Archive for the ‘Educators/Parents’ Category

                          Skills they will practice: communicating, sorting, categorizing Tape a large sheet of paper to the wall and record kids thoughts there.  Introduction : "We are going to be talking about how plants and certain insects depend on each other and why it is important to us."  Participants brainstorm about all the plants they can name. ... Full story

  Goals: To understand the interdependence of certain plants and the insects that pollinate them  To understand the process of pollination  To become aware of how people depend on pollinators for food  Background Material (Note: Background material is designed to provide helpful information to educators. It is not intended to be shared directly with participants.)    Pollination is central to successful reproduction in most plants. Simply stated, it is the transfer of pollen ... Full story

Author: Sarah Pounders Grow it, know it, try it … love it! Educators and parents across the country are using this philosophy to get young gardeners hooked on fruits and vegetables. Both anecdotal and research-based evidence lend support to the theory that experiencing food from seed to table builds excitement for fruits and vegetables and motivates kids ... Full story

Building the classroom connections from the soil to the table. For teachers, administrators, parents, or volunteers who are wanting to start a school garden or evolve their present garden: We will explore regional support networks, curriculum and essential learning requirements, basics of gardening, food safety, small livestock, and the kitchen connection. http://quillisascut.com/farm-school/school-gardens/ ... Full story

Author: Sarah Pounders
 Overview Students learn that some microorganisms are beneficial to humans, while others are harmful. Materials: 
Internet
chart paper or chalk board
pots
legume seeds (beans or peas) 
potting soil
rhizobia bacteria*
rulers, pencils, and journals *Available from garden centers or catalogs Background Microorganisms are everywhere. They are so ... Full story

Vary instruction not only from day-to-day but also within a single class period. Provide students with as many opportunities as your curriculum warrants to complete hands-on work. Allow students to role-play to gain further understanding of key concepts. Provide students with the opportunity to work in small discussion groups as they study materials. If possible, plan a field trip that can help reinforce key concepts. ... Full story

You learn best when physically engaged in a "hands on" activity. In the classroom, you benefit from a lab setting where you can man ipulate materials to learn new information. You learn best when you can be physically active in the learning environment. You benefit from instructors who encourage in-class demonstrations, "hands on" student learning experiences, ... Full story

Kinesthetic learning is a teaching and learning style in which learning takes place by the student actually carrying out a physical activity, rather than listening to a lecture or merely watching a demonstration. Some people are visual learners, some kinesthetic learners, and some are auditory learners. Students associated with this predominant learning style are thought to be natural discovery learners; ... Full story