October 2006
This bi-monthly newsletter is for you. Let me know what type of information you would like to see. I invite everyone to submit an environmental related article or blurb that would be of interest to PLT educators and supporters.
Thank you for all your support,
Jennifer Seitz
Florida PLT Coordinator
Inside this edition:
- FL PLT News
- Upcoming PLT Events and Workshops
- Conferences / Events / /Workshops
- Grants / Contests / Awards
- Connecting PLT to the Classroom
- Resources
- Interesting Tree Fact #13
FL PLT News
Every Student Learns Outside with PLT!
In response to the growing interest in encouraging children to get outside, PLT has launched a national initiative Every Student Learns Outside™ and website to help educators make outdoor experiences part of their everyday lesson plans.
“For 30 years, Project Learning Tree has provided educators with the tools, training, and resources they need to get their students outdoors and learning about their local environment,” said Kathy McGlauflin, Director of Project Learning Tree and Senior Vice President of AFF. “Through Every Student Learns Outside, we’ll accelerate our on-going efforts to help teachers bring the environment into the classroom and students into the environment.”
Upcoming PLT Events and Workshops
- October 6: PreK-8 Educator Workshop at Leon County Extension Office (Tallahassee). Limited space available.
- October 13: Energy and Society for 3-8 grade educators at Nature’s Classroom in Thonotosassa. This workshop is part of the Hillsborough County Professional Planning Day Event.
- October 13: PreK-8 Educator Workshop at Nature’s Classroom in Thonotosassa. This workshop is part of the Hillsborough County Professional Planning Day Event.
- October 19: PreK-8 Educator Workshop at Leon County Extension Office (Tallahassee). Limited space available.
- November 17-19: PLT Facilitator ReTREEt in Brooksville. Deadline to register is October 13. For a registration form and flyer visit the Special Events section on our Calendar of Events.
- December 2: Energy and Society Workshop for 3-8 grade educators at the Jacksonville Zoo. Additional details coming soon- contact Jenny Seitz for more information (352) 846-2329.
For more information about these and other events, please see the Calendar of Events on our Web site.
Conferences / Events / Workshops
Earth Science Week: October 8-14
Organized annually by the American Geologic Institute (AGI), Earth Science Week is a national and international event to raise awareness and appreciation for the Earth sciences and the work of geoscientists and to encourage stewardship of the Earth. AGI is distributing Earth Science Week kits and holding contests that encourage “citizen science.”
PLT and WILD Leadership and Facilitator Training Workshop: January 26–28, 2007
Become a facilitator for both PLT and WILD! This two day training held at the Ocala Conservation Youth Camp will show you the ins and outs of facilitation. Pre-registration and an application are required. Contact Jenny Seitz at (352) 846-2329 or jacohen@ufl.edu for the forms.
Grants / Contests / Awards
International Children's Painting Competition
This United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) painting competition is held every year for children between the ages of 6 and 15 worldwide. This year's theme is climate change. Each regional first prize winner will receive a cash prize and a trip with an accompanying adult to the 2007 official World Environment Day celebrations in Tromso, Norway. Deadline to apply is December 31, 2006.
Connecting PLT to the Classroom
What’s Your Earth Gauge™?
This is the first in a series of Earth GaugeT weather-environment tips from the National Environmental Education & Training Foundation (NEETF). Learn more about the program and browse Earth Gauge information for cities across the U.S. The site shares useful information showing the link between weather patterns and many environmental issues, such as acid rain, erosion, etc.
**This information can be used with the Risk module’s Communicating Risk and PreK-8 Guide’s Water Wonders; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; Pollution Search; Rain Reasons; and Every Drop Counts.
The Oil + Water Project
To promote the use of alternative energy, the Biofuels Education Coalition (BEC) Oil + Water Project will send a demonstration vehicle fueled by vegetables to communities for public and youth oriented demonstrations.
**This information can be used with Energy & Society’s What Power’s the Move? and In the Driver’s Seat (also in PreK-8 Guide).
Dr. E's Science Page PowerPoints
From La Canada High School in California, Dr. E's Science Page provides a large number of PowerPoint presentations, mostly created by students in the Advanced Placement Environmental Science class. PPTs cover topics like the water cycle, global warming, hazardous waste, and genetic engineering.
**This information can be used with assorted activities in the PreK-8 Guide, Risk module, and Solid Waste module.
Water Web Sites
USGS’
Earth’s Water
University
Corporation for Atmospheric Research’s Water Around the World
UC-Cooperative
Extension’s Watersheds Factsheet
**These sites can be used with PreK-8 Guide’s Every Drop Counts, Water Wonders, and Watch on Wetlands. The last reference can be used with PreK-8’s Soil Stories.
Resources
Celebrating Veterans Day in The Classroom
Veterans Day marks the time appointed each year on Nov. 11 to pay tribute to the nation's veterans who have honorably served our country. To commemorate this occasion, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently released an updated version of its resource guide, “Honoring All Who Served”, to help elementary through high school teachers educate their students on the contributions 25 million living veterans have made toward ensuring America's freedom. Teacher resources, kid’s packet and student resources are available on the web site.
Topographic Maps of Specific Geomorphic Features
This is a great site with topo maps for identifying multiple geomorphic features.
Virtual Owl Pellet
This site was designed to teach young and old about the wonders of birds. An interesting section is the Virtual Owl Pellet Dissection.
Windows into Wonderland
Yellowstone Park Foundation, from the National Park Service, takes visitors on a series of electronic field trips (eTrips) into Yellowstone National Park. Animations, illustrations, and video footage reveal Yellowstone as you’ve never seen it before! The currently featured eTrip is "Yellowstone Exposed: Mysteries in the Living Laboratory." Each eTrip is equipped with curricular materials for teachers and an Ask an Expert area that provides an archive of questions and answers. Designed for middle school students, it is also appropriate for general audiences.
Archaeology
for the Public Web site
A new web site, "Archaeology for the Public," is a useful resource for outreach activities, public sessions, and college courses. "Archaeology for the Public" is a project of the Public Education Committee of the Society for American Archaeology.
Facts about Carbon
Have you wondered about carbon? This site has many interesting tidbits of knowledge about carbon.
Association for Butterflies
Information relating to butterflies and conservation, research, farming, and gardening.
Journey North—Nationwide
Journey North engages students in a global study of wildlife migration and seasonal change. K-12 students share their own field observations with classmates across North America. They track the coming of spring through the migration patterns of monarch butterflies, bald eagles, robins, hummingbirds, whooping cranes — and other birds and mammals; the budding of plants; changing sunlight; and other natural events. Find standards-based lesson plans, activities and information to help students make local observations and fit them into a global context.
Chocolate: The Journey from Beans to Bar
Go into almost any backpack in your school and you will find empty chocolate wrappers or chocolate treats waiting to be eaten. Chocolate is a favorite candy of children all over the world. Where does all this chocolate come from? Who produces the ingredients for this treat? Take your students on a delicious journey that follows the production of a chocolate bar from the bean to your supermarket by downloading National Rainforest Alliance’s "Chocolate: The Journey from Beans to Bar" and third and fourth grade units.
Interesting Tree Fact #13
Do you know how scrub plants conserve water?
Scrub habitat has very well-drained sandy soil. Most woody shrubs found here have adaptations to help them conserve water. One of these involves their root system. Many have two types of roots: a taproot(s) or a shallow root mat. The shallow root mat spreads around the plants over areas larger than the plants’ tops. This mat grabs most of the rainwater that falls. The taproot reaches far down into the sand.
The root competition for water and possibly-growth-inhibiting chemicals released by the plant, limit the number of other plants that can grow and provides a reason why there are often large expanses of bare sand surrounding these plants.
Other water conservation adaptations include slow growth, small leaves, and leaves or needles with waxy coating.
Scrubs are dry communities growing on well-drained, infertile sand formations of marine origin in both coastal and inferior Florida. Florida has small bits of scrub and the largest parcels are found in the Ocala National Forest and on the southern end of the central Florida ridge in Polk and Highland Counties.
Reference: Whitney, E., D.B. Means, and A. Rudloe. 2004. Priceless Florida: Natural Ecosystems and Native Species. Sarasota, FL: Pineapple Press, Inc.
Credits
Information in this newsletter came from a number of PLT educators, the National PLT, NAAEE, Kids Gardening, and National Rainforest Alliance newsletter, and the SIFT list serv .