Educator Spotlight: A Student-Led Exploration of Local Species

Andrea Sayler fostered her students’ curiosity of the natural world by holding a BioBlitz in the nature preserve near their school. A BioBlitz is an event that brings together community members to find and identify as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time. Andrea’s students used the data they gathered to develop research projects on flora or fauna that interested them. They shared their findings with their school community. Continue reading Educator Spotlight: A Student-Led Exploration of Local Species

Educator Spotlight: Taking Action to Bolster the Bee Population

Kim Heckart integrated science and literacy in an inquiry unit investigating the declining bee population. Her third-graders used nonfiction texts to research the reasons behind the decline. They also communicated the problem to their school community and created bee “hotels” to help provide habitat for bees. Continue reading Educator Spotlight: Taking Action to Bolster the Bee Population

Educator Spotlight: Raising Trout in the Classroom

Julie Stanley secured a grant from Trout in the Classroom for a year-long project that provided her sixth-graders the opportunity to observe fish growth and become involved in the protection of trout populations and habitats. Students also gained hands-on experience with water quality testing and tank maintenance. Continue reading Educator Spotlight: Raising Trout in the Classroom

Educator Spotlight: Uncovering an Ecological Mystery

Stefanie Frump challenged her high school students to consider what would happen if Tampa Bay’s blue crabs disappeared. Groups of students took on the perspectives of different stakeholders, presented possible solutions, and considered each other’s needs and ideas while developing a compromise. Continue reading Educator Spotlight: Uncovering an Ecological Mystery

Strategy Share: Immersing Your Students in a Place They’ve Never Been

The following post was written by 2017 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow Jackie Grannis-Phoenix, a pre-K and kindergarten teacher at the Children’s House Montessori School in Camden, Maine, after her expedition to Southeast Alaska. The Grosvenor Teacher Fellow Program is a professional development opportunity for pre-K–12 educators made possible by a partnership between Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic Education. Have you ever traveled somewhere and thought to yourself, “Oh, my students would … Continue reading Strategy Share: Immersing Your Students in a Place They’ve Never Been