly, the same holds true for the classroom, and it's a great way for educators to reach your students in new ways and connect them with the natural world.

There probably is "an app for that," but more importantly, there's a K-12th grade curriculum for it created by Gillian Judson. Additionally, any of these ideas might be some great tools in your parenting toolkit, spurring some great conversational focuses for your own family walk. Spounds like the perfect thing to do here as the weather turns nicer each day!

The benefits are many, as Gillian points out on her webpage:

"These walking activities can...engage the body, emotions, and imagination in ways that can increase familiarity with the local and natural contexts of school and learning; increase attention to detail, particularity and their attunement with place; connect place-based learning activities with cross-curricular goals; serve as examples for your own, place-inspired teaching ideas."

Where to start:

• Background
• Before You Start: Preparint to Use the Walking Curriculum
• Before You Start: Introducing the Curric to Students
• Post-Walking: Debriefing & Extending Learning Across the Curriculum
• Motiviations, Musings & Sources of Inspiration

Diving In:   Each of the 4-parts of the curriculum features "5 Focused Walks"

• Part 1:
• Shapes Walk
• (Sur)faces Walk
• Motion Walk
• Texture:  How This Place Feels
• Where is Here?

• Part 2:
• Line Walk
• Weather(ed) Walk
• History Walk
• Synethesia Walk (= humans have multi-perceptual modes working simultaneously to experience the world)
• Letter Walk:  What Squiggles or Lines Fill This Place

• Part 3:
• Borders Walk
• Vertical World Walk
• Tracks, Prints, & Marks Walk
• Riddle Walk
• Searching for the Aliens Walk (= looking for Invasaive Species)

• Part 4:
• What's Underfoot Walk
• What's Overhead Walk (or Crick' Neck Walk)
• Growth Walk
• Lovely/Unlovely Walk
• The Walk(ing) Walk

Images: President Obama's Family pic from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Obama_family_walks_with_First_Dog_Bo_4-14-09.jpg; Family walk pic from http://www.public-domain-image.com/free-images/people/a-family-enjoys-a-leisurely-walk.jpg; Walking Curric pic from http://gillianjudson.edublogs.org/2016/02/03/a-walking-curriculum-part-3-walking-learning-k-12/

Chesapeake Bay Foundation's "Save The Bay" Video

Being a Maryander now, these 3 words are ones you hear often:  "Save the Bay."

The health of the Chesapeake Bay is something a lot of us are concerned about.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has done a nice job of creating a powerful and beautiful video that makes you want to do just that:  Save the Bay.


Save the Bay from Chesapeake Bay Foundation on Vimeo.



Video from https://www.cbf.org/about-cbf/discovery-video or https://vimeo.com/158501858

Ocean Cartooning & Conserving with Jim Toomey

Ocean conservationist and creator of "Sherman's Lagoon" Jim Toomey has concocted a nice little video entitled: "What is Marine Debris: A Cartoon Crash Course"  This is one of his 10 animated videos that help bring to life why it's so important to protect our watery wonderlands.



If after that 2 minutes, you just need a bigger Jim Toomey #Eco Fix, here are his 9 other videos

What are Ocean Zones?
What is Bycatch?
What are Highly Protected Marine Reserves?
What is Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management?
What are Forage Fish?
What is Ocean Acidification?
What is Illegal Fishing?
What is U.S. Fisheries Management?
What is Ocean Governance?


Video from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGQOkERpUhU, Jim Toomey pic from http://blog.oceanconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Toomey_headshot-w-toons.jpg

Sleep On It: The Restorative Power of Sleep

Having just been on Spring Break, all thoughts ultimately lead to sleep: sleeping in, catching up on sleep, and taking a nap.  I think teachers are uniformly programmed to think this way, come this time of year.

Then there's Daylight Saving Time and losing that hour.  Man, that always hurts.  (But, in a "hurt so good" sort of way as dusk comes later, making it feel like summer is on its way!)

Who knew: there's a fabulous follow-up to turning that clock back--the Monday following Daylight Savings Time was National Napping Day, which apparently is a real thing.  How awesome is that!

Sleep is one of those things that as a kid, I remember never wanting to go to bed, for fear of missing something.  Now, it's that elusive thing we never quite get enough of.  Yet, it's vital for so many of our systemic and daily functions.

The importance of sleep has recently cropped up in three of the podcasts I listen to, with the entire episode for each dedicated to the secrets of sleep:

• Michael Hyatt's "This is Your Life Podcast: Season 4, Episode 7:  How to Achieve More by Sleeping More"

• Chalene Johnson's "The Chalene Show Podcast: Sleep In To Get Thin With Shawn Stevenson" episode

• Shawn Stevenson's "The Model Health Show Podcast: 10 Ways Sleep Can Give You a Better Brain," Episode 147  [Add in, Shawn has a new book that just came out mid-March: "Sleep Smarter: 21 Essential Strategies to Sleep Your Way to A Better Body, Better Health, and Bigger Success"]

Then, of course, there's always information from NIH as to the benefits of sleep.

Given we all know the emotional, restorative, safety, and brain benefits of getting enough sleep, it begs the question:  Why aren't we getting more?  Our Type A, worker-bee modes are to blame.  

But adults alone aren't the only victims of being under-nourished in the sleep department.  Case and point is an interesting post I ran across on Treehugger by Katherine Martinko entitled "When Kids Are Losing Sleep, It's Time to Rethink How We Parent."  The culprits to killing kids' sleep are many: over-scheduled calendars, TV & the growing tech addiction, sugar over-saturation, irregular bedtime routines, school stressors, and lack of good ole playing outside with all the fresh air & sunshine that comes with that.  When time-on-tech averages are starting rival slumberland, that's a problem.

In case you were uncertain as to how much sleep we need (at all the ages), check out this graphic:

The National Wildlife Federation published the document below entitled "Green Time for Better Sleep Time and an article on the importance of getting outdoors to help improve sleep--for all, but especially for children. The three big ways the great outdoors helps even-out the sleep biorhythms:

1. Nature light increases daytime alertness and moods, which brings about the zzzz's at night much better for one's body clock.
2. Nature has a way of de-stressing like no other, from sights the sights and sounds of time outdoors.  Along those lines, it build concentration as well.
3. Exercise is always good for endorphins, and the whole body physical side of outdoor play helps even more.  Physical exertion is great for leading to exhaustion.

Green Time for Sleep Time from National Wildlife Federation

So, you have some homework assignments:

• A little green reading of "Green Time For Sleep Time" above; 
• A few podcasts to listen to;
• Play outside, no matter what your age;
• Then go get yourself in your PJ's and go get some sleep!!

Photos from:

• Daylight Savings Time pic from http://colonialinsurance.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Spring-Forward.gif 
• National Napping Day pic from http://nationaldaycalendar.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/national-napping-day-march-9.png?w=300 
• Sleep need versus age http://opt-ri.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Sleep.jpg
• "Green Time for Sleep Time" Document from National Wildlife Federation from http://www.slideshare.net/NationalWildlife/green-time-for-sleep-time?ref=http://www.nwf.org/What-We-Do/Kids-and-Nature/Why-Get-Kids-Outside/Sleep-Better.aspx

Happy Easter 2016

Background image from http://www.123freevectors.com/colorful-easter-egg-border-clip-art/ and used with The PicCollage App

World Water Day: March 22, 2016

Since 1993, March 22nd has been a United Nations' internationally-designated day centered around water related issues. This year marks our 24th World Water Day.  It's a day to bring about awareness on the importance of clean water, especially given that approximately a billion people world wide don't have access to clean water.  That one billion people--that's 1/7 of our global population.  That's mighty!

This year's World Water Day theme centers around the power of water and jobs, and their transformative nature to make a difference in lives.  Not only does water quality impact people, but water is vital for all jobs--therefore all employees need both access to quality water as well as fair labor laws. 

For more information, resources, or even donation opportunities, check out the following resources:

• GTG Archives
• UN World Water Day Official Website
• CharityWater.org
• UNICEF

Additionally, you might be inspired to take a break and unplug from your technology by taking the UNICEF Tap Project Challenge.  By opening up UnicefTapProject.org on your cell phone (this is the important part), then NOT touching your phone, you can help the UNICEF donors give funds for water for those in need.  This is open for the entire month of March, and this is what is certainly called a win-win all the way around!

World Water Day 2016 pic from https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cctca93W0AAkMgJ.jpg; Water Infographic from https://twitter.com/UNICEF/status/182937665925169152/photo/1; World Water Day 2016 Video from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJhHUqwtnmY; UNICEF Tap Project video from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI9L3WysWf8,

Tonight's the Night: #EarthHour 2016

Tonight's the night. Earth Hour. Lights off from 8:30--9:30 in your time zone.

I've been talking about Earth Hour for a bit now.

To get you right and ready for tonight, check out these two videos. One for the younger set, and one to make you think a bit.

Add in: Don't forget to go to Earth Hour's #ChangeForChange site to donate your social media or change your profile picture.

 



Videos from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN798j6vSoc and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxhHhyjcTmo; Image from https://www.earthhour.org/earth-hour-starter-kit

MidMonth Climate Manifesto: #EarthHour 2016

As previously mentioned, Earth Hour is around the corner--this Saturday night, from 8:30--9:30 pm in your time zone.

To ready your Saturday night toolkit, here are a few links that might come in handy!

Previous GTG Posts:

• Earth Hour 2016:  Time It Right in Your Time Zone
• Wrapping up Earth Hour 2015
• Earth Hour 2015: Tonight!
• Earth Hour 2015 Historic Timeline Infographic
• Earth Hour 2014
• And More!

From Earth Hour:

• Donate Your Social Feed or Change Your Profile Picture
• Celebrating Earth Hour 2016:  FAQ's
• Ideas As To How to Celebrate
• Opportunities to Take Action
• Earth Hour's Blog
• 2015 Highlights
• Earth Hour Tracker Map:  Include your Event!

Ending on a video that takes a little walk down Earth Hour's memory lane:



Earth Hour Poster from https://www.earthhour.org/earth-hour-starter-kit; video from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw7EenLAdrA

#RediscoverNature

Today by my mailbox was a delightful sign of spring: the first flower.  Add in that it's the start of my Spring Break from school, life is pretty ideal and Spring Fever has definitely hit!

Thinking about Spring, the budding that's beginning, the warmth that wafts on the breeze, and the hint of rising temperatures, it has me longing to get outside: neighborhood walks, bike rides, going somewhere good for a hike, and even just sitting outside at my patio table--watching the birds flock the feeder.
It's time to #RediscoverNature.

As much as I'd like to take credit for that hashtag, I can't claim the creativity.  But Nature Valley can. They have 3 videos, each promoting the great outdoors in different ways.  3 videos that make you think and rethink, at least a little bit. Videos worth viewing.  Videos that will inspire you to take advantage of Spring & Spring Break, and get you outside to #RediscoverNature!







Photo from my camera, 3 Generations video from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is5W6GxAI3c; Field Trip from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v9PjTBwiaU; Rediscover the Joy of Nature from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWyvR75jKEc

Earth Hour 2016: Time It Right In Your TimeZone: March 19th from 8:30--9:30 pm

'Tis the season....the birds are chirping, the temperatures are warming up, the last snow may just be behind us as Spring Break is just in front of us.  Must mean it's approaching mid-March...which this year means it's approaching Earth Hour.  The 10th Anniversary.  One of my favorite of the "environmental days," it's a chance to take action, to help #ChangeClimateChange.

Here's a little video to get you geared up for Earth Hour, a mere 10 days away:  March 19th, lights out in your time zone, from 8:30--9:30 pm.  Be a part of something bigger than you.



Video from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTuotGlZj60; Image from https://twitter.com/hashtag/changeclimatechange