| FIRST
HAND LEARNING E-NEWSLETTER
Vol. 5, No. 2
IN THIS ISSUE:
OUTDOOR LEARNING IN PHILADELPHIA
NATURE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
“SAVE THE QUAIL” WINS PLANET CHALLENGE
1. FHL AT NSTA
We enjoyed fabulous spring weather in March – for the second year
in a row – during the National Science Teachers Association conference,
held this year in Philadelphia, PA. Teachers from around the country joined
us at the U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service’s wonderful John
Heinz National Wildlife Refuge to participate in FHL’s Professional
Development Institute, “Outdoor Learning: A Path to Science and
Inquiry.”
Focusing on the development of local field guides, participants honed
their observational and recording skills while exploring this unique freshwater
tidal basin within the city limits of Philadelphia. They made field journal
entries, examined a variety of science texts, and discussed how to structure
outdoor investigations to captivate students’ interest and enhance
their science inquiry and literacy skills. Ideas for incorporating these
topics and strategies into the high school biology curriculum were shared
among the many secondary school teachers attending.
Thanks to all who participated in this PDI experience, and the other First
Hand Learning NSTA sessions this year. We were excited to meet so many
who are committed to learning from direct experience and to using the
outdoors to meet their teaching goals.
View
more photos of the PDI here.
First Hand Learning offers Outdoor
Inquiries® and other professional development workshops.
Contact us about your individual PD needs: inquiries@firsthandlearning.org.
2. ONLINE “ECO LIBRARY” OPENS
A new, online resource gives teachers and students free access to high-quality
images of the natural world. EcoLibrary
offers a selection of photographs, 360o interactive panoramas of different
ecosystems, and thematically linked groups of images for K – 12
teachers. Depending on how the site builds its database, this could be
a helpful resource to supplement students’ direct engagement with
the world around them. Check it out and let us know what you think: inquiries@firsthandlearning.org.
3. THE DISNEY
PLANET CHALLENGE
One way to enhance students’ understanding and connection to nature
is to get them directly engaged. The
Disney Planet Challenge encourages middle school students to focus
on one local environmental issue, to learn about and investigate ways
to address the issue, and to develop and take action to improve the environment.
Disney’s website offers teachers guidance for carrying out project-based
learning, including some lesson plans and alignments to relevant state
content standards, and shares examples of past
winning entries.
This year, Mrs. Julie Schnedler’s sixth grade class at the Mediapolis
Community School, in Mediapolis, Iowa, submitted the grand prize-winning
entry, entitled “Operation: Save the Quail.” Congratulations!
Registration for the class project is now open for the 2010 – 2011
school year at Disney’s website.
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The First Hand Learning Catalog offers nature journals, hands-on science
kits, posters, and more. Go to http://www.firsthandlearning.org/catalog/catalog_frameset.html
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We hope you found this edition of the FIRST HAND LEARNING E-NEWSLETTER
informative. Please contact us with any comments, suggestions, or questions
you may have by emailing us at: inquiries@firsthandlearning.org.
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© 2010 First Hand Learning, Inc.
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