D1 Forest and Stream Podcasting
The Podcasts of Science project trains pre-service secondary science and elementary teachers how to produce and use Podcasts of Science activities and concepts related to forest and water ecology in their classrooms. Find out how podcasting allows students access to the educational content of activities and field trips in a truly individual and portable format so all students can have access to the information whenever it is necessary. The project demonstrates an affordable way to introduce technology that enhances learning of ecology and uses digital recording media to make podcasts of small stream, benthic macro-invertebrates and the watershed forest surrounding the area.
D2 Volunteers in the Classroom: Using the Environmental Learning for the Future (ELF) Model to Create Learning Communities
The Environmental Learning for the Future, or ELF, program has been connecting community volunteers to students in the classroom for 30 years. This model of instruction is dependent upon the relationships between students, parents, teachers, administrators and community members. Join us for this illuminating workshop and learn how ELF model can be used to build bridges between schools and the broader community. (Limit 30)
D3 Clean Water: Our Precious Resource
The new Pathways to A Sustainable Future "Clean Water" poster and accompanying booklet of activities explores the topics of water pollution and water stewardship through five topics: Green Buffers, Waste & Recycling, Less Lawn, Energy Choices, and Transportation. This workshop will model some of the activities that focus on math and science learning objectives as they pertain to water education, and how they actively engage students in real world problems and solutions. Included in the activities are extensions that reach into subjects including civics, communication, policy, and stewardship. (Limit 20)
D4 Tonight's Homework: Read the Textbook!
How do popular middle school science textbooks present environmental education and ecology? We will examine what students in grades 5-8 are learning from their texts and contrast this with what is being said and done in the field. This presentation will help EE workers better understand what knowledge students are bringing to school and how what they are doing in the field is being either reinforced or modified in the classroom.
D5 Beyond the Sketch: Visual Arts as a Vehicle for Transformational Environmental Education
Art-making is a natural form of expression for healthy, environmentally-attuned individuals and communities. Environmental centers can and should nurture this vital capacity. Consider and sample ways in which arts education can enhance environmental science instruction. Explore the contribution of aesthetics to the overall goal of restoring and sustaining the planet. (Limit 12)
D6 Creating Field Studies Programs for Middle School Students
This year a Field Studies for Middle School Students program was launched at Lake Region Middle School in Maine. The goals of this program are to help students build a better understanding of their local ecosystems and provide them with an opportunity to learn more about field science techniques. Once a month students conduct soil sampling, tracking surveys, watershed investigations, tree identification, and other exploratory activities. Each lesson is designed to build on previous lessons, so students develop an understanding and awareness of the ecosystems behind their school. This workshop describes the process of building this program, successes and challenges in the first year, and includes a short field activity.
D7 Gaining Deeper Understanding of Systems Using Curriculum Topic Study
Participate in a Curriculum Topic Study (CTS) and learn how CTS can help you to use resources like the National Science Education Standards and the American Association for the Advancement of Science's Benchmarks for Science Literacy to deepen your understanding of systems and understand the progression of knowledge and skills needed by students as they progress from Pre-Kindergarten through graduation. By gaining a deeper understanding of systems, environmental educators, classroom teachers and school administrators will gain a clearer picture of a common and significant concept that is critical for all students to understand. And with a clearer picture of the knowledge and skills needed by students and the relevance of the systems to regular education and environmental education, we can find ways to collaborate as a community to best serve our students. (Limit 30)
D8 Wild Gathering & Wild Craft: The Important Place of Local Natural Resources in Education
This workshop looks at wild-gathering and craftwork as essential tools for understanding local ecology and creating pathways toward sustainability. We will focus on the use of wild plants for food and local trees for baskets. In addition to sharing practical skills, we'll discuss how engaging with natural resources helps teach concepts that encourage social and environmental responsibility.
D9 Life, Death and Biomimicry: Deciding the Future of EE
The keynote speakers at recent NEEEA conferences have fueled discussions for revitalizing the field of environmental education. In 2005, Michael Shellenberger challenged us to imagine a new future for environmentalism and engage unlikely partners. Last year, Dayna Baumeister inspired us through the work of the Biomimicry Guild to envision sustainable human constructs that emulate nature's design. What do their ideas have to do with EE? Where do the words of Tom Wessels and Alisa Gravitz fit in? And where should our path go? Help keep this critical conversation alive. Join this roundtable discussion to revisit themes generated at past conferences, tie in other timely and provocative ideas, shape new messages and make fresh plans for the future of EE.
D10 Probing for Partners and Looking for Links
As we strive to bring EE to new audiences, we may be overlooking obvious potential partnerships in our own communities. Learn how programs with museums ("Historical Habitats"), historical societies ("Natural Artifacts"), libraries ("The Nature of Books"), and garden clubs ("Growing Together") can build bridges and enhance environmental literacy in exciting new ways.
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