Phenology is the study of seasonal and cyclical changes in nature. In this Unit, students will follow in the footsteps of Aldo Leopold and his children by closely observing the natural world around them, connecting those observations to the seasonal changes in their landscape, and developing an appreciation for the dedication of scientists like Leopold. They will Connect, Explore, and Engage with nature through poetry writing, technology-assisted exploration, and phenological observations.
John Muir is known as the father of our National Parks. His boyhood was spent in Marquette County, Wisconsin where he found inspiration in the wilderness around him. In this Unit, students will learn about John Muir’s boyhood neighborhood and actively work to preserve it, connect with Muir’s many accomplishments, understand different environmental philosophies, and saunter in nature while observing and reflecting on the world around them. Students will Connect, Explore, and Engage through intentional time in nature, reflective writing, reading inspirational passages by Muir, and using technology to document changes over time.
Through this lesson, students will learn how to create a thank you letter to send to an employer, post-interview. Example of a thank you letter and rubric included.
A specific need that was shared during the teacher externship experience was new hires’ inability to read a tape measure and measure accurately. In this lesson, students will gain experience in problem solving and teamwork as they practice using a tape measure by measuring a variety of objects.
Academic writing across the content areas is essential to ensure all students are growing as writers. This presentation includes structures for supporting and scaffolding writing for students by providing frames and writing opportunities for students across the content areas.
In the fall and spring of each school year, students in the Baraboo School District are assessed on their academic writing skills. We pre-assess to determine skill-level as students come into the year, and we post-assess to determine growth. See the attached presentation to see our process along with examples of the writing assessments, rubrics, and student writing samples from K-8.