See It, Be It: Cultivating Inclusive Birding & Inquiry in the Schoolyard with Brianna Amingwa (known affectionately as “Ranger Bri”)

February 4 from 4-5pm: Register here to get link

How can we make “Thinking Like a Scientist” an inclusive and accessible reality for all students? In this session, Brianna Amingwa, founder of Deeply Rooted Outdoor Education, will delve into the context of #BlackBirdersWeek – a movement born from the need for safety and visibility in the outdoors – and provide resources for diverse storytelling in the classroom. She will provide a low-stress framework for exploring birds in any schoolyard and help you structure a brief bird investigation where students formulate their own questions, record observations, and draw real-world conclusions. You will also learn how your students can contribute data to real-world scientists in the upcoming Great Backyard Bird Count (February 13-16) with just 15 minutes and digital tools like Merlin Bird ID or eBird apps.

How the Award-winning Picture Book “Harriet Tubman, Force of Nature” and Poetry Can Help Students Become Environmental Champions with Literacy & the Environmental Consultant Caroline Brewer, author and illustrator of Harriet Tubman, Force of Nature

February 10 from 4-5pm: Register here to get link

In this session, you will learn how simple poetry forms can accelerate learning and fuel more engagement in the environment for students of all backgrounds and diagnosed abilities. Teachers will discover how to better teach, explore, deepen understanding and the ability to communicate about the environment using poetry. The skills and classroom activities shared in this session will prove to be indispensable tools in instruction that will bring environmental affairs to life for your students.

Environmental Justice & Action in Maryland

with EJ Advocate Jamoni Overby

February 24 from 5-6pm: Register here to get link

This interactive session will equip Maryland educators with the tools to meaningfully integrate environmental justice into Green Schools coursework. Participants will explore the history of environmental justice in Maryland, examine the current challenges facing communities, and uncover opportunities to connect these realities to classroom learning and continued advocacy. Educators will leave prepared to help students critically understand the intersections of environment, policy, and community and feeling empowered to foster the next generation of environmental stewards and justice leaders!

Winter Lesson Ideas

to support Objective 1.1: Environmental Curriculum and Instruction

Learn about nature in winter with these Outdoor Winter Activities for Preschoolers from Project Learning Tree.

Winter is a great time to learn about Animal Tracks, Scat, and Signs with these activity ideas for all ages from Maryland DNR.

Visit the Climate Education Page from Maryland DNR for climate education and training resources for Maryland teachers.

Celebration Ideas

to support objective 1.2.2: School-Wide Celebration

Next month, turn Valentine’s Day into a school-wide Green School Celebration by using this holiday to teach about sustainability and caring for the Earth.

• Have students wear green and do a service project such as a litter cleanup, clothing donation drive, or showing some love for our resident winter birds by making bird feeders.

• Instead of bringing in store-bought cards, help your students upcycle old cereal boxes or cardboard scraps into cards or bookmarks for classmates.

• Create a bulletin board display of green hearts with student pledges to protect the Earth.

• Engage your green team in making eco-friendly green cleaners as gifts for teachers. (Scroll down for the recipe and directions!)

• Aim for a zero-waste party to show love for people AND the planet by replacing plastic decorations and sugary treats with sustainable alternatives like homemade cards from recycled paper and healthy fruits.

• For more ideas, see 4 Earth-Friendly Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

Ideas for Student Action Projects

to support Objective 2: Student Action

Salt Watch: Contribute Data on Road Salt Pollution

(Meets Objective 2.8 – Community Science)

Did you know that excessive road salt can pose a threat to fish and wildlife as well as human health? The Izaak Walton League of America runs an amazing community science program to help monitor and address this issue. You can learn more and request a free Salt Watch kit at the link above. This is a great project to do with a Green Team this winter!

The Great Backyard Bird Count - February 13-16

(Meets Objective 2.8 - Community Science)

If you have always wanted to try using the Merlin app with your students to identify birds, and you can commit 15 minutes to bird observations in your schoolyard on Friday, February 13, then check out the link above for information on how easy it is to participate in this wonderful community science project!

Make a Green Cleaner - a wonderful Valentine’s gift!

(Meets Objective 2.7 - Healthy Indoor Environments)

Did you know that common cleaning products we use in our homes and our classrooms are harming indoor air quality? This episode of Wastebusters: Green Cleaning Myths teaches about the hazards of common cleaning projects while showing the benefits and effectiveness of using green cleaners. After watching this video, follow the instructions below to make an eco-friendly all-purpose cleaner that is safe for people and the environment. These make great gifts for your classrooms, especially when hand-delivered by the students who made them!

All Purpose Green Cleaner Recipe

1½ cups water

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon liquid soap

1 teaspoon lemon juice

To make one green cleaner, you will need water, baking soda, liquid soap

(we love using Dr. Bronner’s castille soap), lemon juice, an empty spray bottle, a half-teaspoon measuring spoon, a measuring cup, a funnel, and paper.

• Measure 1½ cups of water and use a funnel to pour it into a spray bottle.

• Next, measure ½ teaspoon baking soda and add it to the bottle using a handmade paper funnel.

• Then measure ½ teaspoon of liquid soap and add it to the bottle.

• Finally, measure 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and add it to the bottle.

• Gently swirl the bottle to mix all the ingredients.

• Add a label and decorate the bottle as desired.

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