Green  STEM  LearningGROWING  ENVIRONMENTAL  EDUCATIONREPORT  YEAR  2015MARY  VAN  DYKE

Mary  Van  Dyke

Mary  Van  Dyke

Vision   and  Practice

Effective  Networks

Green  STEM  

Learning

PolicyMakers

Students

ParentsStaff

Advisory  Committees

Mary  Van  Dyke

Mary  Van  Dyke

By  the  Numbers284  Hours  @  Jamestown  Elementary

500+   STUDENTS   SERVED30+  STAFF   AND  TEACHERSPRE-­‐K  THROUGH  5  GRADE“VISITING  HORTICULTURALIST”   for  PTA

§ Enhance   Courtyard   and  Grounds

§ Mentor   Staff  and   Teachers

§ Facilitate  Outdoor   Learning   Program  

§ Organize  Green  Apple   Day  of   Service

§ Advise   5th Grade  Green   Team

Mary  Van  Dyke

Seasonal  Integrative  Outdoor  Learningfor  Early  Childhood

Pre-­‐KPre-­‐K   SPEDMIPAKindergarten

§ Seasonal   Explorations§ Observe   Cherry   Tree§ Plant  Tulips   and  Pansies§ Vegetales (in   Spanish)

Montessori

§ Use  All   the  Senses§ Make  Your  Own   Sandbox§ Put  the  Garden   to  Bed§ The  Potato  Project§ Vegetables   (in  English)

1st Grade

§ Three  Sisters   Garden§ Shade  Garden§ Put  the  Garden   to  Bed§ Pillbugs§ Soil   and  Compost§ Vegetales (in   Spanish)

Mary  Van  Dyke

Seasonal  Integrative  Outdoor  Learningfor  2nd – 5th Grade

2nd Grade

§ Bridging   the  Americas   – Birds§ Sensory   Garden   – Lavender§ Circle   Bed  – Native  Garden

3rd Grade

• Monarchs,   Milkweed   and  More• Energy   Carnival• Decomposition

4th Grade

§ Goods   from   the  Woods§ i-­‐Tree  Design   and  Trees

5th Grade

§ Tree  Community   Health§ Plants   and  Bulb  Biology

Mary  Van  Dyke

K.  Use  all  the  sensesColors,   shapes,   sizes,   weightsPlant/animal   growth  and   life  needsLiving   organisms   and  nonliving   objectsShadows,   repeating   patterns,  water  flowMaterials   recycled,   reduced,   conserved

1.Weather   and  seasonal   changesNatural  resources   are  limitedMotionSun   as  energyInteractions   in  waterPlants   basic   life  needs   and   characteristics

Pre-­‐K  to  1st -­‐ Grade  Level  Links

Mary  Van  Dyke

2.  Lifecycles,   HabitatsTypes/effects   of  seasonal  change   and  weather   on  lifecycles,   Food   websPlants   as  source   of  oxygen   and   food

3.  Simple   machinesAdaptationsLand/water   ecosystemsSoil,   Water  cycleEnergy   sources,   Natural  events,   Human   influence

2nd  to  5th -­‐ Grade  Level  Links4.  Plant  anatomyEcosystem   interactionsWeather   phenomenaSolar   systemVirginia   natural  resourcesMoving   objects

5.  Light  and   soundCells,   Rock  cycleOrganisms,   FossilsClassificationEarth’s   surfaceEcosystems

Green  Apple  Day  of  ServiceBuild  community

Restore  native  plantingsat  front  of  school

30+  participants

Film  by  Green  Scene

Blog  at  Green  STEM  Learning

Partners:US  Center  for  Green  SchoolsMaster  NaturalistsPlant  NOVA  NativesThe  Navigators

NativesNativesNOVANOVAN a t u r a l l y B e a u t i f u l !

PlantPlant

Mary  Van  Dyke

Improve  School  Garden  Infrastructure3  composters3  rain  barrelsToolshed

Mary  Van  Dyke

Engage  Staff  and  Students  with  Signs  in  Garden  Areas

Mary  Van  Dyke

Integrate  CurriculumMap  to  Science  and  Social  Studies  SOLs  with  Science  Lead  TeacherProduce  “Guide  to  Nature  through  the  Seasons”  (in  English  and  Spanish)Tips  on  Outdoor  Learning:  Birds  Bees  and  Butterflies:  Wings  Over  the  Curriculum  to  60  staff

Mary  Van  Dyke

By  the  NumbersWednesdays  @  Meridian  Homeschool

35  STUDENTS   SERVED5  COURSESPRE-­‐K  THROUGH  6  GRADETEACH  PLACE-­‐BASED   OUTDOOR   LEARNING

Teach  multi-­‐age   groups

§ 9-­‐week   Spring   Garden  Adventures   (x  2)

§ 9-­‐week   Fall  Nature  Explorers

§ 9-­‐week   Fall  Nature  Rangers

§ Year-­‐long   Earth  Force/Caring   for  our  Watershed  program   (in   process)

Mary  Van  Dyke

Curriculum  Goals  for  Meridian

9  -­‐ week   courses

Hour-­‐long   outdoor   lessons

Story-­‐tell,   crafts,   activities

Project-­‐based

Place-­‐based   learning

Seasonally   appropriate

Weather   plans

Risk  management

Evaluate

Engage

Explore

Explain

Elaborate

Mary  Van  Dyke Mary  Van  Dyke

Earth  Force/Caring  for  Our  Watershed

§ Year-­‐long   civic engagement

§ Ecosystem   and  water  quality   focus  

§ Art,  drama,   video,   blogs

§ i-­‐Tree  Design

§ Enviroscape

§ Regional   Schools   EnvironmentalAction   Showcase   in  April

§ Do  community   project   in  May/June

PartnersEarth  ForceCaring   for  Our  WatershedsRiverXchange programSchools   in  NM  and   PA

Local  Issues  +  Solutions  =  Think  Global

Mary  Van  Dyke

Community  Impact  for  2015“As  a  fellow  presenter,  your  style  is  much  appreciated  for  being  open,  flexible  and  stimulating!”

Emily   Ford,   VA  State  Arboretum,January   2016

Presentation  Highlights

§ Seeing  Math  Patterns  in  Nature

§ Learning   in  the   Landscape:   Signs,   Labels   and   Links

§ Birds,   Bees   and  Butterflies:  Wings   over   the  Curriculum

§ Weed   Identification   for   SchoolsSlideShareMary  Van  Dyke

Professional  Development  for  2015

Professional  Development  Highlights

§ Presented   at  VAST   and  VAEE  Conferences

§ Longwood   Gardens,   Schoolyard   Gardening   101

§ Monarch   Sister  School   Program

§ Public   Issues   Leadership   Development

§ Green  Classroom   Professional   Certification

§ Initiated  APS   School   Garden  Meetups

LinkedInJessica  Haney

Vision  and  Next  Steps  for  2016§ Improve   integrative   outdoor   science   coordination   for  APS   schools

§ Enhance   role  at  Jamestown   School   to  be  school-­‐based  Sustainability   and  Outdoor   Learning   Coordinator2+  days   per  week,   communication   component   1+  day   per  week,  with   view  to  position   as  APS   Environmental   Literacy  Coordinator

§ Develop   sequential,   standards-­‐linked   integrative  outdoor   learning

§ Present   at  Green   Schools   Conference,   Pittsburgh,   2016

§ Increase   productivity   with  technology   including:iPad  Pro   ($950)   and   iMac  27”  ($1800)  

Mary  Van  Dyke,  Green  STEM  Learning