Month: September 2020

this week we discussed a documentary about agriculture and the effects that it has on earth. this is something that I have learned about many years ago but it’s nice to get a reminder to have a better understanding of your current global footprint. I oftten forget about the transportation of the food, I like to try and eat things that arent to factory prossessed in order to reduce my footprint, but even if food is not highly procesed there is still so much damage being caused to the earth, the use of GMO’s the chemical spray they use on crops, the big vehicals such as tractors that are used to maintain and harvest crops then, then the packaging and transportation emmisons all add up. I do realize that not buying these products wont stop their creation and trasportation but if fewer people choose it then hopfully it can reduce the amount that is manufactured. It really comes down to the major corporations to inatute a major change to their product line which won’t happen unless forced.

I went to my special place and tried to see how many plants I could identify, I did a bit better that expected, there were pine trees, chokecherry bush, daisys, dandylions, and grass. the only thing I couldnt identify was some kind of fern.

I have always felt that honesty, understanding, and support are my key values not only as a teacher but as a person. I feel a student cant learn unless they are comofrtable in there space, i want them to be able to speak their mind without me our their peers shooting down their ideas or projects.

the story of stuff is a very interesting video, definitely an eye-opener for how much a single product can take its toll on the environment. this would be a great resource for any teacher and it could have many different lessons and assignments linked to it!

During class, we broke up into small groups to discuss one of the readings. We talked about the possibilities and constraints of a classroom that adopted a more environmental learning mindset. we felt that the possibilities would outweigh the constraints if done correctly. I bring up a story on how in about grade 2 we did a simple assignment about the different types of clouds. we all went outside with blankets and watched the clouds as the teacher would explain the differences between Altocumulus, Cirrocumulus, Altostratus, etc. and this simple lesson was so impactful that about 20 years later I still remember it. I also believe if it was simply done in class with pictures I would have not retained that knowledge and would have forgotten completely about the assignment. it also made me have a better understanding on the natural cycle of water.; which further made me understand the idea of everything being connected together as we all live on the same planet, walk the same earth, drink the same water, etc One major constraint about environmental education that we felt is that if not done correctly it could be overwhelming if the student has many different ideas and concepts being thrown at them at once. And can also be a major distraction to some students who have trouble focusing when the environment changes for them.

I am also currently tracking the different types of food that I consume throughout a week and it definitely is not ideal. most of it is pre-packaged meals, fast-food, sweets, or simply missing meals. I feel like because of the way I eat it affects my energy level, my mood (which is usually pretty grumpy) and also my ability to keep my focus on one task.

I wasn’t able to watch the documentary but i tried to answer the questions the best I could

– What are the problems resulting from industrialized farming practices?
there are many problems with this, the biggest one, in my opinion, is the environmental effects, it can take so many nutrients out of the ground which often never gets returned, also the heavy use of pesticides and other chemicals can cause acidic rain and plays a major part in our carbon footprint.
        – What is regenerative agriculture?
I believe this is when farmers use more environmentally conscious decisions that help keep the soil alive and keep harmful pesticides out or to a minimum
       

Before starting the class I was not sure what environmental education was really going to be about. But after the first class I think I’m starting to understand the idea behind It. to put it simply, it is about how the environment teaches people lessons that are not strictly being forced upon someone. This is not strictly tied to a natural environment such as forests, creeks, mountains etc., but also the environment in which we live. We can learn many things about ourselves and the world around us just by observing the space around us. we have been instructed to find a place close to home that we can fist on a daily/weekly biases. I have chosen a small little park near my home where there are a few trees, a big field that has a small walking trail that runs through it.

On my first day I didn’t notice to much, I watched as the trees dance in the wind while small animals such as prairie chicken pecked the ground looking for bugs. I cant say I have learned anything new in the past few days that I have sat their but I’m sure given more time and classes I will start looking for things I wasn’t before

We are still getting class started so I’m not really sure what I should be writing about for these blogs, I’m still deciding on what I want my special place to be but I think I will choose a nearby park that I often walk to and skateboard in.

I like the animated video that was given to us, it portrays humans as an infection to the earth and cutely shows how much we are damaging the planet. It would be a good resource to show students in a classroom setting, but it may be too short to build an entire lesson around.

I’m definitely excited about this class and eager to learn more about environmental education.