Environmental Education for Children: Going Beyond the Hype

An opportunity to present and share ideas, discuss and debate issues and network with people and organizations.

June 5 and 6, 2008

Sponsored by the Applera Corporation, with additional support from the Wheelock College Math/Science Education Initiative, the Colleges of the Fenway Environmental Science Program, and the Massachusetts Audubon Society.

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Thursday

4-4:30 p.m.	Opening Remarks
4:30-6 p.m.	Keynote Speakers
	Planet Earth—The View from Space Hear an astronaut describe how we and other nations study our home planet, and learn some of the amazing things that have been found. The Outdoors as an Essential Extension of the Classroom Be part of an interactive panel of educators and environmentalists who will discuss opportunities and challenges when using the world around school to provide rich science learning experiences for students.
6-7 p.m.	Welcome Reception

Friday

8-8:30 a.m.	Opening
8:45-10:15 a.m.	Workshops on environmental science topics (see descriptions below)
10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.	Workshops on teaching environmental science in the classroom (see descriptions below)
12-1 p.m.	Lunch (provided)
1-2:30 p.m.	Workshops on teaching environmental science in the classroom (see descriptions below)
2:30-3 p.m.	Wrap-up
3 p.m.	Adjourn

Workshop Descriptions

Below is a partial list of workshops. Science content workshops on environmental science topics are given in the first morning session and workshops on classroom teaching are given during the following two sessions.

The Right Whale—The MA State Marine Mammal
Mike Williamson (Wheelock College)
Science Content Workshop
The right whale is the state marine mammal in Massachusetts and its critical habitat in Mass. Bay touches on Deer Island. Workshop includes local resources and 11 years of data on WhaleNet. 

Classification and Identification of Animals of New England
Sara Levine (Wheelock College)
Science Content Workshop
What’s the difference between a crustacean and a mollusk?  How do you tell a lizard from a salamander? Come learn to classify animals to the levels of phyla and class in this hands-on workshop.  After a review of taxonomy basics, we will search the campus for animals commonly found in school yards throughout New England.

Roots, Shoots and Lizards—Teachers and Children as Observers
Christina Ryan & Neal Klinman (Cambridge Public Schools)
Kindergarten
Participants will reflect upon the roles of both children and teachers as observers and researchers in the early childhood science classroom. We will do hands-on observations with plants and consider how children's drawings are so important in providing evidence of learning. We will also carefully think about the kinds of questions we ask children in order to further their inquiry and document it successfully.

Designing Nature-Based Investigations
Jaimy George (Boston Nature Center) & Julie Psychos (Boston Public Schools)
Grade 2
Learn how a second grade teacher, in partnership with the Boston Nature Center, built schoolyard investigations, journaling, and outdoor exploration into her curriculum. We will explore the process of designing nature-based investigations and show how these meet state science frameworks.

Water, Water Everywhere: Designing Water Filters, an Environmental Engineering Workshop
Gretchen Fougere (Dedham Country Day School) & Carolyn DeCristofano (Museum of Science)
Grades 2 & 3
Come dip your toes in the engineering education waters as you explore Engineering is Elementary curriculum materials and design water filters. Become an environmental engineer as you compare data about how simple materials perform as filters, and then put your newfound knowledge to work: How can you combine the materials to clean up some contaminated water?

Soil Investigations
Susan Agger (Maynard Ecology Center) & Marianne Dunne (Cambridge Public Schools Science Center)
Grades 2 & 3
Use your senses to investigate a variety of different soil samples outdoors and in the classroom. Students will perform hands on soils experiments that strengthen science content, observational skills, math and literacy.

Studying Birds
Gail Fenton (Massachusetts Audubon Society) & Maria Herrick (Sherborn Public Schools)
Grade 3
This workshop will focus on a study of birds by third graders throughout the year in Sherborn, exploring classification, anatomy, life cycles, adaptations, and behavior. A teacher-naturalist from the Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary has developed hands-on activities that fit the MA frameworks and can be used with everyday urban birds.

Using the Outdoors at the Gardner School, Boston
Dean Martin (Boston Public Schools) & Eric Meuse (Gardner School)
Grade 4
Students at Boston’s Gardner Elementary school develop skills of inquiry through schoolyard engagement. Through hands on experiences participants at this session will get a sense for how inquiry looks and plays out when Gardner students and teachers utilize the outdoors.

Water, Water Everywhere: Teaching an Integrated, Inquiry-based Environmental Unit
Jane Martin (former teacher at Ecole Bilingue) & Erica Whitworth (Habitat)
Grade 5
Learn how a fifth grade teacher, in partnership with Habitat, developed a watershed investigation that included pond life, properties of water, stream health, stewardship, and Adopt-a-Salmon.  Learn what skills were incorporated as the unit grew from a few lessons to a yearlong study motivating students and meeting state science frameworks. 

Young Naturalists at Young Achievers
Bill Perkins & Margaret Connors (Young Achievers Science and Math Pilot School, Boston)
Grade 5
This workshop will highlight a healthy streams investigation conducted on two urban streams by 5th graders. We will discuss how naturalists, classroom teachers, and students came together to educate a community about the health of its waterways.