Print & Read

Adaptations and Classification

Presenter: Jamie Carling

Participants will perform a hands-on lab activity where they will analyze the adaptations of various plants and animals from the Colorado Plateau. They will be able to identify the form and function of certain adaptations and how inherited traits can be accumulated within a population. Participants will analyze tables and understand how certain organisms are related, based on their classification. The adaptation and classification lessons are closely tied to the standards and provide useable information for teaching 6^th-10^th grades. Handouts will be provided of the worksheet and the lesson plan, and materials will be available on CD or the BOEP website.

Adding Place Based Methods to Geography Lesson Plans

Presenter: Shawnmarie Powell

This presentation of geography lessons is designed to be a combination of lecture and demonstration. Although created for 4^th grade Utah Studies, most lessons could be used in the older grades with a few changes. These lessons are meant to be used in introduction, application, or as a review of geography vocabulary, and all have a specific component of working with a place or location on a Utah map. Participants should be prepared to participate in discussion and demonstration. All lessons are easily adaptable in other states as well.  Participants will receive copies of the PowerPoint, Word, or other documents and maps used as a part of the presentation.  

Archaeoastronomy of Chaco Canyon and Sun Dagger Math

Presenter: Mary Lynne Herr

Archaeoastronomy is the study of how people in the past understood the sky and what role it played in their culture. From AD 850 to 1250, Chaco Canyon was a hub of ceremony and trade for the Ancestral Puebloan peoples of the Four Corners area. This workshop will present an introduction to some of the archaeoastronomy sites of Chaco Canyon, which is located in New Mexico on the eastern border of the Colorado Plateau. Participants will be involved in a variety of hands-on activities that explore some of the mathematical concepts of the Sun Dagger, which is both a solar and lunar marker.

Can Trees Tell Stories?

Presenter: April Baisan

Hidden in the rings of a tree are remarkable stories about events, which occurred during the tree’s life. The purpose of this presentation/hands-on activity is two-fold: 1) to demonstrate how dendrochronology (tree ring dating) is used to interpret events such as droughts and precipitation 2) to show how archaeologists use dendrochronology to determine when ancient buildings were constructed. This lesson is geared toward the middle school level but can be adapted to other grades. Participants will learn the history of dendrochronology, examine tree sections, learn to cross date, and interpret real data. No preparation is needed. Colorado Plateau teachers will gain knowledge about past weather conditions of this region. Confidence will be increased for helping students use and interpret dendrochronology websites and displays at local museums. Participants will be provided with a resource list and a homemade tree cookie.

Celestial Interpretations

Presenters: Tanya Nees and Amanda Bouchard

Experience a lesson that integrates astronomy, creative writing, and sense of place. Participants will learn how and when to identify a seasonal constellation and will be provided with a copy of traditional stories about the constellation. Participants will also get to walk through the creative writing process by publishing a new narrative for the same constellation. The presenters will specifically address how this lesson can be adjusted to meet the developmental needs and standards of different grade levels, as well as provide participants with strategies for teaching this lesson in a multi-grade classroom.  

Colorado Plateau: The After School Club

Presenters: Susan Spizzirri and Gina Andress

The After School Club is the brainchild of BOEP trained teachers Susan Spizzirri and Gina Andress of Mountain School in Flagstaff, AZ. Designed around thematic sessions, Colorado Plateau: The After School Club focuses on the environment surrounding Mountain School and the larger Flagstaff community. This presentation will describe the steps taken to form this after school club, as well as an outline of the program. Presenters will show how they incorporate a variety of BOEP inspired lessons into those themes and will share a sample lesson with the group. Additionally, there will be a workshop session to brainstorm with other educators about additional theme topics and lessons. This workshop is designed for 4^th through 12^th grade.

Colorado Plateau Virtual Tour

Presenters: Christie Brown & Sandy Emery

This presentation will take participants on a virtual tour of mountain elevations to demonstrate the diversity of the Colorado Plateau, its different foliage, wildlife, and temperatures as elevations increase. The presentation will include photographs, measurements of the different elevations, data of air and soil temperatures, and information about animals and foliage along the way. Based on the BOEP lesson Desert to Alpine: a Vertical Journey, this virtual tour will use Google Earth, for those who cannot go on a real vertical tour.

Get Up Close and Personal with Nature

Presenter: Diane Hirschinger Gallegos

Participants will learn how to teach their students and themselves how to get up close and personal with nature. Learn how to create an exciting and lasting educational experience from the classroom to the field.  Learn how to create a learning environment and hands-on techniques where the children become their own teachers and are able to teach themselves about the wildflowers, wildlife, and geology of the Colorado Plateau.  Learn how to teach children how to create their own field guides.  “Through the Eyes of the Children,” Colorado Plateau field guide was written and created with the help of over 500 children and 25 school field trips.  

 "Green" Your School with EcoSchools

Presenters: Carole Palmer and Gloria Begay

EcoSchools is an established international program that encourages student-driven activities to get their school more “eco-friendly” and environmentally sustainable. The program involves multiple levels and components that allow schools to create their own pathways to success. Program benefits include student academic achievement, budget/monetary savings (depending on project), school waste reduction and conservation of resources, increased environmental awareness and stewardship as well as community involvement. The program also encourages creativity and innovation as students learn how they can make an impact. NWF is the US host for this program and has also developed a supporting curriculum series with NASA to enhance STEM learning opportunities. Participants will receive: sample curricula; curriculum and activity adaptations for the Four Corners and tribal communities; and other support materials. Participants will also participate in hands-on activities related to water conservation and related topics. More info at www.eco-schoolsusa.org

Interdisciplinary Studies Through Bat Conservation

Presenters: Noah Zind and Candace Brendler 

Participants will see how to use a central theme, such as bat conservation, to develop an interdisciplinary curriculum for middle and high school students. We will display multi-media and physical artifacts, as well as sample lesson plans and possible extensions for this idea in the future.  Participants should come prepared to contribute ideas throughout the presentation. This workshop will help teachers develop lesson plans to connect core subjects to a central theme. 

Mapping the Colorado Plateau: Aquifers and Watersheds

Presenters: Nancy Kastning and Luz Rebecca Sumingwa

In this session we will present our methods of teaching students how to map different attributes of the Colorado Plateau. These attributes will include wildlife, vegetation, tribal and federal lands, geological features, watersheds, aquifers, mines and energy production, and roads and cities. We will have a gallery walk of student work that has been done this school year at Tse Bit’ Ai Middle School. Teachers will have hands-on time to research and map one aspect of the Colorado Plateau.

Math Mapping the Colorado Plateau

Presenter: Ervin Trujillo

Integrate and apply mathematics, language arts, history, science, and technology tools by creating a map of the Colorado Plateau. Participants will use simple algebraic equations/expressions to create a road trip of the Colorado Plateau. They will experience virtual trips down the Colorado River and a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon while learning about the habitats, animals, various landscapes, and people that call the Colorado Plateau home. This ready-to-use lesson can be adapted for all grade levels.

The National Park Service as an Educational Resource

Presenter: Ravis Henry

This session will give educators an orientation to the National Park Service and an understanding of it’s mission. The session will then lead into the importance of education for the National Park Service and how the National Park Service is a great educational resource for schools and educators. In this session educators will hear some of the many programs that are offered at nearby National Parks and Monuments and how they could take advantage of these resources for their students and schools. Some programs will include: The Flat Stanley Program, In-class Visits, Park Research, Park Orientations, Specific Park Presentations, and even Ranger–led hikes or walks.

Navajo Land! Come Alive!

Presenter: Clayton Long

K-12 teachers of Navajo students will take away ideas of how to teach Navajo culture based on Navajo land by using the land as the textbook. Teachers are excellent at teaching students by sharing knowledge, but having the students comprehend the knowledge is a big hurdle. The presentation will use Quantum Learning and the Navajo way of remembering strategies to retain what is taught. Get ready for a fun way of learning.

Outdoor Guided Science Inquiry for Kindergarteners

Presenter: Zack Zdinak

Children can begin to understand science concepts through what they do best – explore! Introduce basic science skills to Kindergarteners through simple engagement activities, outdoor exploration and group sharing. Attendees will be taken through portions of this Exploratorium-style, 3-step inquiry process with indoor and outdoor activities. Dress for being on the floor and potential weather. We will address Kindergarteners’ developmental skills, using 5 senses for observations, a question developing strategy, teaching data recording with art, adapting for your area’s bioregional wildlife, and planning for inclement weather and the lack of accessible nature.

Physical Features of the Earth:  Landscape Shaped by Water

Presenters: Rebecca Deal, Margretta Meyer, and Andrew Byrne-Englehorn

By viewing and discussing visible landforms outdoors, participants will learn how weathering and erosion shape the Earth’s surface. Participants will view a model of the formation of a natural bridge; practice identifying and building landforms with clay; and play a game that tracks a rock through the many stages of the rock cycle, learning the role of water in the rock cycle along the way. The activities in this workshop are ideal for students in grades 4th through 6^th, but may be adapted to suit other ages as well. 

Practical Planning: Coordinating Lessons and Expeditions in the Outdoors

Presenters: Megan Walker, Josh Armstrong, and Justin Kendhammer

The Alpine Leadership Academy, a teacher created program that practices placed-based education on the Colorado Plateau, is a magnet school within an existing public school in Flagstaff, AZ. This session will include hands-on training, used in the Alpine Leadership Academy, for student activities that follow the BOEP model, but are not in the BOEP handbook. These lessons could be used as supplemental activities on learning expeditions. We will also take time to discuss the lessons in the field, specifically in conjunction with coordinating learning expeditions through Grand Canyon Youth, a non-profit organization that helps students participate in river trips on rivers on the Colorado Plateau. This session is a follow-up to A School Within A School: Alpine Adventures in the First Year, but attendance in both sessions is not required.

A School Within A School: Alpine Adventures in the First Year

Presenters: Megan Walker, Josh Armstrong, and Justin Kendhammer

The Alpine Leadership Academy, a teacher created program that practices placed-based education on the Colorado Plateau, is a magnet school within an existing public school in Flagstaff, AZ. This presentation will include an in-depth discussion about the process we completed in order to introduce the Alpine Leadership Academy to our district and our middle school. We will share a framework for getting started, and time will be scheduled for specific questions, and to discuss building similar programs. This portion of the presentation will include topics ranging from our proposal to the School Board, advocating for professional development and parent communication, to explaining and organizing expeditionary learning within our community. The hands-on component of our presentation will be in our follow-up session Practical Planning: Coordinating Lessons and Expeditions in the Outdoors directly following this session.

Snowshoeing: Past, Present, and Future

Presenter: Cindy Dale

Snowshoeing: Past, Present, and Future will discuss the history and origins of the snowshoe; connecting winter and the ability to exercise outdoors with proper preparation, in a light-hearted elementary way; the challenge of constructing your own snowshoe as a survival technique to entice the middle school mind; then applying and analyzing the variety of snowshoe designs that are created in class and outdoors. We will highlight their history and connection to the Colorado Plateau as we construct and analyze different snowshoe designs. Participants should be prepared for the outdoors and, if possible, bring along a “buck” knife and leather gloves. This presentation is appropriate for grades K-7^th. Dress for the occasion and remember that there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear!

Water As A Resource

Presenter:  Bonnie Dodge

How do you present water as a resource?  How much water is there in the world?  Have you ever thought about how you use wastewater?  Participants will discuss the importance of water.  They will be introduced to a variety of resources, some they may not have considered (making local connections, national organizations, institutes of higher education, and networking with peers).  Participants will participate in activities that demonstrate the importance of water or lack thereof. The materials in this workshop can be modified to use in K through 12th grades.

Water Conservation Education – An Impact of Climate Change

Presenter: by Mansel A Nelson

After an introduction to Climate Change the presentation will focus on water conservation education. The initial introduction will be a short PowerPoint, followed by a series of hands-on water conservation learning activities. The focus is upper elementary and middle school students. Teachers will be able to use the water conservation learning activities to increase awareness of water resources by their students and teaching the importance of using water wisely. Participants will be able to choose a copy of either the National Conserve Water Educators Guide or the Arizona Conserve Water Educators Guide.

You and Your Science Project

Presenter:  Amy J. John

Participants will learn about how to develop a science fair project and learn how to fill out ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair) forms that are necessary in doing a science fair project. They will also learn the difference between a scientific/ research project and a demonstration project. Additionally, they will get a copy of a CD from University New Mexico – STEM Education Outreach Program for more information on Science Fair plus a copy of the ISEF forms that are required for the Science Fair Projects. This workshop is designed for grades K-12th.