Environmental Friendly Findings

Today proved to be such a success! I had originally planned for the final day of our project to be a mini-science fair, but after talking with my students about it three weeks ago, I realized that for this group, another option would be more feasible. With that in mind, the final project was changed to an exhibit in which the children made posters showcasing something they had learned or something that they wanted to investigate farther. ( NCATE Standards 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10)

As my students began coming into the room this morning, I was more than amazed! All in all, their posters were very well done and the children were so excited. They could hardly wait to start sharing their information with each other. Like them, I have a couple I just have to share with you. One girl made a poster about ways to conserve water and she brought in a demonstration to accompany her poster. She brought a jar containing a plant that needed watering, a funnel, some tubing, and a measuring cup. Then she showed us how to pour the water into the funnel, and we watched as it ran through the tubing into the jar so that no water is wasted when plants are watered. At the end of her presentation, she said, "I'd like to dedicate my project to ______" (the child who originally suggested our project). This display of respect and courtesy let me know that my objective for NCATE Standard 2 had been met.

Instead of buying pre-cut letters for her poster, a girl cut letters out of old magazines her mother was going to throw away. Her research was on precipitation and she wanted to make clouds at the top of her poster. Rather than using cotton balls, she used the liners out of newborn baby diapers that her baby sister had outgrown a month or so ago. She truly demonstrated the theories of reducing and reusing. My objective for Standard 4 was for my studentsto realize that the choices they make affect the environment, and seeing her and the other students share their findings left no doubt that this had happened!

Our principal came to our room to see our posters and he told us that the state had given us 200 seedling trees that are native to Alabama. The trees are presently in small pots at the greenhouse at Ashford High School, but he said if they are ready to be planted by spring, our class could plant some on our campus.

The other sixth grade teachers invited us to present our posters to their classes. In the first room we visited, some of my students were a little nervous, but by the last visit, they were "old pros" at speaking in front of groups. In observing and listening to their oral presentations, I knew that objectives for Standards 6, 7, and 8 have proved successful.

Next week we will have the materials that we have collected taken to a recycling center. Although this is our last blog, maybe I can share those results with you during our presentations on November 19th.

It has been thrilling to see my learners become environmentalists, and each week I see more evidence that what we are learning is really registering with them. I believe that the time we have spent doing Earth 911 will make a difference in each one of their lives and in our world-- and isn't that the desire of every teacher's heart?

Interesting sites:

http://www.epa.gov/epawaste
http://www.epa.gov/recyclecity/school