Our students had a great opportunity to meet a representative from a the Dunes National Park! He brought native plants, along with live and skins from animals that can be found in our northern Indiana National Park.
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Our first grade learners (students and teachers) have been busy! First Grade is moving right along with their driving question of "How can we make our school more nature friendly?" It has been amazing to watch the changes our students have made to our school and even our local community. Their first project was to make our school campus more nature friendly by adding plants to our landscaping. With the help of local garden centers and people, they were able to plant perennial plants that will grow on our campus year after year. Once the plants were in the ground, it was time to start thinking about the animals. First grade got local support from Wild Birds Unlimited and installed several bird feeders around the campus. The kids have really enjoyed watching the birds they have attracted to their schoolyard! Then our "change makers" started thinking more globally. Our first graders were so successful at making our school more nature friendly, they wondered if they could make our community a better place by making some of our parks and nature spaces more friendly to plants and animals. They decided they would raise money to install a box turtle habitat at the Zion Nature Park. Our first grade students raised over $800 to fund the project by serving lemonade at our annual Dad's Club Winterfest and by hosting a Coffee for a Cause morning for parents and community members. Our Superintendent, Mr. Scott Robison, came and spoke with the students about their project and how they were being "change makers" at their school and community. One of the key elements to PBL is to encourage our students to collaborate, communicate, to use critical thinking skills, and to utilize technology. These are skills that we refer to as "soft skills" which will serve them well in the future (secondary education, high education, and the work place). Some of these skills can be encouraged by having experts to speak to the class, to collaborate as a expert with the students, and to allow students to ask critical questions. Here at Union Elementary, our third grade team, asked a local park ranger to come and visit the class. Mrs. Smith and the third grade team shared some of the things the students learned from Ms. Manuel today: 1. Our state parks were created by Col. Richard Lieber in 1916. They will celebrate their 100th birthday next year! Col. Lieber wanted a state park within an hour’s drive for all Hoosiers. 2. Ms. Manuel is an Indiana State Park Ranger/Naturalist. She is currently working in Prophetstown State Park near Lafayette. Prophetstown in our newest state park and is about 10 years old. 3. Ranger Manuel explained all the “hats” park rangers wear and their various jobs and duties. She also shared two animals with us that had been given to the park because they were never meant to be pets – a box turtle and a hog nosed snake. But, one of the most important things she shared about being a ranger was this: “I do not take care of animals. I take care of the places they live so they can take care of themselves. That’s what a Naturalist does.” 4. She then went on to explain why state parks are such important and great resources to Hoosiers. In our state parks, people can experience Nature, History and Recreation 365 days a year. Here are some highlights from the students’ perspectives: Student #1 - A box turtle can live for over 100 years. The hog nose snake has teeth very far back in its throat. Some state parks have been around for almost 100 years. Student #2 - I learned about how hawks are endangered. I also learned how otters can be killed by beaver and fish traps. finally, I learned about the plants that help stop your breathing problems. Student #3 - I would like to learn more about box turtles. What I would do at a State Park would be to have fun and go on trails. I learned that some snakes like to eat frogs and toads. Student #4 - I think it is cool that turtles can live up to 100 years. In the state parks, I want to learn more about nature and I also want to learn more about history. Check out the slide show of the exciting visit: This year celebrates the 100 year anniversary of our National Parks. In February, The White House announced their "Let's Get Every Kid in a Park" initiative. This initiative is to support each child in exploring America's greatest treasures...our National Parks! In an effort to get kids back outside, each fourt grader can receive a pass allowing free admission to all of our country's great national forests courtesy of the National Parks Foundation (NPF). At Union Elementary, our teachers and school personnel launched a book study last year with the book "Last Child in the Woods" to refocus on children and their relationship with the outdoors. Each of our grade levels have created a PBL question that will focus on environmental education to tie into our nation's initiative a to get every kid in a park and the Indiana state standards. Kindergarten: How can we, as Kindergartners at Union Elementary keep Zionsville parks clean and free of litter? First Grade: How can Union Elementary first graders make our school more nature friendly? Our teachers are working with representatives from Holliday Park to beautify our school's campus with native plants and flowers that will attract different forms of local insects and birds. First grade students and teachers plan to start with these empty and weedy flower beds which greet Union's visitors: Second Grade: How can we, as a 2nd grade class, help Zionsville preserve its natural environment.
Third Grade: How do we, as Junior Park Rangers, encourage and support kids to visit state parks? Fourth Grade: How can we as 4th graders, encourage our community parks to use clean wind energy? As you can see, we've got some really great questions where our students will engage in authentic work to engage in opportunities to collaborate, create, and communicate what they are learning about their local and national environment. We often hear people ask, "What is PBL?"
According to the Buck Institute, Project Based Learning (PBL) is an effective way to learn where students have the autonomy to explore, understand, and share real world ideas and learning. PBL goes beyond just getting a "good grade!" Want to find out more about PBL? Check out the Buck Institute's Website here. Essential Elements of PBL include:
Source: Buck Institute for Education - Project Based Learning Toolkit Series - PBL Starter Kit - copyright 2009 1st edition Thank you for visiting our blog! We will be using this blog to highlight all of the great projects our students and teachers will be doing to bring Project Based Learning to the classroom and community. We hope to share project ideas, student work, and outcomes on this blog so you will have a better understanding of how our students are creating, collaborating, and connecting their ideas to make the world a better place.
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Union ElementaryThe mission of our school is to create a nurturing and kid focused learning environment where teachers, students, and parents work together in supportive and collaborative partnerships so all students can meet their potential. All members of our school community join in guiding each child in becoming a responsible, confident, and contributing member of society. Archives
January 2016
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