Place-based Learning for ALL 
Join WGSN FIELD Edventures this summer on a journey to discover how to support place-based learning in blended learning environments.
During this 5-part summer learning series, formal and non-formal educators will gather together virtually to explore how to connect, explore, and engage students in their natural and cultural communities. We will explore tools and approaches to teaching that can be applied in in-person, remote, asynchronous and/ or synchronous environments.
Register for all five sessions and receive a complimentary copy of the book Power of Place (a $27.95 value) as well as additional support for implementation in your teaching setting, or pick and choose the sessions that best meet your needs.
Sessions take place Tuesday mornings from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (CT) from July 7 – August 4
Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education’s Online Environmental Education Options
- Energy Education: Concepts and Practices – ONLINE OPEN NOW!
This self-paced online module addresses energy concepts relating to energy definitions, natural laws of energy, energy flows in living and non-living systems, and their relationships to understanding and evaluating environmental issues. Module activities include exploration of energy readings and pertinent websites, home activities such as reading utility bills, home energy audits, and calculating the wattages of various home appliances. Participants have 30 days from registration to complete the module which satisfies the environmental education stipulation through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. The cost is $25 and will take approximately 7 hours to complete online.
Register Here: https://wcee.asapconnected.com/ClassDetail.aspx?pk=1679645
- Step Outside and into Health and Wellness Engagement: Outdoor Classroom Leadership – ONLINEOPEN NOW!
This self-paced online module will help you harness the benefits of the most interactive instruction possible: learning on school grounds, outside the four walls of the classroom. Conducting class outside offers many academic, physical, social and emotional benefits for students. This module is designed for K-8 teachers who are new to conducting class outside and are looking to boost their skills with beginning level resources. Participants learn how to conduct class outside on any type of school grounds (from urban concrete to rural forests) in order to engage and inspire students in learning. Guidelines, rules, safety considerations, resources and handouts will be provided so teachers have everything they need to lead confidently. You’ll also receive a Step Outside kit in the mail for hard copies of resources and supplies for conducting a project-based environmental education product. Classroom management practices that are specific to the outdoors will be discussed. The module includes time for integrating stepping outside into your classroom setting, and provides a variety of ready-to-use activities so teachers can implement outdoor learning right away. Participants have 30 days from registration to complete the module which satisfies the environmental education stipulation through the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. The cost is $50 and will take approximately 7 hours to complete online.
Register Here: https://wcee.asapconnected.com/ClassDetail.aspx?pk=1680104
- Using the WI Community Tree Map as an Educational Tool: Tree Inventories and School Site Assessment – ONLINE OPEN JUNE 15!
This self-paced online module will teach you how to use the Wisconsin Community Tree Map, a compilation of tree inventories from around the state, with your students! With the pursuit of a tree inventory, students can learn more about the trees and forest ecosystems around them, becoming more intimately familiar with the places and spaces in which they live. Students work in groups to access the tree map via a smart phone or other device and collect data related to the species, size, condition and location of the trees. Students learn technical skills using equipment and observation, real-world critical literacy, outside field collection, data analysis and interpretation, systems thinking processes, and civic science practices. Participants will receive access to a growing library of resources which include curriculum connections, data collection and analysis documents, and a collection of articles and resources on urban tree benefits. Participants have 30 days from registration to complete the module. Upon successful completion participants will receive an organizational login and password for using the WI Community Tree Map as an inventory, research, and citizen science tool with students. The cost is $25 and will take approximately 3-4 hours to complete online.
Register Here: https://wcee.asapconnected.com/ClassDetail.aspx?pk=1701568 (you may register now; workshop opens June 15)
Connect, Explore, Engage with Educator Preparation Programs
Summer 2020, Online
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has awarded funding for this workshop through the Teacher Educator Network for Environmental Education (TENFEE)
Goals of the Workshop
- Develop a shared vision for what environmental education (EE) should be for all educator preparation programs in Wisconsin
- Utilize our network to learn more about environmental education and its effect on teaching and learning
- Craft a plan for your own program to advance education for environmental literacy and sustainability
The workshop will take place online—synchronously and asynchronously.
Schedule
Incorporating inquiry-based, standards-aligned resources into your courses.
*June 22-23: Synchronous meeting with group (9am-3pm each day, with breaks)
- Sharing challenges and successes integrating environmental education in our practice
- Focus on inquiry and environmental education
- Integration of online pedagogy
- Small group discussions
*June 24-30: Asynchronous
- Submit an action plan to WISELearn, a source for open-educational resources, to be implemented over the next academic year.
- “Open hours” will be schedule to provide additional support or response to questions
Significance of the Workshop
Wisconsin’s rich legacy of learning about and appreciation for the natural environment resulted in the Wisconsin State Legislature approving the requirement for conservation education for youth in 1930 (State of Wisconsin, 1989), teacher education in 1935, and the requirement that all school districts in Wisconsin incorporate environmental education into their curricula in 1983.
Candidates seeking licenses in early childhood regular education, elementary and middle school regular education, science, and social studies must demonstrate knowledge and understanding in environmental education including the conservation of natural resources.
Participant Support
A stipend of $250, upon completion of expectations
Registration
Please distribute this announcement to all of the education, content and other faculty and staff who should apply to this faculty development workshop. Interested participants should complete the on-line application at (https://bit.ly/2020TENFEEONLINE).
Questions about the EE Workshop or Application – please contact:
Dr. Becca Franzen University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point bfranzen@uwsp.edu
TENFEE – Moving EE Courses Online
We had a great conversation on May 1.
Here’s the recording: https://uwsp.zoom.us/rec/share/xekrMe7Jzz5ISKfNuWaCepYeE4e9T6a80CAa-qEFy…(link is external) (Access Password: 7P*0tz&B)
We will meet up every other Friday through the summer. Put it on your calendar!
Here’s the info to join in each time:
Topic: Moving EE Courses online
Time: May 15, 2020 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
Every 2 weeks on Fri, until Aug 21, 2020, 8 occurrence(s)
Jun 26, 2020 10:00 AM
Jul 10, 2020 10:00 AM
Jul 24, 2020 10:00 AM
Aug 7, 2020 10:00 AM
Aug 21, 2020 10:00 AM
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Weekly: https://uwsp.zoom.us/meeting/tJIocOGgrTgvG9PcrY6GUxspPcS-qZWMq3EK/ics?ic…(link is external)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://uwsp.zoom.us/j/96578833517?pwd=R0E2VjBLTDhzQjU0MklsM2VnWVovQT09(link is external)
Meeting ID: 965 7883 3517
Password: 407722
EEAI EE Speaker Series
Prairie Wetlands Learning Center
Learning Outside During the COVID-19 Pandemic
While Minnesotans shelter-in-place, the need is greater than usual for students to benefit from the movement, fresh air, and exciting discoveries that nearby nature provides. The following resources can help you take advantage of this opportunity to engage the sense of wonder as a strong motivator for learning.
Let’s Go Outside! Daily Nature Observations
- A new page on the PWLC web site, Prairie Wetlands Almanac, lists simple, daily, readily available nature observations students can make in their yard or neighborhood. We welcome you to provide a link to the PWA for students in your distance learning classroom.
- Also, Brenna Nyboer, a 5th grade teacher at Princeton Intermediate, provided us with the link to her daily outdoor distance learning lessonsto share with you. Thank you for generously sharing your inspiration with us, Brenna!
- Thanks also to 4th grade Prairie Science Class teacher, Mona Davis, for sharing this fun letter-writing lesson, Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring!
PWLC Field Trip Lesson Plans
As you are probably already aware, the PWLC offers preschool through 5th grade lesson plans on-line that teachers can access for trip planning purposes. You are welcome to also use these lesson plans for distance learning, modifying activities and materials as you see fit. They are organized by grade level and season, with an additional Nature Journaling lesson plan for all grades and seasons. Remember to look at these parts: Field Investigation Procedure, Weather Alternatives, and Teacher-Led Extensions/Adaptations/Assessment Ideas. The References and Resources section provides lists of books and web sites for children and teachers to use, and the very last page or two provides handouts, worksheets, songs, and/or identification cards, if needed.
Other Helpful Resources
Thanks to Prairie Science Class 4th grade teacher, Mona Davis; Susan Morse, writer/editor for the National Wildlife Refuge System; and Laurie Heupel, course leader for the National Conservation Training Center, for sharing these gems!
- Conservation Connect– A web-based video series produced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service featuring the great outdoors, wildlife species, and conservation careers. Several six-to-eight minute episodes feature conservationists and wildlife footage.
- Pollinator Education Materials— Curriculum, webcasts, posters, and videos for educating students about the monarch butterfly and many other important pollinators.
- 10 Nature Activities to Help Get Your Family Through the Coronavirus Pandemic— useful for teachers and students, too!
- Why Is Spring So Loud?— Explore the start of the nesting cycle with this slide show from Cornell Lab K-12 Education
- Backyard Nature is Coming Alive!— A photo essay from one of our favorite bloggers, The Prairie Ecologist, Chris Helzer
- Minnesota Bald Eagle Cam!— 3 eggs have already hatched — what’s next?
- Outdoor Scavenger Hunt — from the South Brunswick Public Library
COVID-19 Relief Sources
Below you’ll find explanations of important laws passed in recent weeks, along with links to articles and other resources from like-minded organizations that can help us unravel the vast amount of information coming at us at a sometimes overwhelming pace.
Families First Coronavirus Response Act
This law, effective March 23, expands sick leave benefits for those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, either through quarantine, illness, or caring for a family member who is ill. Learn more here.
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
This economic stimulus package, which took effect March 27, provides $367 billion in loans and grants for small businesses; expands unemployment benefits by $600 per week for people furloughed, gig workers, and freelancers; and pays $1,200 per adult and $500 per child for households making up to $75,000. Learn more here.
Here are links from organizations that expound on the implications of this act:
Americans for the Arts: Federal Economic Stimulus Relief Funds Provide Encouraging Support to the Nation’s Community-Based Arts and Culture Organizations Experiencing $3.6 Billion in Devastating Losses
Inside Charity: CARES Act for Nonprofits – What’s in the Bill For Charities?
Nnprofit Quarterly: How Nonprofits Can Utilize the New Federal Laws Dealing with COVID-19
Independent Sector: CARES Act: How to Apply for Nonprofit Relief Funds
Loans Available for Nonprofits in the CARES Act
The National Council of Nonprofits provides this chart of loans available to nonprofit organizations, including eligibility criteria, terms, and application information. Their page is updated regularly, most recently on April 5.
IMLS Authorizes New Grant Flexibilities for Libraries, Museums
The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced the first of a number of critical measures to aid museums, libraries, and communities across the nation in response to COVID-19. The new guidelines outline how institutions with open IMLS grants may adapt their existing funds to address immediate needs and extend timelines for their work to accommodate the disruption caused by coronavirus. Examples include continuing to employ staff, modifying project activities to align with social distancing requirements, and covering basic costs necessary to resume community work once the emergency has passed. Learn more here.
Tips for Working from Home
The National Park Service’s Career Academy for Cultural Resources shares this whimsical and very relevant video on best practices for working from home.
Tips to Emerge Stronger
From the field of adventure travel, one of many tangential to interpretation, come this relevant article on how to emerge from this crisis stronger. The Adventure Travel Trade Association also provides a “COVID-19 Guide for the Adventure Travel Industry.”
Snapshot Wisconsin
Snapshot Wisconsin is a partnership to monitor wildlife year-round, using a statewide network of trail cameras. The project provides data needed for wildlife management decision support.
We have an activity that anyone can do from home. Many of the photos captured from these trail cameras are uploaded to a crowd-sourcing website where people can go and identify the animals present in the photos.
Snapshot Wisconsin offers a fun and educational activity for anyone to do from home. This can be great for students or anyone looking to pass some time and enjoy Wisconsin’s wildlife.
Here is the link: www.snapshotwisconsin.org
Biotechnology Courses at the BTC Institute – stipends available
Looking to incorporate more biotechnology into your curriculum?
The BTC Institute in Madison is offering 3 summer courses to help you reach that goal! Biotechnology: The Basics (July 20-24, 2020) and Biotechnology: Beyond the Basics (July 27-31, 2020) will be offered again this year – find out why one 2019 participant wrote: “I want to come back next year for the second ‘round’ and bring a friend. Seriously, the best PD I have ever been part of.” New this year will be Biotechnology: Genetic Identity (June 29-July 1, 2020).
All courses are offered for stipends and optional graduate education credit.
Click here for details and registration.
Backyard Science Education
Great information for kids on the environment.
- What Is Environmental Education?
- About EE and Why it Matters
- What Is Environmental Education?
- How to Teach Respect for Wildlife
- Watch Out for Wildlife Activity Fun Book (PDF)
- Teach Your Kids About Wildlife Conservation
- Conservation Education Activity Guide
- Five Fun Activities for Teaching Kids About Conservation
- Build a Watershed
- In Your Watershed
- Drainage Basins and Watersheds
- Kids Make Great Citizen Scientists
- Kids Can Be Citizen Scientists: Here’s How
- Five Pro Tips for Talking to Kids About Climate Change (Without Freaking Them Out)
- Just for Kids: What’s Climate Change? And What Can I Do?
- Talking Climate Change With Kids
- How to Teach Kids About Sustainability
- Four Tips for Teaching Kids About Sustainable Living
(Site suggested by Hannah Ainsworth’s elementary science class – Jane, Michelle and Sam)
FREE- SCIENCE RESOURCES
Titled: “Bringing the Universe to America’s Classroom!” produced by WGBH- PBS LEARNING MEDIA. There are some great lessons dealing with climate, weather, and the solary energy from the sun… just to mention a few!
https://wpt.pbslearningmedia.org/collection/universe/
Each topical collection listed below includes a lesson plan and supplementary resources that feature a range of innovative media. Some of the media-rich education resources featured in these lessons include: IMAGES, INTERACTIVES, GAMES, VIDEOS, and DATA VISUALIZATIONS. Flexible support materials aid instructional use and integration into the classroom. The material contained in this product is based upon work supported by NASA.
There are units for all grades K-12.
K-2: Waves (light), Space, Earth’s Systems, and Weather/Climate
3-5: Space, Earth’s System
6-8: Space, Earth’s System, Weather/Climate
9-12: Space, Weather/Climate
Prairie Wetlands Learning Center
