Tag Archives: environmental

Check it Out:, School Media Specialist, Tech

AASL Best Digital Apps 2021: WWF Wild Classroom

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AASL released its list of Best Digital Tools for Teaching and Learning 2021! This year’s list took into special consideration how well these tools work for remote/distance students. The resources enhance learning and encourage the following qualities:

  • Innovation/Creativity
  • Active Participation
  • Collaboration
  • User-Friendly
  • Encourages Exploration
  • Information/Reference

We share these resources every year and you can explore our archive of past recommendations here.

This week we’re exploring a very cool resource: from the World Wildlife Fund, the Wild Classroom! On their Teaching Resources page, you can find so many ways to engage your students: from Wildlife Arts and Crafts to a whole Lesson Library! They have a Biodiversity Toolkit, ideas for conservation in the classroom, a Workout Your Wild Side activity, and a Find Your Inner Animal quiz! (In case you were curious, I got Warthog, and yes the quiz was very fun!)

Grades: K-12

The WWF Wild Classroom resource “contains a variety of resources that educators and librarians can use with youth to inspire them to help protect the planet. The platform contains activity plans, digital reference materials (including videos and kid-friendly scientific articles), virtual engagement opportunities with World Wildlife Fund experts, online games, and project ideas of ways to get involved in their community. All of the materials are free to access and integrate a range of educational standards, including Next Generation Science and Common Core ELA/Math.”

EdSurge has this evaluation of the resource, and Kahoot! has teamed up with Wild Classroom to create new games for students to learn about biodiversity! Check those out here.

To get an idea of the type of content Wild Classroom offers, watch this 3 minute video on polar bears (I learned so much!)

General, School Media Specialist

Green Schools Workshop

Presented by the Minnesota Department of Education, please join us for regional Green School Workshops for K-12 administrators, staff, teachers and anyone else interested in making schools more healthy, efficient, and effective.

Workshops will be held at Minnesota’s 2012 Green Ribbon Schools National Award Winners, and in our Central MN region, that is:

  • Kennedy Community School, Monday, October 29th in St. Joseph

See first-hand the benefits of green schools and learn about resources available in the areas of green buildings and energy, health and safety and environmental education.

Cost: Free. Clock hour certificates available.

Designed for school teachers, administrators, school business officials, buildings and grounds staff, school board members, informal educators, environmental groups, parent and community volunteers, legislators and local officials and anyone else that has an interest in making their school more green.

Delivered by green school experts, participants in the workshops will:

  1. –          identify ideas, resources, mentors and support in their efforts to implement green school initiatives
  2. –          learn about the Green Ribbon Schools (GRS) program, including the benefits of green schools and the three pillars of the program: Pillar One – reduce environmental impacts and costs, Pillar Two – improve the health and wellness of students and staff, and Pillar Three – provide effective environmental and sustainability education
  3. –          see Minnesota’s 2012 Green Ribbon Schools National Winners and hear from staff and students

The following agenda is planned for each workshop:

–          3 p.m. – Registration and exhibits open

–          3:30 p.m. – Welcome and Overview of Green Schools – GRS process and pillars, hear from 2012 GRS national winners

–          4 p.m. – Break-out sessions and school tours

–          5 p.m. – Exhibits and networking

–          6 p.m. – The End

Please register by sending an e-mail to Terry Alvarado at terry.alvarado@state.mn.us with the following information: Date and location of workshop attending, name of participant, school, position, e-mail and phone number.

For more information, please contact Jeff Ledermann at jeff.ledermann@state.mn.us or 651-582-8602.