T E N A L P or f N IO T A H DUC ART E E FALL2017 | ISSUE 114 | $7.95 Finding Great Science Partners PLUS Where does Food Come From? | Finding Inspiration for Outdoor Learning | Water Quality Field Trips Literary Gardens: Connecting Students with Famous Authors | Tips to Start Off oY ur School Year Let’s Talk Fracking | Observation-Focused Nature Journaling | STEAM to STEAM and Citizen Science PM40069238 GetFiredUp about a new Young Activist series Fired Up about Fired Up about Fired Up about Fired Up about Fired Up about Reproductive Rights Capitalism Feminism Student Rights Healthcare Available now Available now Fall 2018 Fall 2018 Fall 2018 Young people aren’t apathetic or entitled. Young people are hungry for change and ready for action. Written by activists from the frontlines of a wide array of social justice movements, the brand new Fired Up series is for all young people who want to know more about what to change and how to change it. Each book provides a short and concise look at the basics and gives readers of all ages the best reasons to get fired up and take action. www.firedupbooks.ca 1-800-718-7201 Made possible with the support of the Ontario Media Development Corporation Issue 114, Fall 2017 FEATURES Secrets to Snagging Great Science Partners by Jessica Zephyr . /3 Where Does our Food Come From? Page 3 by Susan Rauchwerk . /7 Finding Inspiration for Outdoor Learning by Herb Broda . /12 Water Quality Field Trips by Jessica Harwood . /17 Rooting Readers in the Literary Garden by Jennifer McQuillan . /20 Tips to Start Off Your School Year by Elanor Waslander . /24 Let’s Talk Fracking by Samantha Rubright . /27 Page 17 Fostering Connections to Freshwater Ecosystems by Gabby Petrelli and Katie Larson . /32 Observation-Focused Nature Journaling by Danae Shipp . /36 STEM to STEAM and Citizen Science by Melissa Guillet . /40 DEPARTMENTS Resources . /4 4 Page 32 Green Teacher is published quarterly in September, December, March and June. Subscriptions: individual digital starting at $32.00 CAD/USD; bulk digital starting at $49.00 CAD/USD ISSN 1192-1285; GST Registration No. 124125337; Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069238 US Postmaster: Send address changes to Green Teacher, PO Box 452, Niagara Falls, NY 14304-0452. Canada Post: Send address changes to Green Teacher, 95 Robert St., Toronto, ON M5S 2K5. Return postage guaranteed. Published in Canada. GREEN TEACHER 114 Page 1 Editorial Issue 114, Fall 2017 HIS IS NOT THE editorial I planned to write. But over the last few General Editor months, climate change’s many appearances across North America Tim Grant Tmade the subject impossible to ignore. Before a succession of hurri- Editorial Assistant canes brought so much destruction to Puerto Rico, other Caribbean islands, Sofia A. Vargas Nessi Florida and Texas, this summer’s headlines focused on large wildfires that Editing were burning out of control across the west. Those fires had forced tens of Amanda L'Heureux, Tim Grant, Gail Littlejohn, and thousands to evacuate their homes for extended periods. Ian Shanahan Even my own city of Toronto was not unscathed. Rising water levels Regional Editors across the Great Lakes submerged the 13 islands that make up Toronto’s Canada largest green space and what is normally our most popular summer- Gareth Thomson Alberta (403) 678-0079 time destination. Our three-month inconvenience pales in comparison Laurelei Primeau British Columbia (604) 942-0267 Bob Adamson Manitoba (204) 261-7795 to the destruction caused by recent wildfires or hurricanes, but it was a Raissa Marks New Brunswick (506) 855-4144 reminder than none of our communities is immune from the effects of a Craig White Newfoundland (709) 834-9806 Janet Barlow Nova Scotia (902) 494-7644 changing climate. Barbara Hanbidge Saskatchewan (866) 254-3825 While it is tempting to want to ask climate-change skeptics how Remy Rodden Yukon (867) 667-3675 denial is working for them now, this is not the time for smugness. Instead, United States such disasters remind us that it is important to teach not just what can Karen Schedler Arizona (480) 828-4981 be done to mitigate climate change, but also how we can best adapt to it. Helen de la Maza S. California (714) 838-8990 Mary Lou Smith Connecticut (860) 465-2610 While it will take years for Puerto Rico and parts of Florida and Texas Dean Goodwin Delaware (302) 998-2292 to fully recover from the damage they sustained this fall, climate change Cathy Meyer Indiana (812) 349-2805 education has a big role to play if we are to Shelene Codner Iowa (319) 404-1942 Laura Downey-Skochdopole Kansas (785) 532-3322 avoid having future hurricanes creating human- Jeanine Huss Kentucky (270) 745-2293 itarian crises year after year, Christine Voyer Maine (207) 228-1624 Sandra Ryack-Bell Massachusetts (508) 993-6420 To adapt to the challenges raised by a chang- John Guyton Mississippi (228) 324-4233 ing climate, there are some priorities we should Bob Coulter Missouri (314) 442-6737 Lauren Madden New Jersey (609) 771-3319 pay particular attention to. Coastal communi- Kary Schumpert New Mexico (505) 710-5632 ties will remain vulnerable unless we are able Lois Nixon North Carolina (919) 467-6474 Sara Ivey Oklahoma (405) 702-7122 to restore the mangroves and wetlands that Anne DiMonti Rhode Island (401) 245-7500 once provided protection from storm surges. Tim Brown Utah (801) 596-8500 All communities, whether near an ocean or not, Jen Cirillo Vermont (802) 985-0331 need to hasten the transition towards renew- New Zealand able energy systems that are more resilient in Patricia Hoffmann (South Island) (03) 211 5242 the face of punishing winds. In Puerto Rico Green Teacher is a nonprofit and most elsewhere, solar and wind power are now cheaper than the cen- organization incorporated tralized power sources that have provided most electricity in the past. in Canada. We are grateful for the financial support of the Ontario They — and we — will benefit from the lower cost of these renewables Media Development Corporation. once the transition is well underway. Finally, rainwater retention in urban Design and Production areas, via rain gardens, swales and green roofs, needs to become the rule, Cover photo by Ecology Project International rather than the exception. Bringing any or all of these “adaptation” topics Layout and cover design by Sofia A. Vargas Nessi into our climate change education programs will help us go a long way Contact Us towards meeting the greatest challenge facing humanity today. 95 Robert Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2K5, Canada Hurricane Maria also abruptly changed the travel plans of many Toll-free: (888) 804-1486 Fax: (416) 925-3474 Green Teacher readers. Close to 1,000 environmental educators from U.S. address: PO Box 452, Niagara Falls, NY 14304 across the United States, Canada and Mexico had planned to attend the annual conference in mid-October of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. With that island now facing its biggest humanitarian crisis in many decades, the NAAEE is asking educators everywhere to support Para La Natura- leza, the non-profit organization that was hosting the conference. Para La Naturaleza has for many years been the island’s driving force for envi- ronmental education and the promotion of biodiversity; and by maintain- ing dozens of natural areas, they have enabled large numbers of Puerto Ricans and visitors to access the island’s wild places. By donating, you will be supporting the work of this important non-profit at a crucial time. To learn more, visit www.naaee.net. —Tim Grant Page 2 GREEN TEACHER 114 Secrets to Snagging Great Science Partners It is easier than you think to build rewarding partnerships for outdoor education Photo: Duane Gray By Jessica Zephyrs “It’s a way [through reading and writing] to show them how scientists share specific information with the greater community, so that the specifics of each story from all the HEN DUANE GRAY BEGAN teaching seventh scientists come together to form the story of what’s happen- grade at Russell Reid Elementary in Brantford, ing in our world.” WOntario, more than 22 years ago, he was shocked Each year, Duane takes his students to Bird Studies by his students’ disconnection from nature. Canada’s Long Point Bird Observatory in Ontario, where “They spent all their time in a suburban or city setting. researchers have been banding birds for fifty years. Side by They couldn’t appreciate what was going on with nature– side with scientists, his students learn how to use mist nets to they had no understanding of it, no vocabulary for it. Even catch birds, record biometric data, and band the birds. In the the schoolyard was too sterile. I had problems making citizen afternoon, they participate in Project Watch Nest, where the science work for them. At some point, I got an email from students look into the nests of tree swallows to count eggs or Bird Studies Canada, talking about their citizen science proj- hatchings — all data that the scientists at the nonprofit will ect, and it fit. I needed something the kids could see wher- use. ever they went, and birds were it. Now I’ve been working “To see that the scientists are using their data and to do with them [Bird Studies Canada] for ten years.” the science themselves is so good for them,” says Duane. “It’s Duane’s partnership with Bird Studies Canada1 started real field research that we’re a part of.” with a simple package of teacher resources, centering on the Duane’s partnership is a prime example of how envi- idea that each student become an expert on one bird species ronmental education can lead to fulfilling outdoor, inquiry- in their area.