wilkins' blog

I am thrilled to start  researching “living roofs”.  We have just moved into our wonderful new high school building.  The best part is that we have our new science center that is attached to our “living roof”.  It has been exciting to research, design and implement curriculum for our Permaculture class.  Our second semester focuses on Sustainable Agriculture.   This week many of the students took home “Botany of Desire” and are looking to research several of the following projects. Composting, Sustainable Agriculture, Bringing local food into High School Cafeteria, Expanding STEM curriculum for elementary schools, Living roof gardens.. .I will post updates and pictures after Winter break.

Biggest Challeges & Rewards…
Lauren is my student teacher and had been a student of mine 8 years ago, in sophomore biology. She is having a wonderful time.
I asked her to talk about her biggest challenges and best moments.
Here is what she said….
Challenges…” Being a teacher!”
Rewards …”Being a teacher!”.. just kidding
I asked her for some of her best feelings.. There were many!
Here are a few.
“The other day a Mom told me that I was an inspiration for her daughter.”
“I love being a positive role model and being part of people lives.”

Bridges is a program that I have been running for about four years now.  High School students mentor fourth graders from one of our local elementary schools.  This is such a powerful program in so many ways.  First, the high schoolers in my Permaculture class read over the science standards for fourth grade.  High schoolers then develop and implement their lesson plan once they select a standard they are enthusiastic about.  Most often we have to re-visit the science content because often my older students have many misperceptions.  I have been working with a friend, Margueritte Rancourt, from Four Corners Elementary and hope to broaden the program to include other elementary schools to  enhance Stem Education in Greenfield.

December we began with 7 different lessons based on adaptations.  A few groups began by sharing their own science projects in the science center.  You can see students checking out the high school aquariums, learning how to make poison dart frog food or learning how to care for our bearded dragons.

   

One cool lesson involved reading The Mitten by Jan Brett and then visiting our hedgehog.  Another involved observing adaptations of our seahorses and then designing imaginary organisms with unique adaptations.  The third picture was a lesson that involved looking at the river continuum and then trying on equipment my students use in their river field studies.

   At the end of session we always circle and share one thing we liked and one thing we learned.

January- This month the students introduce the Scientific Method as a cool problem solving technique. Then,they working on Ethology, Pill bugs take the center stage as we  introduce dissecting microscopes measuring tools and observational skills.  All of the students work on scientific drawings and qualitative and quantitative data.  The next step is to share the data and figure out what we all learned.

During the next few weeks small groups set up a variety apparatus to find out more about Pill Bugs.  We incorporate math, graphing, analysis research, technology as we help them write a report on their findings.  I will post pictures of our progress next week

GHS science Center

Posted on December 30, 2015 by wilkins

We had our 3rd set of fry born on December 26th. Ithought I would add a few video clips. Sorry None will work. Visit cwilkins.org   Go to Science Discovery Centery and click on Seahorse clips.. sorry.. I could not upload them here.

We had a fabulous week before vacation at the GHS science center so I thought I would post a few highlights.

First.. Advisory is Awesome!

I am always amazed at our “TEAM” experience.  Our last two meetings were just a few days apart before Winter Vacation.

Friday, we talked about the difference between culture, ethnicity and race… I had a difficult time being articulate.  We did agree that no one can be articulate 100% of the time but differentiating between culture and race sooo interesting. Then we met again on Wednesday; less than a week later.

Wednesday read a brief chapter in our “all school read” which led us into a discussion on family relations.  Sometimes we talked about whether or not family could be best friends.  From my perspective it was most interesting sharing our experiences with grandparents.  I hope to bring in a few grandparents, a few from distant lands, so they can share their worldly views and share what it is like to have a grandchild!!

Here are a few fun new additions to our GHS Science & Research Center.  Go to cwilkins.org for short videos and new updates.

4week old baby Hippocampus erectu

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News of our bearded dragons.

Here is a pic of the eggs naturally and then after they were moved to the incubator.

November 10th.  We have had some amazing happenings at our new science center.  Our seahorses gave birth and so did out bearded dragons.  I thought I would put in some  pictures to share out amazing progress.   The bearded dragon eggs were noticed Tuesday morning and moved to an incubator to keep at about 30*C and maintain humidity.

The baby seahorses were noticed 3 weeks ago. Check out their progress.  We have been feeding them enriched Artemia but working on introducing them to nutritious frozen cyclops.

 

 

We just had a really fun gathering with NOYCE MTF’s at Mesa.  So fun to gather, share ideas and challenges with the new year in STEM projects.

We talked about 2 year projects, need a place to post our quarterly reports, Mindsets in the Classroom, and when to meet again next month.  It was fun connecting.

here is the pic……

The GHS Science wing is completed but I cannot say we have unpacked.  We had an open house on Saturday and hundreds, I mean it, hundreds of people visited and connected  celebrating science amoung other fields.  It was so much fun.  All ages, asking science questions and enjoying visiting our new school science resources.  I am hoping to get some pics to enhance this post.

Hey guys, I am so psyched for our new Science Center and the fever  is spreading.  The kids are so excited and I look forward to getting to school every morning.  The kids are always at the door greeting me with ideas, advice, plants… so fun.

This weekend students will be meeting me to acclimate our first corals of the year.

The site already houses a river system, pond system, tropical fish, cold water rocky shore, Bearded Dragons, a 100 year old box turtle and more to come.