12th Annual SEEA Conference & Research Symposium

The Cumberland River Compact (CRC) provides hands-on, place-based learning for teachers and students across middle Tennessee. Through a partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools, CRC delivers in-school field trips called STEAM Expeditions to more than 2,000 6th graders at the district’s designated STEAM schools. During this experience, students explore local aquatic insects collected from a nearby stream and use data to make predictions about stream health. During this session, attendees will learn instructional strategies from the STEAM Expedition program, practice these techniques with preserved aquatic samples, and understand the logistical details to make the programs happen.

Participants in this session will discover similarities between traditional literacy and environmental literacy and how each supports the other. Through hands-on activities and practice lessons, attendees will examine how the two intersect, use children's literature to expand and enhance existing EE curricula, and discover new resources for program development. Participants will explore the benefits of collaborating with libraries and leave with the bones of a story-based program to share with their own audiences. As a 35-year employee of the Kenton County Public Library with more than 20 years as a children's programmer, Jennifer is uniquely poised to address the value of story as a communication tool and how stories have been used for generations to share values and change attitudes. Jennifer is also a KY Certified Master Environmental Educator and is credentialed by the (KY) Governor's Office of Early Childhood as an Early Care and Education Trainer (EE Specialty), putting her firmly in the intersection between traditional and environmental literacy. Though her current job title is School Outreach Programmer, she presents programs for all ages.

Since environmental education can be an extremely broad subject, with focus on so many different areas, we want to offer what we are doing from a transportation infrastructure stand point, specifically on litter prevention. We would talk about MDOT's state wide litter prevention programs and explain each program's focus, delivery, target audiences, and outcome. We want to engage the group with some of our hands on educational materials and tools we use, such as our Enviroscape that is used to show storm water runoff as it would be from a classroom view. We would want to also gain useful information from other states such as what they are doing in the same field, costs, numbers, and even suggestions on what MDOT could do to enhance or further develop what we are currently doing.

A One Health approach to environmental education emphasizes a connected view of our planet and the humans, animals, and environments that create our world. “One Health, One World, Learning Together” will introduce using One Health concepts in environmental education programming. Using a holistic approach to environmental learning emphasizes the ways we are connected to our environments and how the choices humans make everyday affect the world around us. Sharing stories about our connected planet gives learners of all ages and backgrounds a chance to see how our world is interconnected and how choices we make in our region can affect humans and wildlife around the world. Using Louisville Zoo programs as examples this presentation will explore how to create and grow programming that engages people across boundaries and encourages compassion. Participants will learn program strategies that work, brainstorm program topics, and get tips for building community partnerships to support connected long-term programming.

Climate change can be a difficult concept for some students to grasp and sometimes even more challenging to teach! The presenter will provide participants with practical tips and activities to bring climate change education into the classroom. The activities will be geared towards upper elementary to high school students. The participants should expect to engage in interactive activities that they can take back to their classes. Participants will play detective while learning how climate change is affecting the spread of waterborne diseases. Participants will also apply STEM concepts with “storm water” cleanup. All of the activities and lessons that are presented will be aligned with national science standards. Educators and facilitators can expect to gain insight and activities that can be realistically used in their classes to incorporate climate change education.