1 / 45

Outdoor Education in Montgomery County “ Nothing is real until it is experienced”

Outdoor Education in Montgomery County “ Nothing is real until it is experienced”. “Providing opportunities for all students in Montgomery County to engage in authentic learning outside of the four walls of the classroom”. Introductions.

aderes
Download Presentation

Outdoor Education in Montgomery County “ Nothing is real until it is experienced”

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Outdoor Education in Montgomery County“ Nothing is real until it is experienced” “Providing opportunities for all students in Montgomery County to engage in authentic learning outside of the four walls of the classroom”

  2. Introductions Karin Wade, 6th grade Team Leader, math teacher and SMS Outdoor Education Coordinator Joan Shane, 6th grade Team Leader, math teacher and SMS Outdoor Education Coordinator Marion Finkbinder, 6th grade Administrator

  3. Dates • December 3-5 • December 5-7 **Details to come regarding your child’s date.

  4. Overview • What is outdoor education ? • What are the program components and how does this work to support MCPS curricular goals ? • Nuts and Bolts of Outdoor Education for your child • Question/Answer Time

  5. Questions? • If we do not answer your question during the presentation, PLEASE write the following information on an index card: • Your question • your name • child’s name • email or phone number so we may contact you

  6. When you hear Outdoor Education, what do you think of ? • The word “camp” • Campfires, games and singing • Kids sharing meals, doing k-p, crafts, etc. • Kids having fun • Recreational activities

  7. While these occur, they are not the major focus of the program...

  8. What is Outdoor Education ? • Using the outdoors as a natural classroom to provide students with authentic learning opportunities and applications of classroom skills.

  9. Major goals of the program • Make the students’ educational programs more meaningful by applying the knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom to real-life situations

  10. Major goals of the program • Provide students with many direct experiences in using scientific processes including observing, measuring, classifying, hypothesizing and predicting

  11. Major goals of the program • Engage students with performance-based, authentic learning opportunities and experiences

  12. Major goals of the program • Begin the cultivation of students’ awareness, knowledge, appreciation, and concern for their natural environment

  13. Supports and extends the enduring understandings for science Provides applications of the scientific inquiry method Uses appropriate technology ( GPS units, data bases, Automated Weather Systems ) Supports use of mathematics as a tool to solve everyday problems Residential Outdoor Education

  14. Provides practice with proportions, data and statistics, measurement and geometric concepts Provides students with opportunities to address the four processes of balanced literacy program: listening, speaking, reading and writing Facilitates student collaboration Provides leadership opportunities Residential Outdoor Education (continued)

  15. Outdoor Education... Is multidisciplinary Combines independent and cooperative learning Emphasizes authentic learning experiences Increases students’ background knowledge Involves prediction, application and extension of classroom knowledge Provides authentic assessment opportunities Outdoor education learning opportunities correlate highly to performance-based learning...

  16. Outdoor education learning opportunities correlate highly to performance-based learning (continued) • Performance based learning ... • Integrates all disciplines: reading, writing, science, math and social studies • Combines independent and cooperative activities • Emphasizes authentic problem solving and solutions • Provides content and assesses student skills and critical thinking

  17. Your Children will be BUSY! • Day Classes • Watershed Study • Predatory Prey • Student Service Learning • Confidence Course • Evening Classes • Night Hike • Campfire • Pictionary • Craft

  18. Watershed Study • Students explore the meaning of the watershed and learn their place in it • Collect and analyze data to determine stream health at outdoor education • Apply the techniques and knowledge to study their local stream

  19. Predator/Prey • Students will research predator/prey relationships • At outdoor education students will participate in a simulation activity and collect data based on their experience • Students will analyze the data to better understand the roles of animals in the food chain

  20. Student Service Learning • All students must earn 75 service learning hours to graduate from an MCPS high school • Students are supposed to earn 10 hours in 6th grade. • Part of the 10 hours will be earned at Outdoor Education by doing various service projects

  21. Confidence Course • Each center has a confidence course comprised of mentally and physically challenging events. • All activities are designed to increase confidence, promote teamwork, and improve human relations.

  22. Forest Community • Students will increase their awareness and appreciation of the total forest community • During forest exploration the students will study unique trees, identify trees, explore leaf and soil samples.

  23. Wildlife • Students will be involved in a series of outdoor activities focusing on various aspects of the wildlife community. • These might include simulation games, hikes observing evidence of wildlife, surveys, and studies of animal adaptation.

  24. Weather • Students may collect authentic weather data at a variety of locations at each outdoor education site. • Students will gain experience using weather-related instruments, interpreting data, and making a weather forecast.

  25. Outdoor Education Preparation

  26. Sturdy shoes (2 pairs) Hat Gloves or mittens (cold weather) Jacket Sweatshirts Sweaters Long pants or jeans Pajamas Shirts Socks (lots!) Underwear Waterproof raincoat or poncho Sheets and blanket or sleeping bag, pillow Toiletry items Bag lunch for day 1 (no glass bottles) What to Pack

  27. Disposable (recycling) camera Lip balm, sunscreen Insect repellant (non-aerosol) Blow dryer (one per cabin) Slippers Shower cap Flip-flops or sandals for shower use Stationary and stamps Pen or pencil Watch Book to read What You Might Pack

  28. Electronic devices (including CELL PHONES) Aerosol Sprays Curling Irons Firearms Matches Money Glass bottles Gum, candy, or food Knives Flashlights What NOT to Pack

  29. Forms Needed:PermissionMedical

  30. Permission Slip due by 11/9/12Don’t forget tetanus shot date and dietary restrictions

  31. Cost of trip is $76 • Includes food (except for Day one lunch which can be bought from SMS cafeteria), lodging, and insurance • Payment plans (3 payments, 2 payments, etc.) • If this fee creates a financial hardship, PLEASE fill out the financial aid form in the packet • Chaperones are free • No child should be excluded from Outdoor Education because of financial issues.

  32. MedicationForm—Due to SMS Nurse with medication by November 30(One form for EACH medication)

  33. Outdoor Education at the Smith Center

  34. Smith Center Info • (301) 924-3123 • 5110 Meadowside Lane Rockville, MD 20855 • SMS, Child’s Name, Science Teacher’s Name

  35. CABINS (Boys and girls in separate cabins separated by driveway)

  36. Cabin Interior Classroom Bunks (10 bunk beds in each cabin)

  37. Bathrooms

  38. Dining Hall

  39. Nurse’s OfficeMCPS Nurse 8AM-5PM, “Night Nurse” 5PM-8AM

  40. Staffing • On site Coordinator • Vice Principal • Team Leader, SMS Teachers • Parent Volunteers

  41. We NEED Parent Volunteers! (Fill out the Parent Volunteer Form) • Spend the day • Spend the night and help chaperone a cabin • Help with night activities (campfire, craft, etc.) • Load and unload luggage bus at SMS • Donate money to buy supplies • Donate supplies

  42. Donations Needed: (We prefer money so that one person can shop) • Permanent Markers • Masking Tape (to label luggage) • Sandwich-sized Ziplock bags • Marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate bars for smores • Thread and gimp to make friendship bracelets

  43. Day of Departure • Drop off child at SMS at 8:45 AM (meet in cafeteria) • Cannot take the MCPS bus to SMS that day (not enough room for luggage/nobody to chaperone until 8:45) • Label luggage (one bag of clothes, one bag of bedding, one bagged lunch)

  44. Day of Return • Students will arrive back at SMS around 1:00pm • They will NOT be allowed to go into SMS • PLEASE be at SMS to pick up your child or make arrangements. • There will be nobody to chaperone your child after 2 PM on the day of return. • We will need help unloading the luggage bus and all of our supplies • Your child (and the teachers) will be tired. 

  45. “ Americans have long thought that nature could take care of itself-or that, if it did not, the consequences were someone else’s problem. As we know now, that assumption was wrong, none of us is a stranger to environmental problems.” -Jimmy Carter, 39th president

More Related