Wednesday, August 27, 2014

FAll STEM-based Natural Resources Professional Development

Exploring Iowa’s Natural Resources On-line Course (K-12 Educators)
September 8 – December 21, 2014

“This course has provided me with information and resources to make lessons more relevant and engaging. The focus on inquiry, sense of place, and many other important aspects of teaching have been beneficial in terms of planning lessons and remembering to keep students and student activities at the core of what I do. It’s not just about the content and this course helped rejuvenate my interest in making lessons more student centered.”
Learn how to utilize local natural resources as unifying themes to implement a STEM-based approach in your curriculum. You will work in small groups and individually to create a network of contacts and resources to teach natural resource concepts. Group and individual assignments will build on each other throughout the course. 
Each week a new course module focusing on a specific environmental education topic, strategy or skill will be available (time requirement 4-5 hours per week). You should be comfortable navigating web pages, have access to internet and a computer on a daily basis, and possess basic computer skills.

Registration deadline is August 29, 2014 
you must register electronically. Registration fee$225 (includes course materials and 3 license renewal credits). This course is being offered by AEA PD Online, a joint initiative by all of Iowa's Area Education Agencies. This course therefore uses AEA PD Online's alternative fee schedule for license renewal credit. Transcripts and credit will be issued by AEA PD Online instead of Heartland AEA.


Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Wildlife is Everywhere!

Wildlife is everywhere- on land, in soil, in water, and in the air. Wildlife scientists study wildlife to learn how they live and interact with the environment. These scientists may focus on one wildlife species or a group of species during their studies. They record observations made with their senses and other tools.


Help your kids become wildlife scientists 

Lead our students on a walk in the neighborhood around your school or building or a nearby park to look for wildlife. Tell students that they are using their eyes and ears to watch and listen for any signs of animal life (animal movement, calls, tracks, tunnels, droppings, etc.). Have students record their observations.
  • Where do you see wild animals?
  • What are the animals doing?
  • How do the animals react?
  • What signs of animals do you see?

Field biologists often get down on their hands and knees to "mimic" the tracks they see to help identify the animal and understand what it was doing at that particular moment. Have your students imitate the movements of wildlife.
  • Raccoon - students get on their hands and knees and move from one spot to another, investigating the path they take
  • Deer - students gather as a group, each looking in a different direction; students walk away then run and jump
  • Insect - pairs of students work together to move all the "legs" at the proper time
  • Bobcat - students get on their hands and knees and slowly move one leg and arm at a time as they stay as close to the ground as possible

Encourage students to pretend they are trying to observe wildlife in different habitats like wildlife scientists do.
  • Crawl through a small cave to observe a bat
  • Wade through a marsh to get closer to a beaver’s dam
  • Hike through woods thick with trees and vines looking for a woodpecker 

Check out these links for more information about wildlife scientists.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks: State Wildlife Biologist - http://fwp.mt.gov/education/videoLibrary/outdoorReports/video_0102.html
PBS Kids - Real Scientists: Wildlife Biologist - http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/scientists/scientist57.html
Missouri Department of Conservation - Conservation Career: Wildlife Biologist - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0fEYXrHBbY

Monday, August 18, 2014

Leading Authentic Place-based Student Investigations: Water (6-12 Educators)
September 15 - December 14, 2014
"I have gained so much from this class. ...what the others in this class have shared shows me ... I can adapt all things to meet my students’ needs along with my own, the schools, and the district’s needs. I have learned that I need to allow students [to] question more in science and encourage them to explore to discover solutions for problems they face. Letting go a little and letting their questions lead the class in inquiry projects is not as scary as I originally thought. Accepting their thoughts and ideas but directing them when they need guidance is a wonderful way to learn together." 

Engage your students in real scientific research of a local water issue while you improve your own content knowledge and pedagogy. With your students, you will develop and conduct a place-based water student investigation unit (or enhance a current unit).

Each week a new course module focusing on a different topic related to the 5 Essential Features of Inquiry, place-plased learning and Iowa water issues will become available (time requirement 4-5 hours per week). You should be comfortable navigating web pages, have access to internet and a computer on a daily basis, and possess basic computer skills.

Registration deadline is September 5, 2014 -
you must register electronically. Registration fee: $150 (includes materials and 2 license renewal credits). This course is being offered by AEA PD Online, a joint initiative by all of Iowa's Area Education Agencies. This course therefore uses AEA PD Online's alternative fee schedule for license renewal credit. Transcripts and credit will be issued by AEA PD Online instead of Heartland AEA.


Friday, August 15, 2014

GreenWorks! Grant

  • Would you like your class to be part of the climate solution and have an idea for a school project that can help address climate change?
  • Do you want to start a project that reduces your carbon footprint and/or educates other students or community about climate change?
  • Want to start a recycling program, or energy and water conservation project for your students?
  • Need funds to implement your project?
More information and an application for grants amounting to $1,000 is available at https://www.plt.org/apply-for-greenworks-environmental-education-grant. The deadline is September 30, 2014. Make sure you have registered HERE for ClimateChangeLIVE.

• Applicants must have attended a PLT workshop and participated in at least one ClimateChangeLIVE webinar or event.
• The proposed project must involve service-learning.
• The proposed project must demonstrate student voice.
• The proposed project must involve at least one community partner.
• The proposed project must secure at least 50% matched funds (in-kind acceptable).


For a detailed guidebook on GreenWorks! Grants, CLICK HERE.

Monday, August 11, 2014

Exploring Iowa’s Natural Resources On-line Course (K-12 Educators)
September 8 – December 21, 2014
“This course has provided me with information and resources to make lessons more relevant and engaging. The focus on inquiry, sense of place, and many other important aspects of teaching have been beneficial in terms of planning lessons and remembering to keep students and student activities at the core of what I do. It’s not just about the content and this course helped rejuvenate my interest in making lessons more student centered.”


Learn how to
utilize local natural resources as unifying themes to implement a STEM-based approach in your curriculum. You will work in small groups and individually to create a network of contacts and resources to teach natural resource concepts. Group and individual assignments will build on each other throughout the course.

Each week a new course module focusing on a specific environmental education topic, strategy or skill will be available (time requirement 4-5 hours per week). You should be comfortable navigating web pages, have access to internet and a computer on a daily basis, and possess basic computer skills.

Registration deadline is August 29, 2014 -
you must register electronically. Registration fee: $225 (includes course materials and 3 license renewal credits). This course is being offered by AEA PD Online, a joint initiative by all of Iowa's Area Education Agencies. This course therefore uses AEA PD Online's alternative fee schedule for license renewal credit. Transcripts and credit will be issued by AEA PD Online instead of Heartland AEA.