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Marilyn FensterElementary Teacher
Gail HanssElementary Teacher
Robin Long7-12 Biology Teacher
Kids Afield Team
With support from Dr. Smith,Lower School Division Head
Kids AfieldKids Afield
Robin Long – site [email protected]
Kids AfieldKids Afield Na ture & Te chno lo g yNa ture & Te chno lo g y•What•Why origins origins researchresearch
• How inside outside
•Learning children's teachers’ sharing
Resources
& Extensions
Kid-Photographers explore the Earth
Camera PromotesEmpathy
With Photos…see world through others’ eyes…see world through self-selected
camera eye
Young Citizen Naturalists
Adult Environmentalists
Emerged from
• limits field of focus • archives outdoor experiences for indoor/online sharing • employs “hybrid thinking”
• taps into intrinsic motivation
• empowers students
.
I believe that a central goal of modern education should be … — to stimulate both ways of knowing in the world: digital and direct experience.
Richard Louv
The ideal scientist thinks like a poet and
works like a bookkeeper.
E.O. Wilson
Technology + Natural World ExperiencesCan = Deep Learning
Can = Environmental Awareness
3 Key Resources
Time for exploring outdoorsExposure to Adults that respect • outdoor environmentts• children’s ideas & feelings
2 Keys to Promoting Kids Connections to Nature
1. Kid-Cameras 2. Introduce w/focus 3. Agency
• fit kids’ hands• tough!• easy to use• $ 30 – 35
• require batteries
2. Introduce w/focus
3. Agency
Cameras as valued toolsCare of equipmentCare of one anotherCare of spaceCare of life sharing space
How Birds became a Class Focus
Valuing students’ interests
Authentic Assessment: StudentsExplain why they took the picture…pre-writers put the starting letterof the word – later a teacher helps transcribe
Birds – the kid-connection that stuck!
BENEFITS
Present all yearGlobal Connections via migrationInquiry Learning arises naturallyArt, Music, WritingStrong intrinsic attraction
Great Free online Resources
Jay Stetzer
..John Burroughs, “Knowledge without love will not stick. But if love comes first, knowledge is sure to follow.” It’s our responsibility as parents and teachers to make sure that love comes first. David Sobel, Orion Magazine, July/August 2012
Imagination & Play The Discovery of Mouse Town
A Voicethread slide
A classroom discussion added to student Voicethreads
Student assessment of a bird feeding experiment added to Voicethread
Resource materials for Kids Afield are archivedAt :
http://storify.com/earthwalker/kids-afield
twitter.com/earthwalkertoo
connectchildrenntonature.wikispaces.com
PHOTOGRAPH CHANGES OVER TIME PLANTS or areas of plants
SIGNS OF LIFE: leaf being consumed, animals prints, decaying log, leaf litter, emerging buds, etc.
EROSION TRACES of water flow
PATTERNS left by mud SKY
MATERIALS left out for animals (bird food, fruit, etc) A PUDDLE
SIGNS of human movement in and out of an areaSNOW melting
DATA - INQUIRY DRIVENShadows - Plant growth - Leaf drop -Color changes – Bird nest materials –
Bird feeder experiments – Trash –Spider webs – Plant damage – Melting-Visual changes with temperature or light
Photo scavenger hunt- Identifying plants & ” bugs” –
Camouflage challenges – Story or poetry starters – ‘favorites’-
Kid-generated Games/Activities
Photos from Student Generated Nest Material Experiment
Grades 7 & 8
Nature Photo
Elective
An example of using students photos to promote deeper thinking…
Older students learn from one another as they share their work
Bringing attention to the natural world withthe aid of a bit of wire to suspend a deerskeleton …
