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:
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.
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.