Educator Spotlight: Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Blade Shepherd-Jones led students through a hands-on study of the hazards of marine debris. Students explored the effects of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch on the marine animals native to the Hawaiian islands and their beachfront community. Their study culminated in student-led nature clean-ups, after which students made sculptures from debris depicting animals affected by marine pollution. Continue reading Educator Spotlight: Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Art and Geography

Two of my loves in life are art and geography; and, it seems, there are others that share my passions. An increasing number of artists are incorporating the themes of geography into their art. Meet a few during American Artist Appreciation Month! Valerie Ostenak Celebrating nature, celebrating the diversity of things that are growing, I’m part of the creative part of the universe. Valerie Ostenak … Continue reading Art and Geography

Educator Spotlight: Spreading Awareness for Water Issues through Art

Cathie Pearson designed a project called H2O Heroes in which her students made art out of recycled plastic products to raise awareness for ocean pollution. After learning about how water quality varies around the world, her students decided to continue the lesson with a fundraiser for the Water Project. Continue reading Educator Spotlight: Spreading Awareness for Water Issues through Art

Educator Spotlight: Chronicling Ancestral Stories with Puppets

Kaitlyn Purvis designed a third-grade unit that helped students make personal connections to the lives of Canada’s early settlers and indigenous people. Students explored their own heritage and mapped the resulting data, learning how their classmates’ families came to Canada. After researching what life was like for both settlers and indigenous people, students created puppet videos to share what they learned. Continue reading Educator Spotlight: Chronicling Ancestral Stories with Puppets