Iowa Schools Encourgaged to Order Free Seedlings for Spring

Each school building and community may order one free packet of 200 bare-root seedlings, 50 each of four selected species. The seedlings, delivered in April or May, are often used as part of Earth Day/Week celebrations. Orders will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis until 200 packets are requested.

“Most people probably aren’t thinking about planting right now,” says Laura Wagner, DNR Trees for Kids Coordinator, “But because this program and our packets are so popular, we encourage folks to order early to get the best selections.” 

Interested schools and communities must complete a simple application form by April 1, 2017.  Those receiving packets will be asked to email at least one photo of the trees being planted and a short paragraph showing where and why they were planted.

Schools and communities may select from the following specialty packets:

Fall Color –Trees and shrubs with vibrant fall color 

Fastest Forest – Great along streams and wet areas, these grow at least 3 feet per year

Pollinator Packet – Provides vital host species for butterflies and other pollinators

Privacy Packet – Great to use as a visual barrier or along a fence line 

Spring Flowers – Create spring color with these flowering shrubs and small trees 

Storm Resistant Packet – These trees resist breakage from wind and ice storms 

Wild Edible Packet – Enjoy an edible landscape 

Trees for Kids is a DNR program funded by Alliant Energy, MidAmerican Energy, Black Hills Energy, ITC, Trees Forever, Iowa Woodland Owners Association and Iowa Tree Farm Committee, and administered by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Forestry Bureau.

For more information about ordering no-cost Trees for Kids seedlings, contact Laura Wagner, DNR Trees for Kids Coordinator at 515-725-8456 or laura.wagner@dnr.iowa.gov.

Using Local History in Your Classroom

A human community is a group of people who live and interact with one another in a specific region under relatively similar environmental, social, and political conditions. A natural community is a group of plants and animals that live and interact with one another in a specific region under similar environmental conditions.

Our human communities are essential for our daily life. They satisfy our needs for food, and shelter, as well as provide social interactions. Human communities are dependent on the larger natural community which contains the soil, water, air, plants, and animals on which the human community is sustained. The natural community supports itself and our civilizations.

Every community is unique. Each has its own historical background, natural resources, attractions and unique features.

Explore your community’s history with your students. Check out these websites to help get you started.

• Teaching with Historic Places
• Iowa Folklife: Our People, Communities and Traditions
• IPTV Pathways
• Explorations in Iowa History Project
• Making Family and Community Connections

Project WILD is also a great resource. Look under Historical Values of Wildlife in the Expanded Topic Index.

Aquatic WILD suggested activities:

• Watered-down History- investigate the history of a chosen waterway through research methods, recorded personal interviews, and public records
• Where Does the Water Run?- design and implement a field investigation involving relationships between levels of precipitation, runoff, and percentage of impervious ground cover

Iowa’s Tch Team Science Champions

Iowa has the opportunity to establish an on-line professional learning community through the Teaching Channel. The goal is to develop a network of teacher leaders who are working to implement the Iowa Science Standards through three-dimensional teaching and learning. Teacher leaders from across the state representing a range of grade levels from K-12 are invited to participate. 

Iowa’s Tch Team Science Champions will be able to enroll in a 3-credit hour course for re-licensure or for graduate credit.

Criteria for participating as a Tch Team Science Champion:

• At least three years of experience teaching science.
• Currently teaching science at least part-time in a K-12 classroom.
• A strong knowledge of the Iowa Science Standards.
• A commitment to videotape various segments of his/her instruction and to sharing videos and piloted strategies/instructional models, lessons, and units with the grade-band team.
• A willingness to actively participate in on-line discussion boards and a commitment to both providing feedback to team members and to receiving and using feedback from the team.

Timeline:
Applications due on November 20, 2016. 

Team Selection Nov. 20-Dec. 9

Informational Virtual Meeting December 14^th at 3:30

Official “Start” Jan. 9

Spreading our Wings with Science Standards Pollinators, Monarchs, and Conservation Education

February 3-4, 2017
9:00 a.m. Friday - 3:00 p.m. Saturday
Springbrook Conservation Education Center, Guthrie Center, Iowa
2473 160th Rd
Guthrie Center, IA 50115

Join us in learning how to utilize the new standards to promote the protection of natural resources (of monarchs and pollinators specifically) and to advance environmental education as a vital part of the K-12 Education. Educators and natural resource professionals that work with adult and mixed-age audiences will benefit from the opportunity to develop their skills using the best methods for learning and teaching science (at any age).

Learn from cutting-edge monarch and pollinator scientists who will present their research to the group.  

View the detailed schedule for more information about workshop activities and keynote speakers.

Registration Costs? $90 (meals, snacks, and beverages included).  Dorm-style lodging is available at Springbrook Conservation Edcucation Center for $15 per night. Traveling from a distance? You can reserve dorm space for Thursday evening also. See the workshop flyer for other nearby lodging options. A limited number of scholarships are available. If a scholarship would help you attend, please send an email to execicec@gmail.com requesting an application.

Register today!