Tutored by Nature Inc: October 2013

Saturday, October 5, 2013

STEPHEN LEWIS S.S. / GLS / TUTORED BY NATURE/ PARK 403 WOODLAND

Setting up circle after 'blindfold saunter'. "Fun!" "Amazing!" "Beautiful!" "Exciting!" "Mysterious!" "Mosquitoes!" "Special!" etc. Words chosen by Stephen Lewis S.S. gr.9'ers (GLS) when logging one word answers to share in circle. And we're just getting started. Three more excursions to go for each of the 14 classes, then 'Debriefing' to consider further school & community eco-stewardships. Prompts responded to? "This place that you just experienced today is _______?" and "Your experience of Park 403 woodlands today was _______?"

Based on their amazing pencil sketches, Mandalas, photos and expressive language to date, realization is that such experience is connecting the students' to an ecological sense of community.

GR. 9 'GLS'/'GLE' CONNECTIONS TO PART 403 WOODLAND

Park 403 Woodland is a natural community. It is made up of a myriad of ecological relationships (e.g., photo of Jack-in-the- Pulpit's habitat) - a communication system that is being impacted by local human community development. Students of Stephen Lewis S.S.'s grade 9 GLS/GLE programmes are attempting to recognize and understand the 'ecological issues' by developing their sense of ecological aesthetics. Hopefully solutions will be realized that could slow down local mono-cultural development. Is this even possible? The teachers and students believe that connecting through experience will provide them with an important sense of ecological community. Stay tuned.

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!!

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Saturday, October 5, 2013

STEPHEN LEWIS S.S. / GLS / TUTORED BY NATURE/ PARK 403 WOODLAND

GR. 9 'GLS'/'GLE' CONNECTIONS TO PART 403 WOODLAND

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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