Green Team Gazette

Hi Ho, Hi Ho... It's Off To MAEOE I Go!

2012-02-11T06:25:00.000-05:00

Well, it is that time of year again. Time for the annual MAEOE (aka: "Maryland Association of Environmental and Outdoor Educators") weekend conference. Pronounced properly, MAEOE sounds like "mayo." MAEOE is the Maryland organization that grants schools with their "green" status. The conference theme this year is "Fulfilling Environmental Education's Promise: Authentic Learning and Real World

Pinteresting Stuff: Ring Around the Dendrochronology

2012-02-06T22:45:00.000-05:00

I'm a recent convert to Pinterest. I battled myself on it for awhile: "Like I really need another addiction." Of course, I said that too with Facebook, Twitter, "Words with Friends," and now "Scramble With Friends." I should know by now I don't ever win that battle. Anyhoo, it was through my Twitter PLN (Personal Learning Network) of folks I follow, that I saw that Pinterest actually had an

Marvy Math Month @ Eagle Cove School!

2012-01-31T22:23:00.003-05:00

January 31st finds us at the end of Math Month at Eagle Cove School. Tomorrow, February 1st, is the day the last projects are due in from our PreK to 5th grade population. All classes worked together to put a project or two together (to find out more, see my Jan. 29th "Math Month Meets Eco-Stats & A Touch of Tech" blog article), while our 2nd to 5th graders also worked on individual projects as

Math Month Meets Eco-Stats & A Touch of Tech

2012-01-29T17:34:00.001-05:00

January is Math Month at Eagle Cove School. Given that, we encourage math exploration across the grade levels, send home math calendars for enrichment activities, read about math, incorporate math in all our special/enrichment classes, and work up both individual and class projects that then get posted in the Mega Math Museum in the gym. It's a big deal! QR Code Caption: Styrofoam cups take

Soaring Like an Eagle With Synchronicity

2012-01-25T20:22:00.003-05:00

"Synchronicity" is when 2 (or more) events come together in perfect harmony. We had a moment of exactly that--synchronicity--yesterday in 3rd grade. This week we have been reading the story "Fly, Eagle Fly" by Christopher Gregorowski. In it, an eaglet is found, and raised as as a chicken, with chickens. A friend of the farmer is insistent that the eagle, as it grows, should be allowed to

Whether Sleet or Snow... To EdCampDC We Go!

2012-01-23T21:05:00.000-05:00

You know you've been at EdCamp all day when... A). Your day is full, your mind is swirling, and your teacher mind is charged; B). You have a lot of ideas you can easily put into practice--as soon as Monday; C). You have spent the day with a lot of like-minded individuals who serve as total inspiration & motivation; D). You find yourself in bed and asleep by 9 pm because you are wiped out

You Know The Green School Education Is Working When...

2012-01-21T20:03:00.000-05:00

You know the "green" school education is working when my two cherubs (ages 6 and 9) cue up educational finds on YouTube that they've gotten from their science teacher. Yes, it's a low key Saturday night after an amazing yet full day at EdCampDC (more on that later this weekend). I'm doing a li'l laundry, and I come up to find the 2 of them, gathered around the computer, caught in rapture

A Great Green School Experiment

2012-01-19T21:01:00.000-05:00

In 2008, Fisher Elementary School (a school of approximately 500 students/staff) in Walpole, Massachusetts embarked on a mean, green, school experiment. Their eco-bound route, as you'll see in this short video below, took them a long distance in a short period of time: they landed a 3-way reduction: 70% in classroom trash, 53% in combined total school trash, and a 37% in wasted milk! Major

Food for Thought on Martin Luther King, Jr's Bday

2012-01-15T12:16:00.001-05:00

I was reminded this weekend of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch TEDx Event of November 2010 sponsored by Plastic Pollution Coalition. I watched a bulk of it back then, and wrote about it here in GTG. In honor of the long weekend celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday celebration this Monday, I think this Van Jones speech from that TEDx Event is the perfect tribute for today's world. In

Singing a Symphony of Whales

2012-01-07T19:52:00.002-05:00

"Life is a Symphony, not a sound bite. Beauty takes wing in its own time."~ Steve SchuchThis week in rading, my 3rd graders read the story "Symphony of Whales" by Steve Schuch. The story centers around Glashka, a young Alaskan girl who works with her village and the help of a Russian icebreaker to help free trapped beluga whales from a frozen waterway. With the help of music, the whales add

Meditating on the Materials Economy: AKA, Studying "The Story of Stuff"

2012-01-04T22:04:00.001-05:00

This winter, I'm taking an online course through the Green Education Foundation Institute. Through part of the studies, I found my way back to the 21 minute video by Annie Leonard--her original "Story of Stuff." I have got to admit it: I'm a big fan of Annie Leonard. I have seen her speak, and I have read her book. Not quite a junkie, but close. Well, okay... maybe, I am. She just truly

Retro, Reuse, Pizza, & PacMan

2012-01-01T21:34:00.000-05:00

Back in the day, when I was a wee pup, a Friday night was a fulfilling eve with my high school buddies at Hickory Point Mall, in Forsyth, Illinois, right outside of my hometown Decatur. More specifically, the corner of the mall by Bergners, where there was a routine two-stop "shopping" for every hangout night: 1). The multi-leveled , ladder-esque-looking Garcias Pizza (best pizza by the slice--

Out With The Old, Hike in With the New

2011-12-31T15:00:00.000-05:00

Out With The Old, Hike in With the New... Year, that is! Maryland's Department of Natural Resources (same ones who have brought us Maryland Park Quest, which we love so!), are at it again to get us up and outside. This time, with their "First Day Hikes" program. However, Maryland can't take all the credit alone. For the first time, in coordination with the American States Park organization,

Milestones

2011-12-27T13:46:00.000-05:00

There are treasured milestones and memories we all hold dear: our first kiss, learning to drive and getting our license, turning 21, having your father walk you down the aisle on your wedding day, birth of your first/each child. These memories become permanently tucked in a special place in our hearts. As a blogger, there are other milestones... most certainly, not ranking up quite as high as

Sending You My Holiday Best

2011-12-25T16:10:00.004-05:00

Wishing you a wonderful, love-and-peace-filled December 25th, wherever on Earth you may be! This free ecard created with Smilebox Special thanks to all of you who have been following along this green path with me! ~ Merry Christmas ~ Happy Holidays ~ Seasons Greetings ~ Happy Hanukkah ~ Peace on Earth ~ Click here to view online.

Oh Santa!!!

2011-12-24T02:03:00.002-05:00

Santa has a rough go of it... a). A one mega-work night, but ooh la lah, the hours of that! Not to mention, the number of hours of recuperation after those hours of being on the move? b). Expectations to have "the right gift" in "the right place" multiplied by... oh, let's say, 7 billion (aka, current population of the world!) c). A transportational set up, that is "this side: of amazing...

One of My Favorite Things: The Old Book Barn

2011-12-22T11:08:00.000-05:00

I'm struck this morning with the sometime-associated-Christmas song "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music. Strains of Julie Andrews' voice & the lyrics are circling my mind, and I am finding myself humming. Why? Well, some pretty obvious reasons: a). It's Christmastime.b). Music has always been a big part of my holiday season, and thus one of "my favorite things."c). Between the "

Have Yourself a "Green" Li'l Christmas

2011-12-18T18:18:00.002-05:00

Okay, it's true: I love my school, and all that we represent. As a Maryland "Green" School since 2006, Eagle Cove School is "green," through and through! Whether it is students in my class (who know that they have an eco-crazy teacher), or my own two children and their classes (heck, ALL the classes at Eagle Cove School), yep, we're green--especially at Christmastime! Case and point: a). In

When Left and Right Brains Unite: The Symphony of Science

2011-12-15T16:27:00.000-05:00

In our science room at school, we have this amazing poster visually showcasing the left and right sides of the brain. (Ironically, it's an advertisement for Mercedes-Benz!) Our science teacher chuckles over the commentary he gets from the kids: "Why is the left side so plain?" "Why is the right side so messy?" "Oh! Look at all the beautiful colors on the right side." "The left side makes

Visions of a Sustainable World

2011-12-13T16:27:00.000-05:00

Here is a wonderful ten minute video from Dr. Paul Raskin, of Yale's School of Forestry. Entitled "Visions of a Sustainable World," this video (and Dr. Raskin) describe the key elements needed for improved quality of life--on a sustainable level. He touches not only on global improvements, but also on personal improvements for our daily life, moving beyond a "things = happiness" stance.

"MuppetGate" = Mayhem & Madness!!

2011-12-10T15:55:00.003-05:00

I like to refer to it as "MuppetGate"... especially since it is starting to get as much press as any other "-gate:" Fox Business' Follow The Money (12/2/2011) The Muppets' Liberal Agenda: "Brainwashing" Your Kids! The Washington Post's Lifestyle Blog (12/5/2011): "The Communist Muppets: It Ain't Easy Being Red" The Huffington Post (12/5/11): "The Muppets Are Communist, Fox Business Network

Long Live The Lorax!

2011-12-08T17:02:00.001-05:00

Hurrah! Mark your calendars!!! Dr. Seuss's The Lorax is coming to a theater near you. Anticipated arrival: March 2, 2012!Just in time for Earth Hour & Earth Day! (Of course, it leaves me wondering what all the noisy newsfolks of Fox who have equated the Muppets with anti-capitalist communists will think of the radical Truffula Tree-Loving Lorax, but that's blog fodder for another day!)

The 5 Best Toys of All Time

2011-12-05T08:46:00.002-05:00

"Best Toys of All Time." For an article, that's one heck of a title. It has a definite draw-- as an educator, it has all of the elements of a "hook," and the ability to grab the reader. We talk about this all the time in my 3rd grade classroom. As a parent, that title makes you want to go check it out because, as we all know...we want the best for our kidderoos. After reading THE Article,

Ghosts of Christmas Past in My Kids' Toy Room

2011-12-03T21:30:00.000-05:00

With a nearly 10 year old and a 6 year old, my house has had a lot of time to accumulate a lot of stuff. Never do you realize that more than when you are trying to house the contents of the basement-sized toy room in your garage (and beyond) after a fall flooding (then subsequent carpet removal and new tile placement) due to a wacky weather incident back in August. Yes, in a decade, you

It's Not Easy Being Green... Or Is It? Ma Nama Na!

2011-11-28T16:48:00.002-05:00

I'm going to be bold and daring in this statement: The new "Muppet Movie" might just possibly be the greenest movie ever! The elements of green are everywhere: Let's start with the main plot point ~ a ruthless eco-terrorist/ capitalist wants to take over the namesake's property and drill for oil. Secondary plot point ~ Jealousy, the green-eyed monster, rears its head in matters of love. Money,