Activity Title: STEAM in the Garden Webinar Subject: Science; Environmental Education When: February 2022 Number of Teachers: Hopkins, Nevarez, Norris, Thompson Description: The Growing School Food Gardens group launched on the Kids Garden Community to facilitate networking and collaboration among school food garden practitioners locally, regionally, and nationally.
School Year 2020-2021 & Prior
Project Lead The Way Training
Activity Title: Project Lead The Way Subject: Curriculum Training Teacher(s): Thompson, A.Wright, K.Wright, Hamele, Barrett, Scott, Castro When: Summer 2020 Number of Teachers: 7 Description: Teachers were trained and certified in the PLTW curriculum which includes multiple units on environmental and outdoor education topics. The teachers were part of a plan to implement one unit in this years teaching. We are working on implementing this now and ensuring we meet our goal. Evidence below of the training experience.
School Year 2019-2020 & Prior
Yoga Lessons
Grade-Level: All Activity Title: Yoga Lessons Subject: Learn the art of Yoga to be used to teach students in our SEL program Teacher(s): Hunter, Thompson, Moore When: 16 weeks, every Wednesday from 4:30-6:30 Number of Teachers: 6 Description: Teachers are exposed to the Art of Yoga in order to not only better themselves, but also better the students. These lessons will be used to help teachers gain the skills and knowledge to use Yoga as a health and wellness feature in their classroom. These types of activities not only provide for a more calm setting, but also result in a better learning environment for our students.
Professional Development- Summer STEM Academy
Grade-Level: 4th, 7th, 8th Activity Title: Summer Science Academy Subject: STEM Disciplines Teacher(s): Wright When: June 25-29, 2018 Number of Teachers: 2 Description: The Summer Science academy was a week-long program held by various Baltimore stakeholders and facilitated by the City Schools' central office. Teachers went through various sessions and lessons from Vernier probes and robotics. Teachers also attended presentations by various Baltimore-based programs. The most rewarding element of this academy were the hands-on lessons such as the Natural Selection Lab done as teacher teams and the strategies for implementation such as I3. Both of these documents are included below.
Grade-Level: All Activity Title: Species of the World Subject: Animal Diversity Teacher(s): Thompson, Yorkshire, West When: November 2017 Number of Teachers: 3 Description: Teachers attended an Aquarium teacher orientation session that previewed the Aquarium for students to visit as part of their Aquarium field trip. Teachers engaged in multi-disciplinary activities to promote awareness and appreciation of water resources, and learned about Aquarium resources and the best methods of utilizing the different exhibits. This informational session prepared teachers to create engaging sessions for students attending the trip. During this event teachers registered for field experiences, learned about different programs and completed a scavenger hunt. By completing this professional experience teachers gained access to the Aquarium for their students for free.
Professional Development- NSTA Conference 2018
Grade-Level: All grade levels Activity Title: National Science Teachers Association Conference Subject: All Science Disciplines Teacher(s): Thompson, Yorkshire When: October 5-7, 2018 Number of Teachers: 2 Description: As a very active curriculum specialist for the City Schools Science Office, I was offered two free tickets to attend the National Science Teacher Association Conference in Baltimore. During this event we met with professionals from all over the United States. We attended 15 professional development experiences over the course of three days and even spoke on chemical structures during a Carolina Biological Presentation. The experience was not only life changing, but the professional networking value was unmatched. To this day we have developed partnerships with organizations and individuals met at this event. It truly opened a wide variety of doors to help us develop our environmental education programs.
Lesson Modeling in Classrooms- Indoor Composting
Grade-Level: 7th and 8th Grade Activity Title: Master Gardeners Indoor Composting- Modeling Session Subject: Indoor Composting Teacher(s): Thompson, Yorkshire, Tutt, Pennie When: November 30, 2017 Number of Students: 120 Description: Members of the Master Gardeners program came to Arlington to model how to teach vermicomposting to our 7th and 8th grade students. This lesson incorporated multiple aspects of environmental science and engineering. Students began by understanding the food chain and food web relationship of worms. They continued by understanding the species we would be working with. Next the students read and learned about the important requirements for composting. The students then built the composting boxes with the help of the instructors. Finally, the students put the worms into the boxes and maintained the composting elements for months to come. This lesson was first modeled by the Master Gardeners and then facilitated by the General Educator after the initial modeling session. This was important for future years to come as it allowed the teacher to continue with the lessons without the presence of the Master Gardeners.
Lesson Modeling in Classroom- Drain Painting
Grade-Level: 7th and 8th Grade Activity Title: Blue Water Baltimore Drain Painting- Modeling Session Subject: Chesapeake Bay Run-off Teacher(s): Thompson, Yorkshire, Tutt, Pennie When: October 24, 2018 Number of Students: 120 Description: Members of Blue Water Baltimore, a nonprofit organization, came to Arlington to model Storm Drain Stenciling techniques to our 7th and 8th grade students. This lesson incorporated multiple aspects of environmental science and the arts. Students began by understanding the food chain and food web relationship of Chesapeake Bay. They continued by understanding the species that would be affected by reducing waste that goes into the Bay. Next the students read and learned about the important requirements for recycling before starting the project. The students then went outside and painted the drains with the help of the facilitator. Finally the students wrote reflections on how their actions can help the community and included how it affected them personally. This lesson was first modeled by Blue Water Baltimore and then facilitated by the General Educator after the initial modeling session. This was important for future years to come as it allowed the teacher to continue with the lessons without the presence of Blue Water Baltimore.
Curriculum Development
Grade-Level: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 8th Activity Title: Curriculum Development Subject: Science Teacher(s): Thompson, McPartland When: School Year 2016-2017 Number of Students: 300 Description: Over the course of three years (and currently) two teachers have worked for City Schools' Science Office to develop curriculum that is used throughout City Schools. To perform this task, both attended multiple professional development sessions hosted by the Science Office to learn the logistics, formatting and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) framework. Although both teachers already knew a lot about NGSS, these in-depth meetings provided us the opportunity to really get to the core of student expectations. We were able to develop curriculum that not only met student needs through student choice and engagement, but also the NGSS requirements of Inquiry Learning. The task of any curriculum writer is to enhance the course and simplify the material use. These sessions provided the tools necessary to ensure the success of our science teachers at Arlington Elementary/Middle School.
Project ASTRO
Grade-Level: All grade Levels; 1st Activity Title: Project Astro Subject: Astronomy Teacher(s): McPartland When: July 21, 2017 Number of Students: 60 Description: Astronomy is sometimes under-considered in the lower level grades. It was for this reason that Debra McPartland, first grade teacher, decided to expand her science background by attending the Project ASTRO professional development. This on-going professional development provided her many resources to use in the classroom. From activities to lesson plans, media connections to partnerships, this program linked McPartland's already extensive science background with other professionals at the collegiate level. Towson University, a major City Schools partner, worked side by side with McPartland to ensure that she not only had the resources to expand her students' knowledge of astronomy, but also the manpower to explore this new field. McPartland made connections with this organization that she continues to use in her classroom to this very day.