Blog Archives
Happy Birthday, Girl Scouts!
On March 12, 2012, Juliette Low started Girl Scouting in the United States.
In 100 years, this organization has impacted millions of girls and adults in our country. It has stood to protect each girl . . . not only physically but morally. You may not agree with the idea of accepting everyone and not imposing religious or cultural norms. You might not agree how national directs the program. Girl Scouting gives girls the courage, confidence and character to take control of their own lives and future.
If you see anyone wearing the ribbon, uniform or identifying themselves as a Girl Scout / alumnae today, please think of the girls working to make our world a better place.
Badge: DNR – Project Learning Tree
Project Learning Tree is an environmental education program for kids from preschool through grade 12. It is from the American Forest Foundation.
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Steps
1. Project Learning Tree (PLT).
Project Learning Tree is designed to get kids outside. The purpose is to teach kids HOW to think about the environment. Explore the Web site to learn more.
2. GreenWorks!
GreenWorks! provides the framework for service learning in cooperation with businesses, non-profits, etc. Review the guidelines and brainstorm ways you can incorporate PLT activities / service into your current programming.
3. GreenSchools!
GreenSchools! encourages positive environmental action of schools and communities. Review this program and decide if you want to reduce your school’s ecological footprint. These activities can be incorporated into normal school days. How much can you do to help the environment?
4. Try an activity.
Free activities are available online. Try one or more to see how the program works. Is this something you can use with your youth troop / group?
5. Take a PLT workshop.
Search for your state coordinator and / or events to find out when workshops are being offered. Sign up and take one.
6. Earth and Sky radio show.
www2.plt.org/flash/PLT_EarthSky_2009.html
Earth and Sky is a daily radio show that highlights a range of environmental topics. Go to the Earth and Sky Web site and look through some of their offerings. Do a tutorial if you are interested in this resource.
7. Focus on forests.
Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests module is now available. Learn about forestry. Explore the links and resources to find activities you can use with your youth.
8. Look through the curriculum.
Review the curriculum to find other items not specifically called out in the steps of this badge program. Are there more areas you’re interested in learning about? If so, find out more.
9. Additional resources of PLT activities.
Under “Curriculum”, explore the additional activity resources for both PreK-8 and Secondary.
10. Incorporating PLT with Girl Scouts.
PLT has activities that work with all levels of Girl Scouts. Look through their provided lists to see what activities you can incorporate into your Girl Scout activities.
11. Incorporating PLT with Boy Scouts.
Look through activities to find out how to incorporate PLT activities with Boy Scout activities.
12. Create an activity box.
Create an activity box based on the program/youth you work with to introduce adults to Project Learning Tree. Include instructions on how the activity works and where adults can get their own materials if they are interested in learning more.
13. Environmental education.
connect.plt.org/app/render/go.aspx?xsl=tp_community.xslt
PLT provides even more educational support. Check out their site where they encourage others to share their PLT materials.
14. Become a trainer or coordinator.
Find out what you need to do to become a trainer / coordinator for Project Learning Tree.
15. Explore ways to share PLT.
Find ways to share Project Learning Tree with others beyond Step 14.
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Sites to Explore
All links are provided within the steps above.
Badge: DNR – Project WILD
Project WILD deals with conservation and environmental science through wildlife. It is designed for kids from Kindergarten through 12th grade.
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Steps
1. Project WILD.
www.projectwild.org/ProjectWILDK-12CurriculumandActivityGuide.htm
Project WILD deals with wildlife and habitats. Review the table of contents and other information available on the Web.
2. Project WILD Aquatic.
www.projectwild.org/ProjectWILDK-12AquaticCurriculumandActivityGuide.htm
Project WILD Aquatic deals with wildlife and aquatic ecosystems. Review the information available on the Web.
3. Science and Civics: Sustaining Wildlife
www.projectwild.org/ScienceandCivics.htm
Designed for high school students, this program serves as a guide for environmental action projects that benefit local wildlife. Review the information available on the Web.
4. Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children.
www.projectwild.org/GrowingUpWILD.htm
This program provides wildlife learning for young children. Review the information available on the Web.
5. Coordinators in your state.
www.projectwild.org/statesponsoringagenciesandorganizations.htm
Find coordinators for Project WILD in your state. Review other state offerings as well that go with the Project WILD program. Find out when classes are available.
6. Project WILD sponsors and partners.
www.projectwild.org/sponsors.htm
Explore sites of the sponsors and partners of Project WILD. See how Project WILD has expanded to other countries.
7. Participate in a Project WILD workshop.
The Project WILD workshops not only allow you to try sample activities, upon completion of the workshop you’ll receive the materials free of charge. Sign up and participate in a workshop for one or more projects of Project WILD.
8. Explore other Project WILD offerings.
Find other offerings available from Project WILD starting with “WILD about Elk” and “Taking Action.”
9. Incorporating Project WILD into Girl Scout activities.
www.projectwild.org/documents/GirlScoutsandProjectWILD.doc
Review the list of Girl Scout Try-Its, Badges and Interest Projects to find out how Project WILD can help girls earn insignia.
10. Incorporating Project WILD with Boy Scouts.
www.projectwild.org/documents/NCBoyScoutCorrelations-1994.pdf
Look through activities to find out how to incorporate Project WILD with Boy Scout activities.
11. Check out Project WILD in other states.
Examine offerings from other states. Compare to find out what materials are also used by other states and those specifically made for them. Are there materials you can use as well?
12. Share with youth.
Share some of the information you received in training or from your materials with youth. This can be a troop, group or even individuals. Use your materials to create a summer camp day or week to encourage kids to become more aware of environmental science.
13. Create an activity box.
Create an activity box based on the program/youth you work with to introduce adults to Project WILD. Include instructions on how the activity works and where adults can get their own materials if they are interested in learning more.
14. Service.
Project WILD works with service learning. Review the service learning resources to do more. Participate in a service project that utilizes Project WILD.
15. Become a trainer or coordinator.
Find out what you need to do to become a trainer / coordinator for Project WILD.
16. Explore ways to share Project WILD.
Find ways to share Project WILD with others beyond Step 14.
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Sites to Explore
All links are provided within the steps above.
Badge: STEM via PBS (revised)
You can get great information from PBS on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or STEM. They offer workshops, experiments and lesson plans as well as exceptional shows to help you explore your world in these areas. Many of the shows are available for viewing on the Web. This badge program focuses on items you can take back to use with Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and other youth groups.
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Steps
1. Zoom! Girl Scouts® recommended science training.
pbskids.org/zoom/grownups/scitraining
Zoom helps kids understands science. As part of their offerings, they have an adult training. This one is recommended by GSUSA. Start with this training to see how easy it is to lead science activities. Feel free to save the materials and resources for use at a later date. Suggested age for this show / materials is 9 and older.
2. Middle Level STEM Education with “Design Squad,” “Fetch,” and “DragonflyTV”.
www.pbs.org/teachers/webinar/archive.html
Find out about a few more STEM education shows on PBS. The link will take you to the archives of webinars. Watch the one with the title of this step. Look through the other webinar offerings and see if anything else looks interesting to you that you might want to come back and check later.
For now, let’s see what’s available from these three shows.
3. Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman.
www.pbs.org/parents/fetch/training/index.html
Fetch! Is another show featuring science for kids. The training and activities are different from Zoom! Suggested age for this show / materials is 6-10. It also has science training to help you get started.
NOTE: There is a Girl Scout patch for 6-10 year olds featuring science and engineering activities. The requirements will be available with the PDF of this badge program. The badge does not say “Girl Scouts”, so it can be earned by others as well.
4. Design Squad.
pbskids.org/designsquad/parentseducators/workshop/welcome.html
Design Squad deals with engineering. There is a workshop for educators/adults at the link in this step. In addition, there are numerous guides and activities you can do with kids. Activities are designed for kids from Kindergarten (K) through grade 12.
NOTE: There is a Girl Scout patch for Juniors through Ambassadors. The requirements will be available with the PDF of this badge program. The badge does not say “Girl Scouts”, so it can be earned by others as well.
5. Dragonfly TV!
www.pbs.org/parents/dragonflytv/index.html
While this show does not have workshops for adults, it does have numerous educator’s guides. It also has numerous scientific activities for kids. Activities are available for preschoolers through teenagers.
6. NOVA.
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/teachers
The best science show on television, Nova has 37 seasons to show for it. This link is to the education site. The materials you can use are numerous, so it’s easier to explore for yourself. You can find science, technology, engineering and math for grades 6-12. In addition, the digital libraries are free.
7. For teachers.
Feeling adventurous? PBS has a site just for teachers. You can select the grade level you’re looking for and general subject matter. In addition, PBS does free online webinars, discussions and more. You might not be specifically a “teacher”, but the materials they provide for free to help children are extensive.
8. Explore on your own.
PBS science shows are for everyone. Check out these additional PBS sites. The URLs are in the “Sites to Explore” section.
- Nature — For grades 6-12, explores the natural world.
- Secrets of the Dead — For grades 6-12, introduces science through investigation into ancient mysteries.
- Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures — For grades 6-12, covers themes of adaptations, ecosystems and human impact through ocean studies.
- NOVAscienceNOW — For grades 6-12, covers the developments and people in science and technology today.
- Wired Science — For grades 6-12, explores the cutting-edge topics in science and technology.
- E2 — For grades 6-12, explores environmental and social challenges.
- Mathline — For grades K-12, includes over 100 free lesson plans and video lessons.
- NewsHour Extra: Science resources for teachers and students — For grades 6-12, features many teaching resources.
- Scientific American Frontiers — For grades 5-12, explores the latest trends in science, medicine, technology and the environment.
- The Ascent of Money — For grades 6-12, examines the economic system.
- Curious George — For grades PreK-5, extends learning opportunities of the show.
- Sid the Science Kid — For PreK-5, helps to develop natural wonder and build a foundation for early science exploration.
- EekoWorld — For K-4, teaches environmental science.
- Kratts’ Creatures — For PreK-5, explores wildlife and habitats in an online world.
- Cyberchase — For PreK-5, teaches core math and science concepts.
- The Democracy Project — For grades 3-6, find out about the American democratic process.
- Misunderstood Minds — For anyone, learn about how to help understand and overcome learning disabilities.
- SciGirls — SciGirls features tween girls using science and engineering in everyday situations. It even encourages science clubs.
PBS is continually coming out with thought-provoking and educational programming. Don’t stop exploring just because you’ve hit the end of this list. Continue looking through their site for more and share your findings.
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Supplements
FOUND_DS_GirlScout_Patch_Web.pdf
. Design Squad (engineering) patch program, activity sheets are available in English and Spanish.
FOUND_FETCH_GirlScoutPatch.pdf
. FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman patch program features science and engineering activities.
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Sites to Explore
pbskids.org/zoom/grownups/scitraining
www.pbs.org/teachers/webinar/archive.html
www.pbs.org/parents/fetch/training/index.html
pbskids.org/designsquad/parentseducators/workshop/welcome.html
www.pbs.org/parents/dragonflytv/index.html
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/teachers
www.pbs.org/teachers
www.pbs.org/wnet/nature
www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets
www.pbs.org/kqed/oceanadventures/educators
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow
www.pbs.org/kcet/wiredscience/education
www.pbs.org/e2/index.html
www.pbs.org/teachers/math
www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/teachers/science
www.pbs.org/saf/educators.htm
www.pbs.org/wnet/ascentofmoney/lessons
pbskids.org/curiousgeorge
pbskids.org/sid
pbskids.org/eekoworld
pbskids.org/krattscreatures
pbskids.org/cyberchase
pbskids.org/democracy/educators/index.html
www.pbs.org/wgbh/misunderstoodminds/math.html
pbskids.org/scigirls
www.pbs.org/parents/catinthehat/explorer_guide_topten_tips.html
