What Does Winter Look Like in Our Schoolyard Field Sites?

Winter Views of  the Vernal Pool Field Site at Parker Charter School, Devens, Ma. 

January 28, 2016

Photos by Judy Gibson

Teacher Judy Gibson noted the low water/ice level at the vernal pool this winter. In one spot,which receives the most sun, there was open water. Most unusual for January!  

The Francis Parker Charter School contributes to both the Vernal Pool and the Our Changing Forests Schoolyard Ecology studies.  

Photos by Sally Farrow

 

Students from Acton-Boxborough and Concord-Carlisle High Schools  serving as Eco Monitors for HF Schoolyard Field sites at Mass Audubon's Drumlin Farm in Lincoln, Ma.  

Drumlin Farm's Eco Monitors are contributing to the Buds, Leaves, and Global Warming and the Vernal Pool Schoolyard Ecology Studies at Ice Pond, Deer Pen pond, and Boyce Pond. 

What does your field site look like this winter? 

Please email photos to Pamela at: psnow@fas.harvard.edu  that can be shared on this blog. 

SAVE THE DATE- MARCH 31st-Spring Workshop

Harvard Forest Schoolyard Ecology Spring Workshop for Teachers  

MARCH 31, 2016 

 

Please schedule March 31st, 2016  for our Harvard Forest Schoolyard Ecology Spring Workshop for Teachers. 

Here's some basics on what to expect:   

TITLE OF COURSE: HARVARD FOREST SCHOOLYARD ECOLOGY SPRING WORKSHOP
 

Prerequisite:  Harvard Forest Summer Institute for Teachers

Professional Development Points (PDPs):  6 

Location, Date, Time:

HARVARD FOREST, PETERSHAM, MA;

March 31, 2016

8:30 A.M.-3:00 P.M.

Presenters:

JOHN O'KEEFE: Buds, Leaves, and Global Warming Project Ecologist

DAVID ORWIG: Woolly Bully and the Hemlock Trees Project  Ecologist

BETSY COLBURN:  Vernal Pools Project Ecologist

EMILY SILVER HUFF:  Our Changing Forests, Project Ecologist

5 SCHOOLYARD TEACHERS:  Presentations TBA-stay tuned for details.

Facilitator:

PAMELA SNOW, SCHOOLYARD COORDINATOR

Summary Description:

THE HARVARD FOREST offers a Schoolyard Ecology training workshop for teachers of grades 4-12 and environmental educators who have attended a summer institute and have collected fall data for the Forest Ecology Schoolyard studies.  Professional Forest Ecologists will prepare teachers to implement the spring field study protocols.  All teachers will participate in field walks with project ecologists.  Five experienced Schoolyard teachers will present related curriculum materials and student samples created throughout the school-year.

Goals:

• To provide further background knowledge of project related themes and processes, in order to enable educators to implement the spring project protocols with students.

• To encourage teacher networking and sharing of curriculum related to Schoolyard Ecology projects. 

Outcomes:

• Teachers will be prepared to lead students in implementing spring field protocols. 

• Teachers will be provided with peer developed curriculum insight, information, materials and/or student samples to aid in teaching project related themes.  

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Teacher Presenters Wanted:  

If you have developed some lesson plans, activities, or other educational resources that you would like to share with other Schoolyard teachers, we have 4 slots open for teacher presenters at our Spring Workshop on March 31st.  

Please contact Pamela Snow by email at:psnow@fas.harvard.edu for more information on what is involved in presenting.