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.”

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.

Famous Wildlife Biologists - http://www.buzzle.com/articles/wildlife-biologists.html

Wildlife Biologist Profile - http://animalcareers.about.com/od/Wildlife/a/Wildlife-Biologist.htm

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

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.

Monday, July 21, 2014

Things to do in your backyard this week!

Build a Fort

Build your own outdoor hideout!

Supplies

Large sticks

Old sheets or blankets

String or rope

Imagination

How-to

The sky is the limit! Create a fort by leaning your sticks against an existing structure, such as a tree or play set, or create a fort by leaning the sticks together like a teepee. Use ropes or string to help hold sheets in place. Use an old blanket as the base. Make it your own! A backyard fort is a great place to hide while you observe birds, write in your nature journal, read a book, or just sit and think!

Make Rain Music

We have been getting our fair share of rain across Iowa this year! Celebrate and put the rain to use by making your own rain music!

Supplies

Rain (supplied by Mother Nature)

Metal pots and pans

How-to

The next time it rains (should be soon!) set up metal pots and pans on a deck or your yard where they will get rained on. Listen to the rain music!

Make a Bug “Movie”

Set up a white sheet and a light after dark and watch backyard bugs gather to star in your after-hours “movie”!

Supplies

White sheet, pillow case, or large white paper or cardboard

Clothes pins or other way to hang sheet/paper

Flashlight or lantern

Insect repellant

Paper, sketchbook, camera or way to record your observations

How-to

Hang your sheet outside in your backyard at a height that everyone can easily see it (so about head/shoulders height of the smallest participant). Hanging it on a clothesline, on a deck etc are good ideas.

Set your light source (flashlight, lantern, or even old lamp with the shade removed) near your sheet. Turn off other light sources (such as a yard or deck light).

Wait for insects to show up! Observe, count, record, and enjoy the “night life”!

Dig a Pitfall Trap

Build a simple pitfall trap to learn about small creatures that live in your yard!

Supplies

Small container with steep sides (such as an old yogurt container)

Trowel or small shovel

Several small rocks

One larger rock

Flat piece of wood

Vegetable or fruit scraps

How-to

Choose a spot in your yard to dig your trap. The soil needs to be soft enough so that you can dig down several inches.

Dig a hole the size and depth of your container. Place container in hole and fill in around it. You want the top of the container to be level with the ground.

Add the vegetable and/or fruit scraps.

Place four small rocks around the trap and cover with the flat piece of wood. Place the larger rock on top to hold it in place. There should be about a one inch gap between the ground and the wood.

Leave the trap overnight. In the morning check your trap to see what critters you have found! Look carefully, they may be hiding. After you have identified and observed your critters let them go somewhere safe (such as under a bush).

Make a Nature Bracelet

Explore your yard and make a nature bracelet with the things you find!

Supplies

Masking tape (or similar tape)

How-to

Tear a piece of tape to wrap around your wrist, make it big enough so it can slip on and off. Wrap the tape into a bracelet keeping the sticky side out. While wearing your bracelet explore your yard and decorate your bracelet with tiny treasures you find such as flower petals, small leaves, seeds, etc. Create your own beautiful masterpiece!

Make a Nature Mobile

Make a mobile from nature objects you find in your yard!

Supplies

Two sticks

Yarn or string

Nature objects such as flowers, feathers, pine cones, acorns etc.

How-to

Gather items from your yard that you would like on your mobile.

Tie the two sticks into an X. Tie the objects onto your X and viola! Hang your mobile where you can enjoy your nature objects!

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Trees For Kids Grant available for Fall

Trees For Kids grant program is designed to provide hands-on educational opportunities for Iowa youth by planting trees on school grounds and other public places.

The grant pays up to $5,000 in tree and mulch cost, and provides educational tree planting demonstrations to participating adults and youth. Applications are now available for this fall.

This past spring, 21 schools and/or communities received more than $68,000 to plant over 1,000 trees around the state from the Trees For Kids grant.

Over their 60 year lifespan, these trees will save more than 480,000 kilowatt hours of electricity by shading buildings and more than 98,000 therms by slowing down winds and reducing building heat loss.

Those trees will help reduce flooding throughout by intercepting over 45,500,000 gallons of storm water and will reduce over 4,910,000 pounds of atmospheric carbon dioxide through CO2 sequestration and decreased energy production needs and emissions.

Trees planted around schools and in neighborhoods have also shown to give youth increased levels of concentration, lower levels of aggression, lower levels of obesity, and fewer symptoms of ADHD.

Communities are made more livable by having a healthy, diverse tree canopy. To download the grant application, go to: http://www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/Forestry/UrbanForestry.aspx

For more information, contact Laura Wagner, Trees for Kids Coordinator, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, at 515-281-6749.

Wednesday, July 02, 2014

Nature Photography for Kids

Create Your Own Backyard Field Guide
Kids love cameras and kids love nature. Combine the two and you have with a wonderful project to fill your summer days. We are going to create our own backyard field guides using nature photography. Check out the Outdoor Explorations for Early Learners blog post Backyard Exploration for ideas on exploring your backyard before you get started.

Allow children to be the lead on this project and follow their own interests. Do you have a child who is interested in insects? Help them create a backyard insect field guide. Other ideas are trees, wildflowers, birds, biodiversity, or even clouds and weather. Inventory and photograph the subjects you have chosen. Bring a notebook with you and have children record their observations of what they have photographed.

When children are done taking pictures download them to your computer. Go through the photographs with your children and let them decide which photos to include in their field guide.

With your children identify each subject that you are going to include in your backyard field guide. If you do not have field guides they can be checked out from your local library. There are also many on-line field guide resources. Allow children time to look through field guides to get an idea of what they look like, and what information is included in each. Decide what information you are going to include in your backyard field guide.

Create your field guides by printing pictures and descriptions and creating a journal. An old notebook or photo album will work. You could also create a photobook through a website such as Snapfish and have an actual book created and mailed to you. You now have a field guide for your own backyard!

Want to expand your field guide? Create a nature field guide for your neighborhood or community, your favorite camping site, local park, or even the nature on a vacation trip!

Camera Basics
Teach children the basics of operating a digital camera. Start with the basics and expand from there. For younger children keep it simple. Older children who have experience with cameras may be interested in learning more about shutter speeds, and lighting.

There are several kinds of children’s cameras available; however, they generally do not take quality photos. You can get a cheap “adult” camera that will take better photos for the same price. Base your decision on the age of the children and how much “rough and tumble” action the camera will see - kid’s cameras are built to withstand drops, and rougher handling. You can also allow children to use your camera with supervision or purchase disposable cameras for each child.

More Fun Nature Photography Ideas for Kids
Photography scavenger hunts: alphabet, botany, textures, shapes
Themed photography walks: butterflies, beetles, birds, trees, wildflowers
Personal photo book: allow each child to review their pictures and print off or create a personal photobook of their favorites
Nature Journal: Add your nature photos to your nature journal

Books
Castella, K., and B. Boyl. 2006. Discovering Nature's Alphabet. Heyday Books.
Criswell, S. G., et al. 1996. Nature Through Science and Art. McGraw-Hill Companies.
Hass, R. and P. Michael. 2008. River of Words: Young Poets and Artists on the Nature of Things. Milkweed Editions.
Lepp, G., and K. V. Lepp. 2010. Wildlife Photography: Stories from the Field. Lark Books NC.
Sweet, T. 2010. Fine Art Nature Photography: Advanced Techniques and the Creative Process. Stackpole Books.

Links
11 Simple Tips for Kids: Nature Photography
http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/National-Wildlife/PhotoZone/Archives/2010/Kids-photo-tips.aspx

National Geographic Kids: Photography Tips for Kids
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/activities/moreactivities/photography101/

Nature Mom: Kids ‘n Cameras: Five Tips for Introducing Children to Photography
http://anaturemom.com/2012/07/01/kids-n-cameras-five-tips-for-introducing-photography-to-children/

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Great American Backyard Campout 2014

The annual Great American Backyard Campout is Saturday June 28 this year! Get your camping gear ready and join the nation as we sleep under the stars! http://www.nwf.org/Great-American-Backyard-Campout.aspx

Your backyard is the perfect place to try camping with kids. It provides a great opportunity to learn how to pitch a tent, build a campfire, and introduce kids to the fun of sleeping in a tent while the comforts of home are only steps away. Have you already introduced your kids to camping? Backyard camping is still fun for the whole family – even kids who have been camping at campground love the excitement of sleeping in a tent in their own backyard!

http://www.nwf.org/Great-American-Backyard-Campout/Get-Ready.aspx

25 Delicious Camping Recipes

http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/06/25-delicious-camping-recipes.html

Campfire Cooking

http://koa.com/camping-recipes/campfire-cooking/

Kids Camping: Camp Songs

http://www.kidscamping.com/songs/camp-songs

Kids Camping: Camp Games

http://www.kidscamping.com/fun-and-games/camp-games

Kids Camping: Campfire Safety

http://www.kidscamping.com/safety/campfire-safety

Monday, June 09, 2014

Cicada Mania!

There is a wonderful and exciting insect event taking place across Iowa this year - 17 year periodical cicadas are emerging! This event won’t take place again until 2031! Get out in your backyard, or local park and observe these fascinating insects today!

17-year periodical cicadas are among the longest lived insects in the world and are the longest lived insects in North America. Nearly their entire life is spent underground as a nymph, their immature form, before emerging and molting into their adult form. They live in their adult form for about 4-6 weeks during which time they will mate and the female will lay eggs, before they die.

There are also species of annual cicadas which have broods that hatch every year or every other year. What sets the periodical cicadas apart and makes them so special are the synchronized hatches every 13 or 17 years as various broods come into maturity at once.

Periodical cicadas, genus Magicicada, are frequently and incorrectly referred to as “locusts”. Periodical cicadas are actually more closely related to leafhoppers and are in the insect order Hemiptera while true locusts are in the order Orthoptera and are related to grasshoppers.

Periodical cicada nymphs live underground for 17 years feeding on the juices of plant roots. The nymphs of periodical cicadas undergo 5 instar stages or molts as they grow and develop. During a hatch year periodical cicada nymphs emerge on warm spring evenings once the soil temperature has reached 63° F. They climb onto nearby vegetation to molt on last time and complete their transformation into adult cicadas, called imago. After they molt they are whitish and their exoskeleton is soft. After about an hour their exoskeleton will harden and darken. Adults have red eyes and a black dorsal thorax. Their wings are translucent and have orange veins. The undersides of their abdomens are black, orange, or striped with orange and black depending on the species. They average 1 to 1.5 inches in length. Females are slightly larger than males.

Cicadas are well known for their song or “buzz” male cicadas sing to attract a mate. Their loud buzzing or drumming sound is produced by two shell-like “drums” or tymbals located along the sides of their abdomens. Strong muscles vibrate these drum membranes several times per second producing the incessant loud buzzing sound they are well known for. A group of males in a “chorus” tree can reach 100 decibels!

After mating the female cicada will cut V-shape slits in the bark of young twigs, laying approximately 20 eggs in each. She will lay approximately 600 eggs during the mating season. The cicada eggs will hatch after about 6 to 10 weeks and the newborn nymphs will drop to the ground where they will burrow down and find tree roots to feed off of. They will spend the next 17 years of their lives underground feeding, growing and developing before they emerge to start the cycle again! In many countries cicadas are seen as a symbol of rebirth.

Cicadas do not bite or sting. Their mouth parts are made for piercing plants and sucking sap. Theoretically they could “pierce” your skin if they were to mistake you for a tree, but the chances of that happening are highly unlikely. Even if this were to happen they do not possess venom nor do they carry diseases that can harm humans.

Cicadas also do not pose a serious threat to mature vegetation. There may be isolated areas of sapling die-off, or of mature trees that have twig die-off, but overall cicadas do not have a detrimental effect to forest and woodland health.

In many regions of the world cicadas are considered a delicacy and are eaten in both savory meals and in sweets. Care to delve into the world of edible insects? Below is a recipe to try!

Candied Cicadas

1 pound cicadas

1 cup white sugar

2 tsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp salt

3 tbsp milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Spread cicadas in a single layer over a baking sheet. Roast for approximately 15-20 minutes, or until the cicadas start to turn brown and are thoroughly dried out.

Stir together sugar, cinnamon, salt, and milk in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat for eight minutes, or until the mixture reaches the soft ball stage at 236°F (113°C). Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla immediately.

Add cicadas to sugar syrup, and stir to coat well. Spoon onto waxed paper, and immediately separate cicadas with a fork. Cool and store in airtight containers.

Ode to Magicada: A Cicada Craft

http://crackofdawncrafts.blogspot.com/2011/07/ode-to-magicada-cicada-craft.html

Singing Cicada Craft

http://www.5orangepotatoes.com/blog/2009/09/03/singing-cicadas-craft/

Friday, May 16, 2014

Take the Kids to the Park

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is participating in the national effort this weekend to get children into parks.

National Kids to Parks Day is held the third Saturday in May as part of an ongoing effort to connect youth with nature and encourage them to explore outdoors, especially at parks in their communities. A list of events registered in each state is available at http://parktrust.org/kidstoparks.

To add an event, go to http://parktrust.org/kidstoparks/national-kids-to-parks-day/host-an-event.

The DNR has been promoting reconnecting Iowans with their natural resources through Take it Outside and Healthy, Happy Outdoors campaign.

“We want every Iowan to know that spending time outdoors increases physical activity and reduces stress,” said Todd Coffelt, chief of the Iowa DNR’s State Parks Bureau.

For information on Iowa State Parks, go to www.iowadnr.gov/parks

“No matter where they live, Iowans can find places to spend outside that are close to home,” Coffelt said.

Friday, April 25, 2014

IOWA STUDENTS RECEIVE NATIONAL HONORS IN ART AND POETRY

DES MOINES – Four Iowa students have received national recognition for art and poetry they submitted to the 2014 River of Words Environmental Poetry and Art Contest.

The Grand Prize in Art (10th to 12th Grades) was awarded to 18-year-old Hannah Harms of Waverly for her artwork titled, “Genesis: A Drop of Life.”

Three additional Iowa students were also selected from thousands of entries and recognized as national finalists:

· Emily Delleman, 15, of Davenport for her artwork titled, “Drought”

· Elizabeth Heidt, 17, of Davenport for her artwork titled, “Have Confidence in Your Reflection”

· Mitchell Oberfoell, 10, of West Des Moines, for his poem titled, “Spiderlings.”

“Having Iowa students selected as a grand prize winner and as finalists really shows the talent of Iowa’s youth and their appreciation for natural resources,” said Jacklyn Gautsch, Iowa DNR River of Words coordinator. “Iowans should be proud of the accomplishments of these young people.”

All national winners and finalists are posted on the River of Words website at: http://www.stmarys-ca.edu/center-for-environmental-literacy/river-of-words.

Following the national competition, all Iowa entries are returned to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which holds an annual statewide contest. For more information about Iowa River of Words, visit www.iowadnr.gov/riverofwords. The 2014 Iowa winners will be posted in May.

The annual River of Words contest is a program of the Center for Environmental Literacy at Saint Mary’s College of California. The River of Words program inspires youth to translate their observations about their local watersheds and environment into creative expressions in poems and art.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Nature Poetry

April is National Poetry Month! Celebrate with a study of nature poetry!

Start your by reading nature poems (see book list below). Depending on the age and level of students make a study of the mechanics of poetry and how to write different kinds of poetry.

Take students to a natural area. Have each student find a quiet place to sit, reflect and observe. Students should record their feelings in a notebook or a nature journal created for nature observations (see below). While sitting quietly, students may write poems to reflect their feelings/observations OR record their feelings/observations to use to create a poem later. Allow students to draw observations as well. Many nature journals and poems are illustrated with the authors art work.

Creating a Nature Journal

A nature journal is a place to record your thoughts, feelings, and observations about nature. It is a place to reflect and interpret your inner thoughts on the natural world and to develop a greater awareness of both the natural world and your own thoughts and feelings. Many nature journals contain drawings, pictures, and specimens (such as leaves, feathers, or other small objects).

Learning Table: DIY Homemade Nature Journals

http://learningtable.blogspot.com/2011/03/homemade-nature-journals.html

Acorn Naturalist: All Weather Student Journals

http://www.acornnaturalists.com/store/ALL-WEATHER-STUDENT-JOURNAL-P833C0.aspx

Book Lists

Educator Book List

Anderson, P. 1996. Henry David Thoreau: American Naturalist. Scholastic Library Publishing.

Bosselaar, L., and E. Hiestand. 2000. Urban Nature: Poems About Wildlife in the City. Milkweed Editions.

Hass, R. and P. Michael. 2008. River of Words: Young Poets and Artists on the Nature of Things. Milkweed Editions.

Leopold, A. 1989. A Sand County Almanac. Oxford University Press.

Leslie, C. W., and C. E. Roth. 2003. Keeping a Nature Journal. Storey Books.

Leslie, C. W. 2003. Nature Journal: A Guided Journal for Illustrating and Recording Your Observations of the Natural World. Storey Books.

Muir, J. 1997. John Muir: Nature Writings. Penguin Group.

Shamir, I. 1999. Poet-Tree, the Wilderness I am. Better World Press, Inc.

Children’s Book List

PreK-2

Florian, D. 2002. Insectlopedia. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Florian, D. 2005. Lizards, Frogs, and Polliwogs. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Florian, D. 2004. Mammalabilia. Voyager Books.

Florian, D. 2000. On the Wing. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

George, K. O., and K. Kiesler. 2007. Old Elm Speaks: Tree Poems. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Glaser, L., E. Kleven. 2002. Our Big Home: An Earth Poem. Lerner Publishing Group.

Harrison, M., and C. Stuart-Clark. 1992. The Oxford Book of Animal Poems. Oxford University Press.

Heard, G., and J.O. Dewey. 1997. Creatures of the Earth, Sea, and Sky: Poems. Boyds Mills Press.

Paladino, C. 1993. Land, Sea, and Sky: Poems to Celebrate the Earth. Little, Brown & Company.

Paolilli, P. and D. Brewer. 2001. Silver Seeds: A Book of Nature Poems. Viking.

Peters, L. W., and C. Felstead. 2003. Earthshake: Poems from the Ground Up. HarperCollins Publishers.

Ryder, J., and D. Nolan. 1990. Under Your Feet. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.

Sidman, J., and B. Prange. 2005. Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Sidman, J., and R. Allen. 2014. Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

VanDerwater, A. L., and R. Gourley. 2013. Forest Has a Song: Poems. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Worth, V., and S. Jenkins. 2007. Animal Poems. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Yolen, J. and J. Stemple. Color Me a Rhyme: Nature Poems for Young People. Boyds Mills Press.

Grades 3-5

Bradman, S., and S. Wintringham. 2002. Wild and Wonderful: Poems about the Natural World. Hodder Headline.

Florian, D. 2002. Insectlopedia. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Florian, D. 2005. Lizards, Frogs, and Polliwogs. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Florian, D. 2004. Mammalabilia. Voyager Books.

Florian, D. 2000. On the Wing. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Glaser, L., E. Kleven. 2002. Our Big Home: An Earth Poem. Lerner Publishing Group.

Hamerstrom, F. 1985. Walk When the Moon Is Full. Crossing Press, Inc

Heard, G., and J.O. Dewey. 1997. Creatures of the Earth, Sea, and Sky: Poems. Boyds Mills Press.

Hoberman, M.A., L. Winston, and B. Fortin. 2009. The Tree That Time Built: A Celebration of Nature, Science, and Imagination. Sourcebooks, Incorporated.

Kalman, B., C. Curtis, and M. Jupp. 1982. Animals in Danger: Poems from No Man’s Valley. Random House Children’s Books.

Mordhorst, H., and J. Reynish. 2009. Pumpkin Butterfly: Poems from the Other Side of Nature. Boyd Mills Press.

Nicholls, J. 1998. Earthways, Earthwise: Poems on Conservation. Oxford University Press, USA.

Paolilli, P. and D. Brewer. 2001. Silver Seeds: A Book of Nature Poems. Viking.

Peters, L. W., and C. Felstead. 2003. Earthshake: Poems from the Ground Up. HarperCollins Publishers.

Sidman, J., and R. Allen. 2010. Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Sidman, J., and B. Prange. 2005. Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Sidman, J., and R. Allen. 2014. Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Vanderhorst, M.J. 2007. Pictures and Poems: Introducing young people to NATURE in a poetic way!. Authorhouse.

Grades 6-8

Bradman, S., and S. Wintringham. 2002. Wild and Wonderful: Poems about the Natural World. Hodder Headline.

Fleischman, P., and E. Beddows. 1992. Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices. HarperCollins Publishers.

Fletcher, R.J. 1997. Ordinary Things: Poems from a Walk in Early Spring. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

Hass, R. and P. Michael. 2008. River of Words: Young Poets and Artists on the Nature of Things. Milkweed Editions.

Hoberman, M.A., L. Winston, and B. Fortin. 2009. The Tree That Time Built: A Celebration of Nature, Science, and Imagination. Sourcebooks, Incorporated.

Kalman, B., C. Curtis, and M. Jupp. 1982. Animals in Danger: Poems from No Man’s Valley. Random House Children’s Books.

Mordhorst, H., and J. Reynish. 2009. Pumpkin Butterfly: Poems from the Other Side of Nature. Boyd Mills Press.

Paolilli, P. and D. Brewer. 2001. Silver Seeds: A Book of Nature Poems. Viking.

Grades 9-12

Bosselaar, L., and E. Hiestand. 2000. Urban Nature: Poems About Wildlife in the City. Milkweed Editions.

Collins, B., and D. Sibley. 2009. Bright Wings: An Illustrated Anthology of Poems about Birds. Columbia University Press.

Felstiner, J. 2009. Can Poetry Save the Earth?: A Field Guide to Nature Poems. Yale University Press.

Finch, R. The Norton Book of Nature Writing College Edition with Field Guide. W. W. Norton & Co. Inc.

Hollander, J. 1994. Animal Poems (Everyman’s Library). Knopf Doubleday Publishing.

Hyett, B.H. 1996. The Tracks We Leave: Poems on Endangered Wildlife of North America. University of Illinois Press.

Muir, J. 1997. John Muir: Nature Writings. Penguin Group.

Paolilli, P. and D. Brewer. 2001. Silver Seeds: A Book of Nature Poems. Viking.

Nelson, H. 2010. Earth, My Likeness: Nature Poetry of Walt Whitman. North Atlantic Books.

Tuesday, April 08, 2014

Helping our Native Pollinators

What is Pollination?

Pollination is the process where plants receive pollen from other plants of the same species so they can reproduce and form seeds. Many plants are pollinated by animals, and most of the animal pollinators are insects. The relationship between plants and their insect pollinators is beneficial to both the plant and the pollinator. The insect pollinator receives food, usually in the form of nectar, while it spreads pollen from plant to plant aiding the plants reproduction. Pollination is really just a “happy accident” that happens when an insect visits a flower to get food. The insects do not know they are pollinating plants as they are finding food for themselves.

Insects have been pollinating plants for approximately 140 million years, since the dawn of angiosperms (flowering plants). Flowering plants lure pollinators to them with scent, visual cues, and food. Learn more about the process of pollination: The Plant Pollination Process: http://www.buzzaboutbees.net/plant-pollination-process.html

Why We Need Pollinators

More than one-third of our food supply depends on pollinators. Without pollinators there would be no apples, onions, oranges, pumpkins, and many other fruit and vegetables. There would be no coffee, chocolate, nuts, or cotton for our clothes. Without pollinators our world would be a much different place than it is right now.

Produce Section With And Without Bees

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/15/supermarket-without-bees_n_3442938.html

List of crop plants pollinated by bees

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_crop_plants_pollinated_by_bees

Why you should be more worried about pollination than a bee sting

http://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/stories/why-you-should-be-more-worried-about-pollination-than-a

Flower Dissection

Gather flowers from your yard or visit a local flower shop and get flowers to dissect. Cut the flowers in half. Identify the different parts and talk about what they are and how pollination works.

Pollination Field Trip

Visit a local apple orchard, garden, or even walk around your schoolyard this spring to observe pollinators (bee, butterfly, moth, beetle, etc). Identify and record each species you find. Note native vs. non-native pollinators.

Gardening for Pollinators

Plan and plant a school garden for pollinators. Already have a school garden? Add plants for pollinators or devote a section to pollinators. Even growing a few pollinator-friendly plants in containers can be beneficial!

Blank Park Zoo: Plant. Grow. Fly.

http://www.blankparkzoo.com/en/conservation/plant_grow_fly/

Become part of a new conservation initiative to help protect native pollinators! Whether you have several acres, a small back yard, a schoolyard, or even a business courtyard – you can make a difference! Plant seeds, watch them grow, and help our native pollinators thrive!

Other things you can do to support pollinators