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Educators set sail on Lake Huron
July 31st, 2012 by Irene MilesIISG education team wins APEX award
July 20th, 2012 by Irene MilesThe APEX awards are given each year to recognize outstanding publication work in a variety of fields by Communication Concepts, and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant was chosen as one of this year’s winners!
From their website:
“…(Communication) Concepts sponsors the APEX Awards, the annual Awards for Publication Excellence, an awards competition providing recognition for outstanding publishing efforts from newsletters and magazines to annual reports, campaigns, social media and websites.”
IISG’s Terri Hallesy and Robin Goettel were chosen for the “Education & Training Publications” category. Their “Fresh and Salt” project, a collaboration with Center for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence Great Lakes, collected activities, lessons, and other materials that joined Great Lakes and ocean topics in a cohesive way.
Designed for students in grades 5-10, the “Fresh and Salt” curriculum incorporated multiple facets of science education. Students learn about and even work on interactive mapping, investigation, experimentation, and additional concepts related to the science of both fresh and saltwater.
The curriculum’s 14 activities were structured for effective science learning, and to prepare students as future decision-makers and leaders. Activities were carefully selected based on a distinct set of criteria that would help students apply science process skills needed for effective learning.
Aligned with Great Lakes and Ocean literacy principles, timely issues include:
• Dominant physical features and their interconnections
• Geological phenomena
• Influence on weather and climate
• Human-environment connections and impacts
• Sustaining life on earth
• Biodiversity, food webs, and energy flows
• Exploration and technology innovation
“The COSEE Great Lakes Team accomplished our goal of providing educators with a science-based education resource that makes learning engaging,” said Hallesy. “It provides creative ideas to teach students about the Great Lakes and our oceans. Our intention is to educate students about ways to preserve and protect our aquatic ecosystems, while promoting environmental stewardship. ‘Fresh and Salt’ allows teachers to access relevant and timely science information leading to global awareness and environmental change.”
The entire Fresh and Salt curriculum can be downloaded from IISG’s education webpage.
Teachers are encouraged to incorporate relevant activities and lessons into their planning. In addition, educators can contact Terri Hallesy or Robin Goettel to learn about other opportunities and materials for their classrooms.
Communication Concepts is a firm that works with firms to improve communications, PR, marketing, and more. They also provide reports on current trends and give annual awards to projects and organizations for their outstanding publications.
IISG and the Windy City Earth Force team up to empower Chicago students
June 15th, 2012 by Irene MilesIISG education team members Robin Goettel and Terri Hallesy partnered with Angie Viands of the Field Museum’s Earth Force Program, along with students and teachers within the Calumet community to raise awareness about properly disposing of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs).
Windy City Earth Force is part of the museum’s Calumet Environmental Education Program (CEEP). Earth Force is a program that engages 7th and 8th grade students in action projects to address environmental issues in their community.
Ms. Pettis’ 7th grade students’ goal was to find out about potential health concerns for humans and animals caused by PPCPs and to find out what health concerns may lurk within our water supply.
– Letters to stakeholders, including businesses, legislators, and environmental organizations (including National Resources Defense Council and Illinois Department of Agriculture) about contaminates in the waterways and the importance of water quality standard improvements.
– Fliers to distribute to the public, as well as family and friends about the issue of contaminants and how they can make a difference in their community.
– Posters in local businesses and churches with the message “Stop Pollution in our Water: be green, stop pollution, and save our Earth.”
– School-wide surveys to determine the pollution tolerance index rating for various aquatic species.
– E-mail messages to editors at Southtown Star newspaper and Treehugger.com requesting them to publish their classroom project.
In addition, they developed a flier about how to help dispose of medications including the location of the nearest police station collection box.
This “Undo the Chemical Brew” education project is funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Check out the latest information by visiting www.unwantedmeds.org.
Hands-on water quality projects continue for NW Indiana students
May 1st, 2012 by Irene Miles![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ywYFDbOyU0E/T6AQsFyVXwI/AAAAAAAAAqY/vIeyi8yDZjs/s320/ECLCS+4-19-12-29.jpg)
IISG reaches hundreds at National Science Teacher Association Conference
April 10th, 2012 by Irene MilesIISG Associate Director for Education Robin Goettel, Education Specialist Terri Hallesy, AIS Specialist Sarah Zack, and AIS Assistant Danielle Hilbrich attended the National Science Teacher Association’s 2012 Conference March 29-31, and got a tremendous response to the educational resources, tips, and information they offered to the many teachers in attendance.
Visitors learned about how the “Nab the Aquatic Invader” website can be used as an excellent learning tool for grades 4-10, and how the GLRI “Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers” education and outreach initiative informs people what they can do to prevent the spread of aquatic “hitchhikers.” They also distributed brochures on Great Lakes Literacy principles, and CD-ROM copies of the COSEE/Sea Grant “Fresh and Salt” curriculum on important Great Lakes and marine issues.
The “Don’t Let It Loose” poster contains helpful information for teachers about properly disposing of unwanted classroom organisms. Smaller “tip-card” versions of the poster were available too, as well as an adoption pledge containing care tips for students and their families to use when adopting a classroom organism. Some of the highlights at the IISG table were the specimens available for teachers to look at, including a zebra mussel-encrusted shoe, which was a great catalyst to engage teachers in conservation about invasive species.
Recent News
- Educators explore water quality along the Chicago River’s Wild Mile
- IISG is looking for help to develop a green infrastructure curriculum
- Taking part in the Calumet Stewardship Day, 70 youth explored nearby nature
- IISG is looking for a K-12 educator with digital development experience
- Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant announces funding for southern Lake Michigan region research
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