Systemic Sustainability: 1.1 Curriculum and Instruction
Guest Speakers & Cross Curricular Environmental Literacy Examples
Guest Speakers
Numerous guest speakers have visited SPMS to share their knowledge and inspire the students with their experiences and the fact that the things they are learning do indeed have real-world application and opportunity. For these presentations, arrangements are made to allow for an entire grade participate in these engaging presentations.
Mr. Reed, NASA Scientist : January 2019 – Visits with sixth graders to discuss NASA's role in helping the Earth. Gives information about satellite usage and how they are collecting data on climate change.
Paul Spadaro, President of the Magothy River Association : April 2017 - Speaks to Environmental Club about being good stewards of the Magothy and Severn Rivers.
Mr. Bamford, NASA : Also discusses NASA's role in protecting planet Earth. Talk focused on the launch of a new satellite called WEBB.
AA County Recycling representative: detailed the process of how recycling works in the county, as well as why they do this and what goals the county has with respect to increasing recycling. This is an annual event for the entire 6th grade.
Arlington Echo – Amy Greif and Eoin Oneill: discussed the environmental literacy impact projects; storm water management and planting.
Numerous guest speakers have visited SPMS to share their knowledge and inspire the students with their experiences and the fact that the things they are learning do indeed have real-world application and opportunity. For these presentations, arrangements are made to allow for an entire grade participate in these engaging presentations.
Mr. Reed, NASA Scientist : January 2019 – Visits with sixth graders to discuss NASA's role in helping the Earth. Gives information about satellite usage and how they are collecting data on climate change.
Paul Spadaro, President of the Magothy River Association : April 2017 - Speaks to Environmental Club about being good stewards of the Magothy and Severn Rivers.
Mr. Bamford, NASA : Also discusses NASA's role in protecting planet Earth. Talk focused on the launch of a new satellite called WEBB.
AA County Recycling representative: detailed the process of how recycling works in the county, as well as why they do this and what goals the county has with respect to increasing recycling. This is an annual event for the entire 6th grade.
Arlington Echo – Amy Greif and Eoin Oneill: discussed the environmental literacy impact projects; storm water management and planting.
Cross Curricular Environmental Literacy (examples)
Ms. Hartman: Language Arts
Ms. Rabaglia: Foreign Language
Students in both Spanish and French participate in lessons about food and nutrition. This includes discussions about healthy food choices, how to improve their choices and how to counter the choices with healthy alternatives, such as exercise. Students discuss eating habits of teens in other countries and learn what they consider to be healthy. Lesson entails comparing and contrasting eating habits and health with relation to available products, ethnic preferences, how to improve habits home and abroad.
Ms. Austin: AVID:
Ms. Hartman: Language Arts
- Uses recycled materials to display poetry and create Earth Day poems.
- Students write argument papers for more or less technology, based upon literature, non-fiction and personal experience.
Ms. Rabaglia: Foreign Language
Students in both Spanish and French participate in lessons about food and nutrition. This includes discussions about healthy food choices, how to improve their choices and how to counter the choices with healthy alternatives, such as exercise. Students discuss eating habits of teens in other countries and learn what they consider to be healthy. Lesson entails comparing and contrasting eating habits and health with relation to available products, ethnic preferences, how to improve habits home and abroad.
Ms. Austin: AVID:
- Weather permitting, class meets outside for Socratic Seminar and Philosophical Chair discussions. They bring chairs and whiteboards outside and are good to go!
- The 2017 college fair project for AVID students entailed adding a research piece to investigate if the school they may be interested in attending is a green school; why or why/not.
