Tutored by Nature Inc: November 2012

Sunday, November 25, 2012

S.L.S.S. ...So Many Winners - Congrats to All

N.J.'s "50 Shades of Autumn"- a worthy recipient of the $50.00 gift certificate donated by Tutored by Nature Inc. for the water-colour entries. Lots of competition N.J. including another water-colour you submitted. Check out some of the others in the slide show. See! Sorry that you didn't get to feed those chick-a-dees! N.J.'s log book was full of wonderous thoughts, questions and images.

Z.A.'s "Almost Maple Leaf" was one of three amazing photos submitted - all three were under consideration. Part of Z.A.'s story included that she thought that this looked a bit like the Maple Leaf and "This plant was eye-catching because of it's vibrant colours, and the way the colours blended in with each other made it look captivating." Congrats on receiving your $50.00 gift certificate Z. There were so many great photos - a credit to the gr.9's at S.L.S.S.

Last but not least - U.M. receives the pencil sketch award (also a $50.00 gift certificate) - a"Logbook Pencil Sketch" entry. Titles within are "Purple Flower", "Beautiful" and "Ugly". He submitted 3 pencil sketches that were all worthy - straight out of the logbook. Interesting comparison between your backyard environment and Park 403, U. Is the "Purple Flower" in this sketch, native or non-native? Check out a couple of the other pencil sketches in the slide show?

Friday, November 23, 2012

Fall 2012: Sense of Aesthetics - Stephen Lewis S.S.and Upper Sawmill Creek Sub-Watershed

Many Stephen Lewis S.S. gr.9 science students (35 students, 150 entries) have submitted amazing logbook entries/pencil sketches (b) water-colour sketches, and (c) photos to Tutored by Nature. The art work respresents some of their 'eco' experiences while participating in excursions to Park 403 forest and Sixteen Mile Creek corridor this fall. You can view select images in the slide show - opposite this article.

Which are your 'favs'? If you have been inspired, submit a comment or critique your choices? Click the image and you'll notice the student's intials and art title (not all are titled). Those students receiving a gift certificate will be named Sunday evening. Good luck to all.

PEEL ECOSCHOOLS CONNECTIONS

Tutored by Nature Inc offers to facilitate staff involvement in the Peel EcoSchool program. There is not a direct link at present but Peel District Board is the only current board of education that has hired a full time EcoSchools Program Leader. You can access information by visiting Peel's Intranet page located under the Board Services tab and/or ecoschools@peelsb.com . Tracy Appleton is PDSB's EcoSchools Program Leader and can help (905-890-1010 ext.2168). For more on EcoSchool Ontario check our links on this page. Hope to see you at EcoFest next spring.

TUTORED BY NATURE INC: FROM TACIT TO EXPLICIT TO TACIT TO ...

Tutored by Nature Inc develops local watershed excursions that impel local educational experience in the outdoors on local watershed systems. Local urban wilderness stewardship practice includes meaningful integrated applications of the fine arts (pencil / water-colour sketch and photography), language arts (talk circle / expressive writing), and science & technology (Life Systems / Earth Science). Students focus to access personal knowledge of the local watershed/subwatershed in a fun and developmentally appropriate way - to C.A.R.E. for the local watershed or subwatershed. Activity most likely will substantially improve student understanding and academic achievement (Lieberman & Hoody, 1998) - stewardship experience outdoors that helps to recognize current local ecological problems can only be solved through local ecological solutions. tbyn@rogers.com

IDENTIFICATION OF LOCAL SPECIES

Amphibians: Frogs and toads (who are frogs as well) often are identified by their sounds. Spring Peepers, Wood Frogs and especially Western Chorus Frogs have been identified at the Creditview Wetland (heart of Mississauga) by Fallingbrook students over the past couple of years. The males are quite vocal in mid April through mid May. Many can be easily identified by sound and/or sight?

Sounding a bit like a duck, the Wood Frog (above) sort of quacks. The Fallingbrook student who painted him (water-colour) captured his brown colour and dark mask nicely. Find out more about these very important life forms by using the very informative website below.
www.naturewatch.ca/english/frogwatch/species_details.asp?species=20

FEBRUARY'S "SCHOOL THAT RULES ENVIRONMENTALLY!"

Everyone - especially Tutored by Nature Inc and other Creditview Wetland Stewardship partners are proud and in awe of Fallingbrook Middle School teachers and students. This amazing school, in the heart of Mississauga ON, has been honoured on two occasions by the Friends of the Credit (2006, 2007), by the Province of Ontario (2008) and more recently by Tutored by Nature Inc (2009) for their sustainable ecostewardship of the Creditview Wetland. Along with their partners, Fallingbrook initiated, led and maintained their stewardship of The Creditview Wetland from 2004 to the present.

Talk about sustainable stewardship! Fallingbrook M.S. is well connected 'naturally' - monitoring Wetland flora and fauna, planting shrubs to develop buffers, planting and playing an integral role in the development of the Wetland Interpretation Centre, educating and initiating the local community into claiming ownership of the Creditview Wetland Community Stewardship Committee, participating in ecology, language and art studies on the Wetland, etc. One grade 8 class went into the Wetland to clean out 'stuff' that had been dumped in the 'bog' over the past 15 or so years, e.g., 12 tires, several chairs, shopping carts and much more.

Young environmentalists from Fallingbrook Middle School have participated in Peel EcoFair 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, their student leaders attended PEYA’s EcoBuzz Conferences of 2006, 2007, and 2008. They have solidified a great partnership with the City of Mississauga's Parks and Forests, the Credit Valley Conservation, Tutored by Nature Inc and EcoAction (Federal Ministry of Environment).

In the fall of 2008 and spring of 2009, teachers of Fallingbrook's grade 6 and grade 7 classes wanted their students to formalize their experiences and link them with their curriculum studies. So, they participated in Tutored by Nature Inc’s Eco-stewardship programmes. Part of their activities included monitoring the flora and fauna of the Wetland’s East Buffer, observing eco-relationships on the nine ecosites, capturing the small in nature with their camera and water-colour sketches, attempting to manage the Bindweed on the North and East Cultural Meadows, planting those very large trees and shrubs in part of the North Cultural Meadow, weeding and mulching previously planted shrubs, flowers and trees.

To top it all off, the teachers and kids helped to leader and participate in the May 10, 2009 Community Wetland Celebration. Hope Mr.Zirnis's class enjoyed the Pizza Party for being the class that got most parents out at BogFest.

WOW!!

Pages

Sunday, November 25, 2012

S.L.S.S. ...So Many Winners - Congrats to All

Friday, November 23, 2012

Fall 2012: Sense of Aesthetics - Stephen Lewis S.S.and Upper Sawmill Creek Sub-Watershed

Community Environmental Education Connections

About Us

PEEL ECOSCHOOLS CONNECTIONS

TUTORED BY NATURE INC: FROM TACIT TO EXPLICIT TO TACIT TO ...

Froggies of the Wetland

IDENTIFICATION OF LOCAL SPECIES

FEBRUARY'S "SCHOOL THAT RULES ENVIRONMENTALLY!"

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