Objective 1: Support of Area Schools in Obtaining Maryland Green School
Criteria 1: Professional Development
A. Providing Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers
Since NCEEC is part of the Charles County Public School system, our staff provides assistance to all schools in the county for their environmental education needs. All professional development opportunities, either the ones we assist with or carry out ourselves, are open to all teachers in the school system.
Spring 2012
Middle School and High School Teachers
Environmental Science Workshops
Partners: ACE, NOAA, MARA, NCEEC, CCPS
Environmental Issues using the IEEIA Model – Educators were provided with a full day, hands on experience in using the IEEIA framework to explore schoolyard environmental issues. Citizen Science in Classroom – Educators were provided with real world data collection and analysis resources. Resources included Maryland Amphibian and Reptile Atlas, Project Bud Burst, Fieldscope, and more.
Spring 2012
2 day series
K-12 Teachers
Environmental Workshops
Partners: NOAA, North Bay Adventure, MSDE, DNR, MAEF
Climate Science – Educators were provided with content background and materials/resources to infuse climate science into their specific discipline. Growing up Wild/Aquatic Wild – Educators explored both of the interdisciplinary curricula through a variety of engaging hands-on learning experiences. Leopold Project – Educators explored the writings of Leopold through integrated activities that made his writing come alive. Keystone Species of the Chesapeake Bay – Educators were provided with content knowledge of keystone species and resources that will enable them to effectively implement them in the classroom.
Fall 2013
Middle School and High School Teachers
Life Science and Physical Science In-Service Training
Partners: NCEEC, CCPS
Using Environmental Inquiry as the Context for Learning - Sessions focused on teaching science content through an environmental context. Educators participated in engaging, hands on, inquiry learning at NCEEC that will model this. Chemistry sessions focused on water quality monitoring using probeware and chemical means. Physics sessions focused on utilizing solar energy through the construction of solar ovens. Biology/Life Sessions focused on stream health through macroinvertebrate analysis.
Fall 2013
Middle School and High School Teachers, High School Students
STEM-Infused Environmental Workshop
Partners: CCPS, AFF, USFS
Project Learning Tree’s Green Schools! – Students and Educators received professional development on assessing school environmental issues and structuring service learning projects through STEM based experiences.
Spring 2014
Kindergarten Teachers
Environmental Education Workshop
Partners: DNR, CCPS
Growing Up Wild - Teachers engaged in experiences and activities designed to build on children's sense of wonder about nature and invite them to explore wildlife and the world around them.
A. Providing Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers
Since NCEEC is part of the Charles County Public School system, our staff provides assistance to all schools in the county for their environmental education needs. All professional development opportunities, either the ones we assist with or carry out ourselves, are open to all teachers in the school system.
Spring 2012
Middle School and High School Teachers
Environmental Science Workshops
Partners: ACE, NOAA, MARA, NCEEC, CCPS
Environmental Issues using the IEEIA Model – Educators were provided with a full day, hands on experience in using the IEEIA framework to explore schoolyard environmental issues. Citizen Science in Classroom – Educators were provided with real world data collection and analysis resources. Resources included Maryland Amphibian and Reptile Atlas, Project Bud Burst, Fieldscope, and more.
Spring 2012
2 day series
K-12 Teachers
Environmental Workshops
Partners: NOAA, North Bay Adventure, MSDE, DNR, MAEF
Climate Science – Educators were provided with content background and materials/resources to infuse climate science into their specific discipline. Growing up Wild/Aquatic Wild – Educators explored both of the interdisciplinary curricula through a variety of engaging hands-on learning experiences. Leopold Project – Educators explored the writings of Leopold through integrated activities that made his writing come alive. Keystone Species of the Chesapeake Bay – Educators were provided with content knowledge of keystone species and resources that will enable them to effectively implement them in the classroom.
Fall 2013
Middle School and High School Teachers
Life Science and Physical Science In-Service Training
Partners: NCEEC, CCPS
Using Environmental Inquiry as the Context for Learning - Sessions focused on teaching science content through an environmental context. Educators participated in engaging, hands on, inquiry learning at NCEEC that will model this. Chemistry sessions focused on water quality monitoring using probeware and chemical means. Physics sessions focused on utilizing solar energy through the construction of solar ovens. Biology/Life Sessions focused on stream health through macroinvertebrate analysis.
Fall 2013
Middle School and High School Teachers, High School Students
STEM-Infused Environmental Workshop
Partners: CCPS, AFF, USFS
Project Learning Tree’s Green Schools! – Students and Educators received professional development on assessing school environmental issues and structuring service learning projects through STEM based experiences.
Spring 2014
Kindergarten Teachers
Environmental Education Workshop
Partners: DNR, CCPS
Growing Up Wild - Teachers engaged in experiences and activities designed to build on children's sense of wonder about nature and invite them to explore wildlife and the world around them.
B. Promotion/Support of the Maryland Green School Program
NCEEC supports all of the Charles County Public Schools in their endeavors to achieve Maryland Green School status. Our staff routinely fields phone calls and emails to help schools with any questions they have about the application process. We have met one-on-one with teachers who have specific questions about the process, ideas for projects to fulfill requirements, and have given them ideas for funding. We provide instructional and development ideas through emails sent to each school's science coordinator. We also provide presentations about the benefits of being a Green School to any school that requests it for their staff meetings. NCEEC staff has attended MAEOE Green Leader workshops to help facilitate Charles County Public Schools with their applications. Materials are available for schools to borrow to use in their environmental issue instruction. These materials include books from our lending library, garden tools, and educational lesson plans with instruction equipment.
NCEEC supports all of the Charles County Public Schools in their endeavors to achieve Maryland Green School status. Our staff routinely fields phone calls and emails to help schools with any questions they have about the application process. We have met one-on-one with teachers who have specific questions about the process, ideas for projects to fulfill requirements, and have given them ideas for funding. We provide instructional and development ideas through emails sent to each school's science coordinator. We also provide presentations about the benefits of being a Green School to any school that requests it for their staff meetings. NCEEC staff has attended MAEOE Green Leader workshops to help facilitate Charles County Public Schools with their applications. Materials are available for schools to borrow to use in their environmental issue instruction. These materials include books from our lending library, garden tools, and educational lesson plans with instruction equipment.