YA Eco Mysteries, Memoirs, Novels & Travel
Environmental Project Based Learning
09/11/14 17:29 Filed in: Environment
Launch of Eco Mystery Project
"To sunshine, clear water, and sparkling skies and to the kids who are cleaning up the Earth.” Jean Craighead George
How can educators launch a PROJECT-BASED LEARNING project that will inspire students to do in-depth investigation and to apply what they have learned to make a difference in the real world? Here’s how I launched projects about eco mysteries for Melissa Foster’s third graders at Creek View Elementary in Maylene, Alabama, and Robin Gillespie’s fifth and sixth graders, at Oak Mountain Intermediate School in Decatur, Alabama.
To arouse the students’ curiosity, I planned the event to be novel and dramatic. My presentation encouraged students to generate questions that plunge them into an intriguing ecological mystery they must solve in order to help save an endangered species. To begin, I dressed up as Mrs. Margarita Mariposa, a character in The Adventures of The Sizzling Six: Monarch Mysteries (Book Six in the series). I donned a striking mask with flowers and butterflies and tossed a paper monarch butterfly into the air.
"To sunshine, clear water, and sparkling skies and to the kids who are cleaning up the Earth.” Jean Craighead George
How can educators launch a PROJECT-BASED LEARNING project that will inspire students to do in-depth investigation and to apply what they have learned to make a difference in the real world? Here’s how I launched projects about eco mysteries for Melissa Foster’s third graders at Creek View Elementary in Maylene, Alabama, and Robin Gillespie’s fifth and sixth graders, at Oak Mountain Intermediate School in Decatur, Alabama.
To arouse the students’ curiosity, I planned the event to be novel and dramatic. My presentation encouraged students to generate questions that plunge them into an intriguing ecological mystery they must solve in order to help save an endangered species. To begin, I dressed up as Mrs. Margarita Mariposa, a character in The Adventures of The Sizzling Six: Monarch Mysteries (Book Six in the series). I donned a striking mask with flowers and butterflies and tossed a paper monarch butterfly into the air.
MRS. DATNOW (RIGHT) WITH MASK AT THE DAY OF THE DEAD
I ask the students to figure out the connection between the mask worn on the Day of the Dead—which traditionally is celebrated in Mexico—and monarch butterflies. This spiked the students’ curiosity. In order to make the connection they began to ask a barrage of questions. To help them find clues, I read a short, dramatic passage from The Adventures of The Sizzling Six: Monarch Mysteries, accompanied by slides showing the celebration of The Day of The Dead.
MRS. DATNOW READS FROM MONARCH MYSTERIES
WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THIS MASK AND MONARCH BUTTERFLIES?
By following clues and asking questions they were able to make the connection and solve the puzzle. This process, in turn, lead to the essential questions, or ecological problemmystery: Why is the Migration of Monarch Butterflies in Danger of Disappearing? What do we need to know about monarch butterflies in order to help save the species?
To find the answers to these questions, students become Eco detectives. To investigate clues they visit the scene of the crime (in this case the habit of the species), conduct research, interview experts, carry out experiments, go on field trips, make observations in their school’s outdoor classroom, keep journals, and reach out to organizations that are working to save the species. Monarch Watch and Journey North are just two examples where students can collaborate with conservation groups by becoming citizens scientists. Throughout the project it’s essential that students keep a record of the data they collect through note-taking, drawings, photos, audio recordings, and videos.
MRS. FOSTER AND STUDENTS DO A PLAY ABOUT SPECIES MIGRATION
At the end of my presentation, I demonstrate how students can write and publish their own Eco mysteries by applying what they have learned throughout the investigative process. The final product, created with software, like iBook Author and Book Creator, is an electronic book published in the iBookstore, or on Amazon’s Kindle Book Store. Most exciting and motivating is the knowledge that their book can be shared with the school, the community, and even around the world. For more detailed steps follow the handout out HOW TO BECOME AND ECO DETECTIVE on my website at wwwmediamint.net.
OAK PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL, DECATUR, ALABMA (MRS. GILLESPIE’S BOOK CLUB)
In addition to these PBL school projects, later in the week, I had the great honor of hosting an event at the SimsEcoscape, in Homewood, Alabama, to honor butterfly experts and enthusiasts who encouraged me to write the sixth book in my Eco mystery series, The Adventures of the Sizzling Six: Monarch Mysteries. Among the honored guests were Paulette Haywood Ogard and Sara Cunningham Bright, authors of Butterflies of Alabama: Glimpses into Their Lives, and Vitaly Charny who coauthored, Butterflies of Alabama with W Mike Howell.
GATHERING AT SIMS ECOSCAPE
MILKWEED GROWING IN THE WILDFLOWER GARDEN AT SIMSECOSCAPE
SIMSECOSCAPE WILDFLOWER GARDEN
For those who would like to invite me launch projects at their schools please visit: www.mediamint.net, or contact me at: cldatnow@me.com
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