SPMS: A Certified Green School
  • Summary
  • Top 5 Accomplishments
  • Systemic Sustainability
    • 1.1 Curriculum and Instruction >
      • Science: Environmental Literacy Standards
      • 6th Grade Habitat Research Project
      • 6th Grade Storm Water Management Lesson >
        • On Campus: Rain Gardens
        • Off Campus: Storm Water Management Project
      • 6th Grade Ecosystem Tanks
      • 7th Grade Water Quality of the Chesapeake Bay
      • 7th Grade Walking for Water
      • 7th Grade Recycled Rube Goldberg Project
      • 8th Grade Terrapin Connections
      • 8th Grade Language Arts Lesson
      • 8th Grade Weathering Investigation
      • Art Class
      • Environmental Guest Speakers
    • 1.2 Professional Development >
      • 1.2 Science Department Professional Development
      • 1.2 Green Course Professional Development
      • 1.2 2018 Professional Development
      • 1.2 2018 Professional Development
      • 1.2 2016 Professional Development
    • 1.3.1 School-Wide Environmental Behavior
    • 1.3.2 Systemic Partnerships
    • 1.4 Celebration
  • Student Driven Practices
    • 2.1 Water Conservation
    • 2.2 Energy Conservation
    • 2.3 Solid Waste Reduction
    • 2.4 Habitat Restoration
    • 2.6 Responsible Transportation
    • 2.7 Healthy School Environment
  • Partnerships & Awards
    • 3.1 Community Partnerships
    • 3.2 Awards and Special Recognitions

Systemic Sustainability: 1.1 Curriculum and Instruction

8th Grade Investigation: Weathering

Picture2016: Students study the impact of weathering and erosion
Eighth grade students study weather as part of their science curriculum.  While this is a concept that every student already has an understanding of, Mr. Philip helps them to draw a connection that strengthens their understanding. 

Rain, hail, snow, wind, etc., are all examples of weather that the students know.  Now, they are made to observe the long term effect of weather.  Their teacher comments that their school is large and strong, having stood there for years, seemingly immune to everything happening around it.  Students take a much closer look, using their sense of touch to reveal the fact that weather is a strong and powerful force.  Even brick, as strong as it is, is not immune to weather’s reach.  As the photo shows, students look to find evidence of weather’s impact on their school’s brick walls.  They uncover change in color, evidence of erosion from both wind and water, to name a few. Nature changes things, even the largest and strongest of things, over time.


Students observe closely the changes and impact of weathering.  They take this idea further, considering not only the impact of weather on the environment, but also human behavior.  Obviously, weather is beyond human control; we can only react and respond to it.  However, we can make choices and control much of what we, as people do, that negatively affects the natural world.  Paralleling this concept, natural effects of weather versus the impact of human behavior, help students to consider their own choices and behavior as it relates to the environment, particularly the Bay and it’s watershed.
 

Student Work Lab Sheet

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As a cross-curricular arts integration activity, students participated in a weathering photo contest.  Students looked for examples of weathering near their homes and neighborhoods.  They captured the images with their phones and cameras and submitted the paperless photos via Google Classroom.  Mr. Philip and Mrs. Shelleman prepared slideshows of the images and allowed the students to vote on winners for various categories.

Student Photo Contest Entry
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2018: Students observe signs of weathering on the school grounds.
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2019 Photo Contest Winners: Cecelia B., Grayson H., Ally K., Nick W., Emily G, Owen M., Andrew R., Andrew H.
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