NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION NEWS


Professional Development
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CONTENTS:
Glossary of Geology now available as an e-book for Kindle and Nook
June & Summer workshops
Soil Health Conference Announced & Online!
NASA video depicting global warming
PLT Branch Re-Subscribe Notice
2012 NAAEE Conference - It's Going to be the Coolest!
Get Mapped With MOST-Science!
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) Releases Six New Publications
Cool The Earth
MyGarbology
Operation: Reuse It!
Sustainable Food Systems Education Guide
Sedge Island Student Field Experience
Multicultural EE Acknowledges the Diversity of Views/Values, Contributes to Solutions of Environment
Multicultural School Gardens Facilitate Learning About language, Culture, and Environment
New Classroom Action Guide Asks "What’s On Your Fork?"
New Mobile Game from ARKive
Our Daily Poison
Virtual Library in Spanish
Climate Change lesson posts from ESPIRIT
FREE online resource for kids and educators--DiscoverWater.org!
The Pine Barrens: Up Close & Natural Curriculum Now Online!
EarthNote: Critical Minerals
Glossary of Geology now available as an e-book for Kindle and Nook             (Posted: 5-23-12)

The revised 5th edition of the Glossary of Geology, published by the American Geosciences Institute, is now available as an e-book for the Kindle and the Nook. The e-book version provides users with the full layout and text of the Glossary for half the price and none of the pounds of the print edition. The Glossary is an indispensable reference tool. It contains nearly 40,000 entries, including 3,600 new terms and approximately 13,000 entries with revised definitions from the previous edition. The revisions encompass advances in scientific thought and changes in usage, and underscore the importance of this volume for any Earth science professional or student. In addition to definitions, many entries include background information and aids to syllabication. The Glossary draws its authority from the expertise of the more than 100 geoscientists in many specialties who reviewed definitions and added new terms.

The e-book version is available now for the Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/Glossary-Geology-Edition-Revised-ebook/dp/B0080JB9DU

and the Nook:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/glossary-of-geology-5th-edition-revised-klaus-neuendorf/1110608680

Or visit http://www.agiweb.org/pubs/glossary for information about the hardcopy and digital versions that the Glossary of Geology, 5th Edition, Revised is available.

June & Summer workshops             (Posted: 5-18-12)

Head to the shore this summer for one or more of the upcoming MARE workshops - free or cheap - they are all bound to please!

MARE: One Ocean, Interdisciplinary Instruction
When: July 17, 2012
Where: IMCS, New Brunswick
Cost: $50*
Grade level: K-8
Description: Come learn from seasoned MARE teachers across multiple disciplines (literacy, science, physical education, cultures, etc.) about creative ways to incorporate ocean education into your classrooms and clubs.
* All meals will be provided.

MARE: Biodiversity & Bioluminescence
When: July 18, 2012
Where: Am. Museum of Natural History, NY
Cost: $175*
Grade level: K-12
Description: Through talks with educators, scientists, and curators learn more about biodiversity in the Ocean Hall and the amazing world of the dark ocean through the Creatures of Light: Bioluminescence exhibit.
* Transportation and lunch will be provided.

MARE Community Day: Fish & Larvae
When: Aug 14, 2012
Where: Rutgers Marine Field Station, Tuckerton
Cost: FREE
Grade level: K-12
Description: Come learn more about the amazing diversity and life histories of fishes and larvae from Rutgers marine scientists. Also, we will discuss ways to best bring ocean literacy and sciences into classrooms and clubs in New Jersey.
* All meals will be provided.

MARE: Beaches, Adaptations, & Human Impacts
When: Aug 15, 2012
Where: Coastal NJ, out of Tuckerton
Cost: $150*
Grade level: K-12
Description: Through presentations by local scientists and field trips to three different beaches along NJ, we will explore beach formation, adaptations of beach creatures, and human impacts on our coastlines.
* Transportation and lunch will be provided.

All Summer 2012 Teacher Programs will include a packet of accompanying lesson plans.
Each of the Teacher Programs is open to both MARE and non-MARE educators.
Participants are welcome to attend one or more programs over the course of the summer.

To learn more information and to apply for any or all of the Summer 2012 Teacher Programs, visit the Opportunities & Resources page at http://coseenow.net/mare.

Reminder that the NAGT-ES conference is June 1-3 and is nearby at Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory. For details visit http://sites.google.com/site/nagtes/

Soil Health Conference Announced & Online!             (Posted: 3-7-12)

Click HERE.

NASA video depicting global warming             (Posted: 3-7-12)

From our friends at NASA comes this amazing 26-second video, depicting how temperatures around the globe have warmed since 1880. That year is what scientists call the beginning of the "modern record." You'll note an acceleration of those temperatures in the late 1970s as greenhouse gas emissions from energy production increased worldwide and clean air laws reduced emissions of pollutants that had a cooling effect on the climate, and thus were masking some of the global warming signal. The data comes from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, which monitors global surface temperatures.
As NASA notes, "in this animation, reds indicate temperatures higher than the average during a baseline period of 1951-1980, while blues indicate lower temperatures than the baseline average." Click HERE.

PLT Branch Re-Subscribe Notice             (Posted: 2-14-12)

IMPORTANT NOTE About Your Branch Subscription


The Branch is moving! To continue to receive PLT’s quarterly e-newsletter, you will need to re-subscribe. We hope you like our new format and features filled with tools and resources for educators, and tips from educators working on the ground with students. With this re-design, we will soon be switching to a new distribution service.  Please sign up to continue receiving The Branch.  Thank you!
Project Learning Tree
1111 19th St. NW
Suite 780
Washington, District of Columbia 20036

2012 NAAEE Conference - It's Going to be the Coolest!             (Posted: 2-13-12)

Don't know how we were so prescient, but NAAEE has picked the "in" spot in the U.S. for the 41st Annual Conference, set for October 10-13, 2012. During the first week of 2012, the New York Times released its list of "The 45 Places to Go in 2012." And the first North American location on the list was Oakland, CA. It's number five on the list after Panama, Helsinki, Myanmar, and London.

Visit the website for the Call for Presentation Proposals (CFP) coming soon and get ready to experience the appeal of this revitalized city, along with the hundreds of presentations that comprise the premier environmental education professional development experience in North America!
http://www.naaee.net/

Get Mapped With MOST-Science!             (Posted: 2-13-12)

Leaders of youth out-of-school-time programs are invited to share their program design and details with MOST-Science, a nationwide study led by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder. MOST-Science is collecting data about the organization and practices of science, engineering and technology-focused out-of-school-time (OST) programs across the country, and is especially interested in including programs that focus on environmental science. Contribute a program to the database (and learn more) at:
http://www.colorado.edu/eer/research/outofschool.h...

Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) Releases Six New Publications             (Posted: 2-13-12)

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies has released six new publications in its award-winning North American Conservation Education Strategy Tool Kit for Achieving Excellence. The new publications include Fostering Outdoor Observation Skills, Landscape Investigations Guidelines, Schoolyard Biodiversity Investigations Educator Guide, Project-Based Learning Model, Outdoor Skills Education Handbook, and Sustainable Tomorrow: Applying Systems Thinking to Environmental Education Curricula, for Grades 9-12. These and other publications are available for free download.
http://www.fishwildlife.org/index.php?section=cons...

Cool The Earth             (Posted: 2-13-12)

Free, fun, and empowering climate change program for K-8 students and their families that inspires them to take simple actions to reduce their carbon emissions. Includes action coupons kids earn and a banner the school can post to show how their actions are adding up to make a difference.
http://cooltheearth.org/our-program/

MyGarbology             (Posted: 2-13-12)

NatureBridge launched this new online game for kids, teachers, and parents to teach users to reduce waste and encourage awareness of their impact on the environment and encourage community involvement. Learn more about this initiative here. Play the game: http://www.naturebridge.org/garbology

Operation: Reuse It!             (Posted: 2-13-12)

By: Sabbithry Persad
Illustrated by: Jenny Campbell
With colorful illustrations and fact-filled diagrams complementing the adventure, this picture book tells the story of how Peter and his friends help Mr. Ogilvy rediscover forgotten belongings in his shed.
https://eelinked.naaee.net/n/eelinked/posts/Operat...

Sustainable Food Systems Education Guide             (Posted: 2-13-12)

The education team at the Stop Community Food Centre has just released a new Sustainable Food Systems Education Guide for elementary school teachers and community educators. The guide provides the background information used to design many of the Stop’s activities and workshops for children. While this 54-page guide was originally designed for fifth-grade classroom teachers in Ontario, it includes information on food systems that can be useful to most teachers at the elementary level and educators in community settings that are developing programs around food issues. It is divided into five short units, includes 25 suggested activities, and four personal stories that help illustrate issues around social justice. There's also list of additional resources that includes books, websites, blogs, and videos that have become popular in our programs.
http://thestop.org/grade-5-program

Sedge Island Student Field Experience             (Posted: 2-13-12)

The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife and the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ will conduct two 1-week residential summer sessions for motivated students to explore New Jersey's salt marsh environment at the Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center in 2012. Session one will be held June 28-July 2, 2012 and the second session will be held July 30-August 3, 2012. Each session is open to students entering grades 7 to 9 in the fall 2012 school year.

Students will stay at the "Sedge House," which is a renovated duck-hunting lodge located in Barnegat Bay in New Jersey's only Marine Conservation Zone. Using the house as their "home base," they will use kayaks and a variety of gear and scientific equipment to study the bay's ecosystem under the guidance of Fish and Wildlife and Conserve Wildlife Foundation biologists.

The shallow water surrounding Sedge Island serves as a nursery for abundant marine life including invertebrates, blue claw crabs, hard clams, and fish. The island also provides nesting and resting sites for many species of birds, and is located within the Atlantic Flyway ensuring exciting birding year-round. Students will see and examine much of this wildlife, as they literally immerse themselves in their environment.

Students will also learn about sustainability, stewardship and the history of the region during their field experience by participating in traditional Barnegat Bay activities such as fishing, crabbing and clamming. Living this conservation lifestyle provides a unique perspective and understanding of NJ's natural resources and issues affecting the bay.

The cost is $425 and includes all meals, equipment and instruction. Space is limited and applicants will go through a competitive application process. Applications are due by March 31.

For more information about the Sedge Island Summer Field Experience and how to apply visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/sedge.htm or contact Karen Leskie at 609-748-4347 or karen.leskie@dep.state.nj.us .

Multicultural EE Acknowledges the Diversity of Views/Values, Contributes to Solutions of Environment             (Posted: 2-3-12)

Based on the literature review, Dr. Marouli argues that worldviews of marginalized people have been underrepresented in EE and that “our understanding of environmental issues and the proposed solutions are culturally limited to and by the perceptions of the dominant group.”
Marouli, C. (2002). Multicultural environmental education: theory and practice. Canadian Journal of Environmental Education, 7(1), 26-42.
http://eelinked.naaee.net/n/eeresearch/posts/Multi...

Multicultural School Gardens Facilitate Learning About language, Culture, and Environment             (Posted: 2-3-12)

Dr. Cutter-Mackenzie has explored learning outcomes of a school gardening program in Melbourne, an Australian city, in 2006-2007. The research program involved 70 students – recent immigrants, 6-12-year-old – in designing, construction and implementation of a gardening program along with teachers, parents and community volunteers.
Cutter-Mackenzie, A. (2009). Multicultural school gardens: creating engaging garden spaces in learning about language, culture, and environment. Canadian Journal of Environmental Education, 14, 122-135.
http://eelinked.naaee.net/n/eeresearch/posts/Multi...

New Classroom Action Guide Asks "What’s On Your Fork?"             (Posted: 2-3-12)

Does what you eat really have impact on our planet? Could mealtime choices actually help promote clean drinking water? What’s On Your Fork? is a new, free downloadable action guide and collection of supplementary educational tools from EarthEcho International designed to help educators and students explore the environmental and community impact of daily food choices. This new resource is part of EarthEcho’s Water Planet Challenge, a Web-based interactive program exploring a myriad of topics that engage and empower middle and high school-aged youth to design, create, and implement service-learning projects in their communities. Rich in academic connections, the What’s On Your Fork? step-by-step action guide includes stimulating content, student organizers for discussions and planning, and examples of youth taking action.

Visit the Web site to learn more about NEA Foundation Water Planet Challenge educator grants and an upcoming What’s On Your Fork? Webinar hosted by Philippe Cousteau, Jr.
http://www.WaterPlanetChallenge.org

New Mobile Game from ARKive             (Posted: 2-3-12)

"Survival" is a free, quick-fire mobile game to raise awareness about the world’s most endangered animals. Immersive, interactive, and educational, "Survival" is a great way to encourage children's curiosity for the natural world. At home, in the classroom or on-the-go, kids and adults alike will have a whale of a time as they race against the clock to tap, pinch, drag, scroll, and swipe their way through a series of mini-games whilst learning about the world’s endangered species
http://www.arkive.org/apps/survival

Our Daily Poison             (Posted: 2-3-12)

According to the World Health Organization, cancer rates have doubled over the last 30 years, and increasing rates of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, autoimmune disorders, and reproduction dysfunction have also been observed. Our Daily Poison is a new documentary from Icarus Films and is divided into three distinct but interrelated sections, challenging the conventional wisdom on our agriculture and food systems.
http://www.icarusfilms.com/new2011/pois.html

Virtual Library in Spanish             (Posted: 2-3-12)

This Spanish library provides a compilation of documents in Spanish for environmental educators, which include experiences, guidelines, multimedia, educational material, and other helpful information.
http://www.reambi.org/biblioteca-virtual

Climate Change lesson posts from ESPIRIT             (Posted: 12-23-11)

Climate change lessons created to support 5-6 minute NBC Learn videos:
http://www.windows2universe.Betting on the Planetorg/earth/changing_planet/changing_planet.html
http://nhmail2.nhnea.org/assets/img/PubThoughtAndAction/TA10AndereggR.pdf

Recommended link: http://www.climatechangehumanhealth.org/

Topical movies:
Inconvenient Truth (introduction, and for political skewing)
11th Hour (kids love this one, good for middle of semester reminder what the background topic is)
Global Warning (History channel, best one for the science of the studies, no politics involved)
Little Ice Age, Big Chill (shows the history of how humans react to climate change, and the devastating consequences)

FREE online resource for kids and educators--DiscoverWater.org!             (Posted: 12-23-11)

Click HERE.

The Pine Barrens: Up Close & Natural Curriculum Now Online!             (Posted: 12-23-11)

I am pleased to let you know that The Pine Barrens: Up Close & Natural curriculum is now available online.

Contents include:
Introduction to the Pine Barrens of NJ
Geology
History
Water
Biodiversity
Human Impact & Conservation
References & Suggested Reading

We hope that this inquiry-based curriculum is now able to reach even more teachers and environmental educators by being freely available on the web. Educators can still contact PPA to receive the hardcopy version, as well as the accompanying DVD documentary, at no charge.

Please feel free to share this valuable online educational resource about the New Jersey Pinelands with your colleagues. And please let us know how you are using it in your classroom!

Mike Hunninghake
Director of Education & Communications
Pinelands Preservation Alliance
17 Pemberton Road, Southampton, NJ 08088
Ph: 609 859-8860 x24
Follow PPA on Facebook
Follow PPA on Twitter

Check out the 2011 State of the Pinelands Report
Become a PPA Member

EarthNote: Critical Minerals             (Posted: 12-20-11)

Alexandria, VA – What would you do without your cell phone and computer? How about your car? Could you function in modern society without these contemporary devices? All of these technological marvels require no fewer than 60 different elements to function, and these elements come from a finite supply of mineral commodities. These critical minerals are defined by their dollar value, the availability of substitutes, and their ever increasing demand. In a new EarthNote, the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) outlines what makes a mineral “critical” and how the sudden loss of these resources could impact both the U.S. and global economy.

With increasing globalization, countries are relying on technology for economic, social, and military purposes more than ever before. Green technologies such as wind turbines and electric cars, communications technologies such as computers and cell phones, and cutting-edge military systems all depend on critical minerals to function efficiently and effectively. How would you be affected by a shortage of these commodities? Learn more in the Critical Minerals EarthNote, available online now at http://www.agiweb.org/environment/earthnotes/note.html?PublicID=8.

To read more EarthNotes please visit http://www.agiweb.org/environment/earthnotes/.

Learn how the latest Earth science issues will influence your life with EarthNotes. EarthNotes are summaries of timely information about geoscience issues that inform the public about how geoscience affects society. The reports are contributed by knowledgeable geoscientists on a wide range of topics. For more information, visit http://www.agiweb.org/environment/earthnotes/.
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The American Geosciences Institute is a nonprofit federation of 50 geoscientific and professional associations that represents more than 250,000 geologists, geophysicists and other earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in the profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in society's use of resources, resiliency to natural hazards, and interaction with the environment.

Archived PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & CLASSROOM MATERIALS are available upon request throught the webmaster.