Environmental Issue Instruction
Regional Early Childhood Center
The RECC at HSES is a preschool program for young children, ages 3-5. It is an inclusive program consisting of children with developmental delays and children who have typical development. As the youngest students in the school, they are learning the basic concepts of the environment through observations using senses, hands-on experiences, reading books, creating projects, and songs.
Environmental Issue Integration Projects:
Recycling:
Design a tree using old wallpaper
Sort and recycle using the classroom recycling bin
Energy conservation:
A light helper is assigned as a class job to help the students remember to turn off lights when they leave the classroom.
Use of outdoor classroom for story time to support use of natural light when possible to read.
Earth Day Celebration:
Making students stewards of the Earth- trash clean up on school grounds.
Wildlife Conservation
Teach respect of animals and habitats through in-school field trips with the National Aquarium in Baltimore and the Maryland Zoo through hands-on interactions with animals and activities.
Nature walks to look at habitats and appreciation for nature.
Make and install bird feeders on the school grounds.
Students learn the life cycle of plants by growing lima bean plants.
Environmental Issue Integration Projects:
Recycling:
Design a tree using old wallpaper
Sort and recycle using the classroom recycling bin
Energy conservation:
A light helper is assigned as a class job to help the students remember to turn off lights when they leave the classroom.
Use of outdoor classroom for story time to support use of natural light when possible to read.
Earth Day Celebration:
Making students stewards of the Earth- trash clean up on school grounds.
Wildlife Conservation
Teach respect of animals and habitats through in-school field trips with the National Aquarium in Baltimore and the Maryland Zoo through hands-on interactions with animals and activities.
Nature walks to look at habitats and appreciation for nature.
Make and install bird feeders on the school grounds.
Students learn the life cycle of plants by growing lima bean plants.
Kindergarten
In Kindergarten, taking care of each other is an ongoing theme. As children learn to care for their friends, we also discuss how to take care of our environment and what we get from our environment. In social studies, students learn about human-made and natural resources. In science, students discuss the impact that humans have on their environment and how animals, plants, and people adapt and change their environment. We use recycled materials for projects that include building our own mini communities and creating a marble run as part of a design challenge. Students and families are asked to bring in used boxes, toilet paper rolls, wrapping paper rolls, and a paper towel rolls to create the various projects. One especially fun social studies activity includes using recycled newspaper to make piggy banks to learn about financial literacy. Finally, our students created an Earth Day bulletin board during language arts to show ways that they as an individual can help the earth. They wrote and illustrated on each hand to show that we have “The Whole World in Our Hands.”
In Kindergarten, taking care of each other is an ongoing theme. As children learn to care for their friends, we also discuss how to take care of our environment and what we get from our environment. In social studies, students learn about human-made and natural resources. In science, students discuss the impact that humans have on their environment and how animals, plants, and people adapt and change their environment. We use recycled materials for projects that include building our own mini communities and creating a marble run as part of a design challenge. Students and families are asked to bring in used boxes, toilet paper rolls, wrapping paper rolls, and a paper towel rolls to create the various projects. One especially fun social studies activity includes using recycled newspaper to make piggy banks to learn about financial literacy. Finally, our students created an Earth Day bulletin board during language arts to show ways that they as an individual can help the earth. They wrote and illustrated on each hand to show that we have “The Whole World in Our Hands.”
First Grade
During the 2013-2014 school year, the first graders at Hollifield studied the life cycle of living things during our “Changes Big and Small” science unit. Students discovered how living things grow and what they need in order to survive. One animal that was studied was frogs. During the research, students discovered why frogs are important to our ecosystem, what they need to live, and how they change. One thing students were surprised to learn was that 1/3 of the frogs in the world are endangered of becoming extinct.
The first graders made a plan on STEM day to do something to help the frogs. They decided to raise money and adopt a frog from the National Aquarium. Throughout the day, students created frog buttons, decided how much money to sell the buttons for, created frog videos and model frog habitats, and made posters advertising our frog buttons. Students used technology to put together a compilation video to show to the other members of our school community and encourage them to buy buttons. After one week, first grade raised 100 dollars, 50 dollars above their goal! The first grade then donated the money to the National Aquarium and adopted two frogs!
The first graders made a plan on STEM day to do something to help the frogs. They decided to raise money and adopt a frog from the National Aquarium. Throughout the day, students created frog buttons, decided how much money to sell the buttons for, created frog videos and model frog habitats, and made posters advertising our frog buttons. Students used technology to put together a compilation video to show to the other members of our school community and encourage them to buy buttons. After one week, first grade raised 100 dollars, 50 dollars above their goal! The first grade then donated the money to the National Aquarium and adopted two frogs!
Second Grade
The engineer design process is implemented throughout the 2nd grade curriculum. Students applied their knowledge about the properties to create a sail. Students also researched and created landforms based on their knowledge. Teams worked together to designed creations to invent a method to prevent erosion of these landforms. Students had to use their understanding of the effects of fast and slow changes on the Earth. During the 4th quarter, students learn about pollination. They create a hand pollinator in order to pollinate a non-indigenous flowers.
Students in 2nd grade also had the opportunity to plant 75 loblolly pine trees in the spring of 2016 on the school grounds. Students learned about how trees can help the environment and applied it more specifically to our community.
Students in 2nd grade also had the opportunity to plant 75 loblolly pine trees in the spring of 2016 on the school grounds. Students learned about how trees can help the environment and applied it more specifically to our community.
Third Grade
In science class, third graders studied the relationships between various organisms and their habitats. Students researched how animals survive environmental changes and the impact humans have upon the environment.
Students learned about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and conducted experiments to identify the consequences of oil spills on the environment and organisms living there. When posed with the question, How can humans positively affect environmental change?, students worked as environmental engineers to test the effectiveness of various clean-up methods
Students investigate the real life scientific concern about Monarch Butterflies. They study life cycles of plants and animals (by raising Monarchs in the classroom and growing their own plants from seed). They will study physical and behavioral traits, inherited traits, and how traits can be impacted by the environment. Students will look at how traits vary among offspring, and how traits influence survival in particular habitats. Using all of their research, investigations, and learning from the unit, students will then study the mystery of the Peppered Moth in Europe in the 1800s, and look at the Monarch Butterfly today. Students will then use all of this information to determine what is happening to the Monarch butterfly, why Monarchs are struggling, and how we can help.
Students learned about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and conducted experiments to identify the consequences of oil spills on the environment and organisms living there. When posed with the question, How can humans positively affect environmental change?, students worked as environmental engineers to test the effectiveness of various clean-up methods
Students investigate the real life scientific concern about Monarch Butterflies. They study life cycles of plants and animals (by raising Monarchs in the classroom and growing their own plants from seed). They will study physical and behavioral traits, inherited traits, and how traits can be impacted by the environment. Students will look at how traits vary among offspring, and how traits influence survival in particular habitats. Using all of their research, investigations, and learning from the unit, students will then study the mystery of the Peppered Moth in Europe in the 1800s, and look at the Monarch Butterfly today. Students will then use all of this information to determine what is happening to the Monarch butterfly, why Monarchs are struggling, and how we can help.
Fourth Grade - Bird House Project
Fourth grade has worked to build bird houses to help native birds survive. With the recent construction, this project would provide birds with access to a safe shelter. Students first asked questions such as: What do the birds need to eat? Where is the best location for the houses? What are the constraints of the design in terms of materials, cost, and time? What birds currently live in our community? To answer these questions, students conducted research and concluded that we would be providing necessary shelter for starling, woodpecker, titmouse, dove, cardinal, and blue jay birds. Students researched the best height and location to place the bird houses. Next, students painted the bird houses brown and green to blend in with the environment and help avoid predators. Students were able to participate in a project that provided them real, hands-on STEM experience.
Fifth Grade - Patapsco River Clean Up "Day of Service"
2013 - 2015
“HOW CAN WE HELP OUR BAY?” Fifth grade students partnered with Patapsco Heritage Greenway during the years of 2013 - 2015. They participated in a multi-part environmental day of learning at Daniels Dam area of Patapsco Valley State Park. Students partook in activities such as a hike, watershed scavenger hunt, removal of trash and invasive plants, water quality exploration in a stream and a tree identification activity.
2015 - As students hiked down to the watershed they were able to see the remains of historical homes and businesses that were once located in the area. They were destroyed by a hurricane that came through and ruined the land formations. Students also participated in an environmental scavenger hunt to find local flora and fauna.
The invasive plants station allowed students to pull garlic mustard, Kudzu, and Japanese Stiltgrass that was choking out of the local flora. Students participated in a contest to see which group could remove the most invasive plants. This contest was measured by the weight of the invasive plants that were collected. Students also walked around the area with trash bags and picked up any trash that they saw that would impact the watershed. They enjoyed discovering different kinds of liter. The entire fifth grade were able to remove seven full bags of litter weighing 120 pounds and thirty one bags of invasive plants weighing 310 pounds.
During the stream study, students determined the health of the Patapsco River and were able to test the water quality to determine its health. Temperature, PH, and macroinvertebrate data were collected. The students were able to determine that on September 25, 2015, the Patapsco River had a "good" water quality rating. Finally, the students participated in a tree identification activity.
2015 - As students hiked down to the watershed they were able to see the remains of historical homes and businesses that were once located in the area. They were destroyed by a hurricane that came through and ruined the land formations. Students also participated in an environmental scavenger hunt to find local flora and fauna.
The invasive plants station allowed students to pull garlic mustard, Kudzu, and Japanese Stiltgrass that was choking out of the local flora. Students participated in a contest to see which group could remove the most invasive plants. This contest was measured by the weight of the invasive plants that were collected. Students also walked around the area with trash bags and picked up any trash that they saw that would impact the watershed. They enjoyed discovering different kinds of liter. The entire fifth grade were able to remove seven full bags of litter weighing 120 pounds and thirty one bags of invasive plants weighing 310 pounds.
During the stream study, students determined the health of the Patapsco River and were able to test the water quality to determine its health. Temperature, PH, and macroinvertebrate data were collected. The students were able to determine that on September 25, 2015, the Patapsco River had a "good" water quality rating. Finally, the students participated in a tree identification activity.
Technology
Grade 1 -2015
Students were actively involved in saving the habitats for Frogs. They researched frog habitats, created buttons to sell to raise money to help frog habitats and in technology class they created video public service announcements of a frog’s life cycle to advertise the buttons and explain their purpose. The PSA’s were then posted on the team website so that students could advertise their cause.
Grade 1 -2015
Students were actively involved in saving the habitats for Frogs. They researched frog habitats, created buttons to sell to raise money to help frog habitats and in technology class they created video public service announcements of a frog’s life cycle to advertise the buttons and explain their purpose. The PSA’s were then posted on the team website so that students could advertise their cause.
Grade 2 - 2015
To support Green School Initiatives, students in grade 2 created posters to help remind each classroom to turn out lights when they leave. The posters were individually designed by each 2nd grader which enabled the school to have a sign on almost every light switch in the building.
The signs served as a great reminder for everyone in the building and many are still up today, several years later. The project really helped our younger students become a part of working toward our school creating a smaller carbon footprint.
To support Green School Initiatives, students in grade 2 created posters to help remind each classroom to turn out lights when they leave. The posters were individually designed by each 2nd grader which enabled the school to have a sign on almost every light switch in the building.
The signs served as a great reminder for everyone in the building and many are still up today, several years later. The project really helped our younger students become a part of working toward our school creating a smaller carbon footprint.
Grade 5 - 2016
After students participated in the tree-planting, they wrote thank you notes to Mrs. Speelman the lead teacher but in these thank you notes they really took the time to reflect and show their understanding of the impact of the trees not just to our school property but the impact that every tree has on the greater environment.
After students participated in the tree-planting, they wrote thank you notes to Mrs. Speelman the lead teacher but in these thank you notes they really took the time to reflect and show their understanding of the impact of the trees not just to our school property but the impact that every tree has on the greater environment.
Art - The EARTH without Art is just "EH"!
Art classes are deeply woven with an environmental theme! Hover over photograph to see description of project.
Enrichment - Instructional Seminar: Project FeederWatch
Second grade students participate in Project FeederWatch to learn how to identify and count native birds that visit our bird feeders November - April. The data is sent to scientists at Cornell University so that they can track broad scale movements of winter bird populations and long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance. The students also learn and write poetry about the Atlantic Puffin.
Puffins
Written By: Riley Maslow
Puffins are black and white,
Like to swim and fly day or night,
Their beak is orange in the spring,
Gray in winter,
Eating fish for breakfast,
Lunch and dinner,
Puffins live 20 years or more,
Birds that many adore!
Puffins have webbed feet like a duck!
Puffins are black and white.
Written By: Riley Maslow
Puffins are black and white,
Like to swim and fly day or night,
Their beak is orange in the spring,
Gray in winter,
Eating fish for breakfast,
Lunch and dinner,
Puffins live 20 years or more,
Birds that many adore!
Puffins have webbed feet like a duck!
Puffins are black and white.
Vocal Music Program
Students learn songs of several native birds. Bird songs are analyzed and played on recorders.