Environmental Connections

I think what you mentioned is the best way to engage the students, they may not be likely to care (at first) about global issues, but you can hook them on a local issue and then work your way out to the larger world. I am encouraged that you want to start with middle school students, they are at a very enthusiastic age, and you can plant seeds that will develop into a larger environmental ethic. I don't know where Cinci is relaative to the Cuyahoga watershed, but the fire on the river served as an important starting point for the environmental movement in the U.S. You and I happen to share what were once among the most polluted waterways in the country!

Here's what my kids are working on-
http://bridgingclassroomsandcultures.bosco-uganda.wikispaces.net/ and https://thedirksenplace.wikispaces.com/Englewood+Springs+Botanical+...

These projects have been over a year in the making. My best advice would be to tell you to be patient with yourself, and find the best help to develop a quality project that can become an opportunity for longitudinal data collection from one year to the next. I spent a ton of time designing a project and then making the social connections to make it happen. I would love to expand my project, by connecting schools globally on related issues. Brainstrom local issues past and present and be creative, don't be afraid to think big.

I love that our watersheds are "in kind", and both share a colorful past and redemption story. If you decide you might be interested in collaborating I would be very excited to do do so, and am sure willing to help you in any way that I can. Here's my regular website that has links to my "stuff". https://thedirksenplace.wikispaces.com/

Replies

Robin Cochran Dirksen October 20, 2010 at 3:28pm

Sorry, I see 7th gr Lang Arts. I am secondary ed. But, my students work with local concerns, and it gets their interest becuase it's relevant to their community. Where are you located?
- Danielle Cripe > Robin Cochran Dirksen October 20, 2010 at 7:07pm
  
  I am in Cincinnati, OH. I am debating whether to let the students come up with issues they see around them and then developing what they think would be a good action plan for combating that issue. Do you give your students specific issues to discuss?
  
  What kind of projects/activities do you use to get your students connecting to these outside concerns?
  - Robin Cochran Dirksen > Danielle Cripe October 21, 2010 at 9:19am
    
    I think what you mentioned is the best way to engage the students, they may not be likely to care (at first) about global issues, but you can hook them on a local issue and then work your way out to the larger world. I am encouraged that you want to start with middle school students, they are at a very enthusiastic age, and you can plant seeds that will develop into a larger environmental ethic. I don't know where Cinci is relaative to the Cuyahoga watershed, but the fire on the river served as an important starting point for the environmental movement in the U.S. You and I happen to share what were once among the most polluted waterways in the country!
    
    Here's what my kids are working on-
    http://bridgingclassroomsandcultures.bosco-uganda.wikispaces.net/ and https://thedirksenplace.wikispaces.com/Englewood+Springs+Botanical+...
    
    These projects have been over a year in the making. My best advice would be to tell you to be patient with yourself, and find the best help to develop a quality project that can become an opportunity for longitudinal data collection from one year to the next. I spent a ton of time designing a project and then making the social connections to make it happen. I would love to expand my project, by connecting schools globally on related issues. Brainstrom local issues past and present and be creative, don't be afraid to think big.
    
    I love that our watersheds are "in kind", and both share a colorful past and redemption story. If you decide you might be interested in collaborating I would be very excited to do do so, and am sure willing to help you in any way that I can. Here's my regular website that has links to my "stuff". https://thedirksenplace.wikispaces.com/
Robin Cochran Dirksen October 20, 2010 at 3:25pm

What grade level do you work with? And, what environmental topic are you interested in?

This reply was deleted.