I Learn So Much From Them

Do you learn from your students?  I'm sure you do.  I do too.

Early in the school year, I signed my class up for the Disney Planet Challenge.  In a class meeting, the kids decided they wanted to do their community service science project on the Burn Zone.  Disney even donated money towards supplies for the project.  We started in earnest and zeal.

And then October happened.  For those of you who don't know me or my family, in October, my husband was suddenly diagnosed with End Stage Renal Failure.  The days I was at school, I was on auto-pilot. Our science project was not on my radar.

But, my kids were persistent.  We had done much of the work in September.  We continued to do a little in February and March.  Yet, the due date crept up on us.  In fact, it came and we were not done.  I told the kids, very solemnly, that we gave it a valiant effort, but we would not be able to finish.  I thought they would just be sad for a moment and then move on.  They didn't.  They wanted to finish what we had begun.  I tried to explain that the materials were due at midnight and they had to go home and had no way of getting the materials to me in time.  They were determined to finish.  What would it hurt, I thought.  I let them finish their reflections and turn them in the next day.

Then the magic happened.  Disney is in the business of magic, y'all.  I received an email telling me that they had extended my due date.  What!?  Well then, I just happen to have my student reflections right here.

Right after the contest ended, we got absorbed in state testing.  To be honest, I completely forgot about the Disney Planet Challenge.  Then, I got an email....and I opened it......and it said we had been awarded........




RUNNER UP!!!!!!!!!!!!  I was so proud of my students.  Not for earning runner up, although that did pop a few buttons.  More so because they did not give up.  Even with the deadline staring them in the face, they still finished, worked late at home, and FINISHED!

Through this process my students learned about the water cycle, weathering and erosion, and the life cycle of a plant.  I learned to never give up.  Never!

Going Places with STEM

Chances are high school students have heard about STEM.  Surely our university students have been exposed to the acronym which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.  But what about Kindergartners?  Is there such a thing as STEM in the primary grades?

As you scroll through my previous blog posts, you will no doubt see that STEM is alive and well in elementary schools!  In fact, they do it very well.  They run into obstacles in their designs daily but never give up nor pout.  They simply return to the engineering process and modify their design.  I am amazed at their creativity and ability to "think outside the box". 

So, how to introduce STEM to elementary students?  In 4th and 5th grades, I like to start with a novel they have read or are going to read.  For instance, our current 4th grade STEM unit branches off The City of Ember book by Jeanne DuPrau to teach renewable forms of energy.  In 2nd and 3rd grades, I like to use their classroom reading book.  For instance, the informational text about students raising butterflies launched our Cycles of Life STEM unit in 3rd grade.  But for Kindergarten and 1st grade, I like to use picture books. 

One of my (new) favorite books to incorporate STEM is Going Places by Peter and Paul Reynolds.  These brother writers/illustrators tell a story of

"creative spirit, collaboration, and thinking-both figuratively and literally-outside the box."

Watch this short video:

The book is just as riveting.  Imagine yourself reading this book aloud to a room full of eager 1st graders.  Now, imagine their faces as you hand them a box.  A box full of what? you ask. Anything!  Legos, K'Nex, blocks, paperclips, tape, you name it!  If you order directly from the author, you also get access to teacher activities. 

STEM is not only for high schoolers and beyond.  STEM can be very successful in the early grades.  Start with picture books, give them some supplies, and get out of their way.  They are going places!


If you aren't quite sure how to link a STEM lesson to literature, there are many books on the market that come with lessons already scripted.  The popular Picture-Perfect Science Lessons series offers just that.  They have books for K-5 and books more narrowed down to grade level bands K-2 and 3-5.  Click here for a link.  The National Science Teachers Association has produced their own book on the subject as well.  Teaching Science Through Trade Books offers lessons for grade bands K-3 and 4-6 with lessons and student engagement strategies.

Perhaps you already know which book you want to use for STEM and are just looking for a STEM lesson plan.  You can use HowToSmile.org 's website.  They have compiled lesson plans, searchable by book title.  Click here to go to the page.  When you select a title, you will be directed to a page with details.  After reading the synopsis, if you want to use that book, click "Go to Activity".  You can print the PDF file for use in the classroom.

National Parks: Treasures for Teachers - Field Trips and Institutes

What sort of Field Trips and Institutes are available?

Of course, you could take your class to a national park and guide them on your own.  Or........ you could choose from over 180 specific field trips.  Some field trips are self-guided, yet come with lesson plans and printables.  Some are ranger-led and you can benefit from the experience of an expert who knows the history of the park.

What are some examples of field trips available?

• I Spy
• CSI
• Scavenger Hunts
• STEM units
• Cultural lessons

How much do the Field Trips and Institutes cost?

The fees vary for field trips, but all costs are minimal.  There are grants available to help with the cost of the trip and transportation. 

A limited number of travel grants are available for schools with restricted travel budgets. This offer applies to schools who are schedule to attend one of our education programs with at least 50% of their students on a free or reduced lunch program.

How can I request a Field Trip or Institute?

LearnNPS is the best place to start.  You can search all the available field trips.  However, if you know which park you want to visit, you can go directly to your parks website.  From there, click on the Teachers tab at the top.  Click on Parks as Classrooms on the left sidebar.  Click on Field Trips on the sidebar. 


National Parks: Treasures for Teachers is a five part series.  We will explore the resources for teachers (most of which are free!). Read on and experience your America in a new way.

1. Teacher Workshops
2. Traveling Trunks and Materials on Loan
3. Virtual Field Trips and other Online Opportunities
4. Teacher-Ranger-Teacher
5. Field Trips and Institutes

For field trip ideas in your community, read my post on free field trips.  

National Parks: Treasures for Teachers - Teacher Ranger Teacher: Updated for 2015

What is Teacher Ranger Teacher?

The Teacher Ranger Teacher (TRT) program is the centerpiece of the National Park Service's (NPS) Teacher Corps, a diverse collection of programs and opportunities for educators to partner and interact with the National Park Service. Teacher Ranger Teacher is a professional development opportunity for educators from K-12 schools to learn about National Park Service education resources and themes. Participants in the program shadow NPS staff working in natural and cultural resource management, environmental education, historical and scientific research or other career fields. Teacher Ranger Teachers also develop lesson plans based on NPS resources and produce a major education project during their experience.

What are the benefits?

Aside from the fun and learning, teachers benefit in a few other ways.   Most offer professional development hours for recertification.  And some even offer college credit. 


How do I find a park near me participating in the TRT program?

Teacher Ranger Teacher is a great place to start.  While not every national park offers TRT programs every year, they will be able to direct you to parks offering programs this coming summer. 

Click on the Apply tab and you will be directed to a list of parks offering Teacher Ranger Teacher programs this summer.

What are some examples of TRT programs?

• Common Core State Standards projects
• Applied STEM Education materials and activities
• Educational podcasts
• America’s Great Outdoors activities and programs
• Healthy People/Healthy Parks projects
• English Language Learner projects/activities
• Applying/incorporating the arts into National Park Service education programs
• Incorporating technology-based projects into National Park Service education programs
• Service learning project identification and organization
• Earth caching

National Parks: Treasures for Teachers is a five part series.  We will explore the resources for teachers (most of which are free!). Read on and experience your America in a new way.

1. Teacher Workshops
2. Traveling Trunks and Materials on Loan
3. Virtual Field Trips and other Online Opportunities
4. Teacher-Ranger-Teacher
5. Field Trips and Institutes

Free Field Trips

Does your school have loads of money to send your students on fascinating field trips monthly?  No?  Mine neither.  If it weren't for free field trips, we wouldn't ever get out of the classroom.

Although I like to incorporate field trips throughout the year, the end of the year is the perfect time to step up my free field trips.  The students know the state testing is over.  They know I have already done the end-of-year assessments.  Some are even beginning to make poor choices.  To keep the calm, keep them at school, and keep the learning going, I go on free field trips.

Free?  How's that?  Visit local businesses and offices.  Let me explain. (click the links for specifics on those field trips)

1. Public Library.  Your school probably has a library, but does your town/city?  Our little town does, but about 50% of my students have never been there.  I take my kiddos every year.  If you go towards the end of the school year, the librarian will probably talk to them about their upcoming summer reading program.
2. Grocery Store.  I know a lot of schools do this field trip to see the back doors of the grocery store.  I have done this too, but I was never sure what the kids actually learned.  Now, I use a real-world scenario to make it engaging and reinforcing of Math concepts.
3. Gym/Fitness Center.  Although the kids were not allowed to use the equipment (insurance requirements), the manager put on a power point presentation talking to them about the importance of exercise.  He then taught them a few exercises they could do at home with household items.
4. Police Department.  Yes, you read that right.  I LOVE doing this field trip right before summer break.  They get to see the 911 call center and see how serious a 911 call is.  I actually show them the jail cell.  It's not pretty.  It's my last little reminder to make good choices over summer break.  
5. Post Office.  We went in the back and saw the inner workings.  To make this field trip more pertinent to them, I wrote each child a letter and addressed it: Student Name, General Delivery, Name of Town, State, Zip Code.  At the end of the field trip, they stood in line and picked up their own mail!
6. Fire Department.  Again, nothing new here.  Lots of schools do this.  We made thank you cards to our local fire department before we went there and were able to hand deliver them.
7. Letterboxing.  One of my FAVE's!  I was able to incorporate research into this one.  If you haven't tried this yet (even just for personal fun), you have got to try it.  
8. Hike.  We have a mountain behind our school.  We have used the hike for team building, science (weathering and erosion), and community service (replanting).  
9. Parade.  Huh?  Parade?  Yes.  Your kids can make a banner for the theme.  Or, a co-worker got the last spot in the parade.  His students walked with trash bags and collected trash along the route and from the spectators.  
10. T-Shirt Shop.  We have a small screenprinting shop nearby.  The kids got to see the whole process from design to printing.  

Bonus field trips for free: 

***#11.  Geocaching.  This is similar to Letterboxing (#7), but instead of a compass, you use a GPS.  I think any activity like this has so many benefits and can be cross-curricular.  Make it even more engaging by having the students make their own geocache.  

***#12.  Music.  Our local community (albeit small) has an orchestra.  They have formal concerts for a price, but they also offer a free concert once/year for local students.  They have done a wonderful job in the last few years of providing the teachers with lesson plans, websites, and a CD of the music that will be played for them.  It never fails, I always worry about my students being well-behaved in a formal setting.  Yet, they are always, ALWAYS, the best behaved in the auditorium.  They make me so proud every year.  In fact, last year, one of my students answered a question correctly, that he won the prize.  What was the prize?  His teacher, moi, got to go on stage and be the conductor for "The Stars and Stripes Forever".  I even got to keep the baton.  :)  Your local band/orchestra might be willing to do the same to keep the love of music alive in young children.

Where do you go for field trips?

STREAM Garden

The sun is shining and little green sprouts are shooting up from the ground. I don't know about you, but my mind drifts towards gardens this time of year.
 
This year, as part of our STEM initiative, we are starting a STREAM Garden. STREAM stands for:

Science
Technology
Reading
Engineering
Art
Mathematics

Wondering what types of plants and flowers would go into a STREAM garden? View the Prezi below for great ideas.



What themes would you add?

April STEM Ideas

April is a great time in the classroom.  April is National Poetry Month.  April has Earth Day, Easter, and Arbor Day.  April is also the time when most schools are done with testing and teachers are a little more free to have fun teach STEAM.  

Earth Day and STEAM  

Instead of our normal Daily 5 rotations, we celebrated Earth Day in style.  We had 5  stations:

1.  Making our own paper (recycling):  

2.  Painting the planet Earth.  This was supposed to be marble painting, but the kids got creative and discovered that if you scrape the paint, it makes a "champ" design.

3.  Writing in response to "The Lorax".  

4.  Reading magazines and finding "fun facts for the Lorax".  (We reduced paper by using both sides)

5.  Reading Earth Day themed books and taking AR tests.  

National Education Association has done a great job of putting STEM activities together.  The activities are primarily for K-5 and are searchable.  They have lesson plans, printables, and games/activities.  Check them out here.  Comment which activities you plan to do with your students.

Poetry and STEAM

You might think that poetry and science are polar opposites.  But, you can integrate both of them.  Have students write a science-based haiku.  Our fifth graders wrote haikus about hot air balloons (STEM Unit).

Draw inspiration from some accomplished science and nature poets using resources from The Poetry Foundation and the American Academy of Poets. For starters, try:

Ten Poems to Get You Through Science Class This Year

The Sciences Sing a Lullabye  by Albert Goldbarth

Darwin’s Bestiary  by Philip Appleman

Haiku Journey by Kimberly Blaeser
(source)

Arbor Day and STEAM

I heart Shel Silverstein.  His poems are short enough to keep attention for little readers.  They are silly.  They are whimsical.  I like his short stories too.

Have you read The Giving Tree?  Watch this short animation to get the gist of the story.

http://www.shelsilverstein.com/books/#animations 

Reading this book will no doubt inspire young readers to plant their own giving trees.  In fact, if you plan ahead, you can put seeds into the pulp when making paper (see above).  The paper can then be planted (along with the seeds).

Students can play along with the book with a Maker Space of wooden blocks to make the house, boat, etc.

Imagine having your students finish the animation with technology, either via tablet apps or desktop programs.

Bring in writing with ideas in this blog devoted to Shel Silverstein.

Easter and STEAM

Check back in a few days for a blog post devoted entirely to Easter and STEM.