NGSS Correlation for Science
Highlighted in yellow are area in which our curriculum standards from NGSS relate to the environment. Below is a link to the Next Generation Science Standards by topic
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1st Grade
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After reading Big Smelly Bear, students were asked to design and build a cage to hold Big Smelly Bear using recycled materials.
Read Across America Day - Dr. Suess' Birthday
After hearing Horton Hatches the Egg, students were challenged to create a nest that will protect an egg, even when an “elephant” is sitting on top! ( winter 2017)
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2nd Grade
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Students in a guided reading group read the selection, “Lady Bird Plants Wildflowers” and described the big idea and key details. They told how the author described that Lady Bird helped the Earth. They also shared what they learned with the rest of the school on the morning announcements. (Fall 2016)
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2nd graders participated in Primary Talent Development unit in October 2016, which was centered around trees. We learned about products of trees and studied the tree community. The students spent several times outside observing and questioning their knowledge of the tree community. (pictured right)
In December 2016, students used recycled materials (old ribbon scraps, paper, and recycled water bottles) to make a snowman. (picture below) |
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Informational Writing
Students wrote to others why they shouldn’t litter. They gave reasons why littering is wrong and explained that it hurts our environment. (below are work samples from 2nd grade students in January of 2017)
After reading and learning about solar energy students were given the chance to make solar ovens, to show how the the collection of heat can warm their food. We used different materials to learn what worked best to make our ovens. We tried double insulation, adding white construction paper instead of black, adding newspaper around the sides of the box to help insulate it better. After allowing the sun,”heat lamp” to provide the energy, we discussed what conditions worked best and why.
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4th Grade
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Fourth graders were studying how to be good stewards of our environment by following the 7 principles of “leave no trace”. In preparation for our field trip to the C&O Canal, students researched a federal park in Maryland. Then they researched how people were impacting this park. Finally they developed a plan on how to lessen the impact of humans on the environment.
The following day, students walked around our school to locate areas that need care such as our playground and cafeteria. They developed a plan on how they can help care for our school and how they can encourage others to help too. (Sept 2016)
The following day, students walked around our school to locate areas that need care such as our playground and cafeteria. They developed a plan on how they can help care for our school and how they can encourage others to help too. (Sept 2016)
Fourth grade students researched renewable energy in the fall of 2016, in order to write an informational essay on the topic. Students created their own questions to research after a class discussion on the different types of renewable energy and the benefits. Below are two student essay samples:
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On November 11, 2016, Chris Vaughn from the Solar City came to speak to the 4th graders about solar energy. This presentation was a follow up to our informational writing unit on renewable energy. He explained to the students how solar energy works. His company installs solar panels. He brought a solar panel for the students to examine up close. He discussed how solar panels work. We discussed the benefits of using solar energy and solar panels.
During writing, fourth grade students read the article “PRO/CON: Is it time to stop recycling our garbage?”. We looked for reasons and evidence why each writer thought we should or should not recycle. Then students will take the information to write an opinion piece on their stance on recycling. (Feb 2017)
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Post card to educate others
All 4th grade students read about ways they can be “green.” Each student was assigned a school from another state or one in Canada to write a postcard as part of a Classroom Postcard Exchange. Students wrote in their letters that Old Forge Elementary is a Maryland Green School. Students informed their assigned school on ways they can be green. Students wrote things such as: turning off the lights when leaving a room, not using as much water when they brush their teeth, recycle, and plant trees. All post cards mailed out were Maryland themed. We were very excited to teach others all around the country and in Canada about being green! (Spring 2015)
Pictured below are students working on post cards and samples of work.
Pictured below are students working on post cards and samples of work.
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5th Grade
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December 2015, grade 5 students synthesized what they learned about the water cycle by choosing to write a story from the prospective as a water droplet or to write a song about the water cycle. Students who wrote songs use iMovie, Quicktime, or a green screen; songs and stories were submitted electronically, so no additional waste was created in final projects. Prior to writing our own water cycle songs, we evaluated other songs about the water cycle, through an activity called Hydrology Idol, to play off the television show "American Idol."
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Students visited our Green Center in Washington County , MD, Claude Kitchens Outdoor School at Fairview in November of 2016 and participated in WPCS's 5th grade program that is 4 days and 3 nights. All week the lessons are geared toward the environment such as invasive species, movement of energy in the food chain, water quality of local stream,etc. One lesson called "Back to the Future" teaches the kids about the environmental changes that Fairview has undergone from erosion and weathering, it also explains the interactions of earth's systems. At the end of the lesson students had to illustrate and explain interactions of at least two of earth's systems. (pictured on the right).
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This stem lesson shares shelters from around the world.The focus for the students is that people use their natural resources to survive. In this activity the students are given only 2 resources: newspaper and tape. They work as a team to create a shelter that they must all be able to fit into. Once we have finished with our lesson we recycle our materials.
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Fifth graders were learning about the impact that humans have on the environment and earth's systems; we were also looking a ways humans protect earth's natural resources. We included several trade books such as Prince Willam, about a little girl's journey to help save a baby seal from the Alaskan oil spill caused a tanker that crashed in the Prince William Sound; we also read Oil Spill, which is about the effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and teaches about the clean up process, how to prevent oil spills and suggestions on conserving energy. Students were able to participate in a simulated oil spill to apply what they had learned and try out out methods for removing the oil on a small scale level.
Grade 5 students wrote essays about native plants in the fall of 2016. (Included under Objective 2: Water Conservation)
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Gifted and Talented Education (GATE)
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Greening with Area and Perimeter
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Fifth grade GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) students were tasked with the creation of their own tiny house. The project was based on a math review of area and perimeter. In addition to math concepts, students were given the assignment to make their tiny house green in at least two different ways. Students came up with having a composting pile, recycling, have rooftop gardens and also solar panels.
3rd and 4th grade GATE students were tasked with creating a zoo. The main point of the activity was to practice with area and perimeter. As part of the project they were asked to include two ways their zoo could be green. Some chose recycling as part of their zoo, and some others were more creative coming up with solar lights, a water recycling plants, as well as others concepts. (Overall zoo designs are pictured to the left side; close up photos to the right, zooms in on the green features).
Cause and Effect Models
Chris Van Allsberg's book, Just a Dream, about environmental responsibility. The 2nd grade GATE students showed what the world is like today and what would it be in the future if we continue to treat the earth that way. Watch the video below to see their models in action!