A fellow state Teacher of the Year, April Todd of Maryland, is featured in a great Youtube video endorsing the valued of learning outside the walls of the classroom. Part of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the No Child Left Inside Coalition is working hard to promote the value of real world learning. Since so much of my science lab involves our garden, wildlife habitat and working outdoors, I encourage you to learn more about their efforts. I joined the coalition and invite you to join me. For more information go to :
http://www.cbf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=act_sub_actioncenter_federal_NCLB
Quote of the Week
"One of the smartest stimulus moves we could make would be to eliminate federal income taxes on all public schoolteachers so more talented people would choose these careers. I'd also double the salaries of all highly qualified math and science teachers, staple green cards to the diplomas of foreign students who graduate from any U.S. university in math or science -- instead of subsidizing their educations and then sending them home -- and offer full scholarships to needy students who want to go to a public university or community college for the next four years. J.F.K. took us to the moon. Let B.H.O. (Barack Hussein Obama) take America back to school."
-Thomas L. Friedman, from "Tax Cuts for Teachers". The New York Times. January 10, 2009
-Thomas L. Friedman, from "Tax Cuts for Teachers". The New York Times. January 10, 2009
A Tropical Friend
So many of my friends from the north associate Florida with alligators and exotic snakes. Though it is true we have our share of unique creatures, I thought I would put it into perspective with a picture of one of our more common garden friends. This is an adult tree frog who lives in our garden feasting on flies and beetles. In the winter months you will find him sunning in the most unusual places - such as on top of a wind chime at the entrance to our room. Actually he greets me every morning and tries to get into the room!
While It's Cold Outside Try This
Garden in an Egg Carton
What You Need
• Bean seeds
• Plant soil
• Water
• Plastic spoons
• Egg cartons
• Poster paper
• Markers
• Rulers
What to Do
1. Remind children that Johnny Appleseed planted orchards of trees from a sack of
seeds. Invite children to create their own garden of bean plants in an egg
carton.
2. Remove the tops from an appropriate number of egg cartons. Have children scoop
out enough soil to fill each pocket in the egg cartons.
3. Have each child take a seed, and plant it into the soil. Keep track of where each
seed is planted. Place the egg carton in a location where there is plenty of
light, and have children water the seeds regularly.
4. Make a chart to track the growth of each plant. Children can write notes and then
take measurements as their seedlings grow.
5. As a bonus, invite interested children to write a story or put on a play about a
bean-planting character like Johnny Appleseed.
What You Need
• Bean seeds
• Plant soil
• Water
• Plastic spoons
• Egg cartons
• Poster paper
• Markers
• Rulers
What to Do
1. Remind children that Johnny Appleseed planted orchards of trees from a sack of
seeds. Invite children to create their own garden of bean plants in an egg
carton.
2. Remove the tops from an appropriate number of egg cartons. Have children scoop
out enough soil to fill each pocket in the egg cartons.
3. Have each child take a seed, and plant it into the soil. Keep track of where each
seed is planted. Place the egg carton in a location where there is plenty of
light, and have children water the seeds regularly.
4. Make a chart to track the growth of each plant. Children can write notes and then
take measurements as their seedlings grow.
5. As a bonus, invite interested children to write a story or put on a play about a
bean-planting character like Johnny Appleseed.
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