To protect against herbivores the wild tobacco plant deposits trichomes, sweet treats irresistible to but also potentially fatal for leaf-eating caterpillars. Shortly after ingesting the trichomes, the insect releases a particular odor that attracts ground-foraging predators. NATURE’s “What Plants Talk About” premieres Wednesday, April 3 at 8pm on WGBY. Check out a preview below:
Posts Tagged ‘ecology’
Program Feature: NATURE’s “What Plants Talk About”
Posted in Programming Highlights, tagged biology, ecology, grades 9-12, nature, plants, science on March 28, 2013 |
Lesson Plan Feature: “Earth Days: Conveniences and Consequences”
Posted in Lesson Plans, Teaching Tools, tagged earth, ecology, environment, grade 9-12, grades 6-8, grades 9-12, pollution, science on March 15, 2013 |
In this lesson, students will consider both the benefits and the hazards of technology in today’s world through the lens of the environment. Students will realize that, while human inventions have made our lives infinitely more healthy, convenient and enjoyable, they have also introduced new threats, such as toxic pollution, that affect both human health and the health of our environment. The challenge confronting our society – and our students – is identifying the proper use of technology to improve our lives while still protecting the quality of the natural world.
This lesson is appropriate for grades 8-12 and requires 2-3 class periods; a portion of activity three will be completed as homework.
Objectives:
After completing this lesson, students will be able to:
- Consider how technology has both improved our lives and created new threats to environmental and human health.
- Consider how we can maximize the benefits of technology while minimizing the associated harm, largely by applying the “Precautionary Principle” to new technologies.
- Reflect on how modern electronics are changing how we relate to the natural world.
View the full lesson plan at the American Experience website.
Video Lending Library Feature: A New Look at an Old River
Posted in Teaching Tools, tagged ecology, history, Mississippi, science, Video Lending Library on January 25, 2013 |
Sir Trevor McDonald takes an unforgettable adventure along the historic and epic Mississippi river. Starting at the Gulf of Mexico, Sir Trevor’s journey leads him to encounter a dazzling array of characters and stunning locations. You will learn how the river has made the U.S. one of the greatest food producers in the world, and how “Ole Miss” brought together the different music styles and influences that lead to the birth of rock n’ roll. The video shows that the Mississippi is still influencing lives and culture today.
While our online library order system is down, email your request for this video directly to the librarian: bmichaels@wgby.org. Include your name, your school and the video title.
Curriculum for Ken Burns’ THE DUST BOWL
Posted in Lesson Plans, PBS Resources, Teaching Tools, tagged classroom, curriculum, ecology, economics, grades 6-8, grades 9-12, history, lesson plan, pbs, public policy, social studies, video, WGBY on November 16, 2012 |
This Sunday and Monday, November 18 and 19, at 8pm WGBY airs THE DUST BOWL, Ken Burns’s latest film that chronicles the worst man-made ecological disaster in American history, documenting its causes, impact, and lessons as well as the personal stories of survival and human endurance.
Curriculum for THE DUST BOWL explores these subjects through a wide range of classroom activities exploring history, public policy, economics and ecology. Carefully selected video segments from the series are integrated into the lesson activities to highlight subject matter themes and enhance student understanding of the historical period. Lesson plans, developed for grades 7-12 and adaptable to other grade levels, are written in standard PBS lesson format, complete with: teacher information (goals, standards, and background), opening or warm up activity(s), featured activity(s) with short video clips (5 to 15 minutes) and discussion questions, culminating activities with authentic assessment, evaluation rubrics, extension activities, and resources.
Because the film is so rich in educational themes and teachers have a limited amount of time, a series of quick, adaptable Whirlwind Activities have also been adapted for classroom use. Each “whirlwind” contains a brief overview along with activity ideas you can use to create lessons tailored to your individual class curriculum and teaching style.
Earth Science Resources from PBS LearningMedia
Posted in PBS Resources, Teaching Tools, tagged classroom, earth science, ecology, environment, pbs learningmedia, PreK-12, science, video on November 14, 2012 |
Celebrate the wonders of science during Earth Science Week through PBS LearningMedia. These featured resources help students uncover facts about land, water, and the atmosphere, and illustrate the powerful natural forces that shape our planet:
Gravity at Earth’s Center
Grades 6-12 | Video + Support Materials
Send students on a journey with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson to explore what would happen if they were to fall though a hole in the center of the Earth. A video clip enhances discussions on gravity and objects in motion.
Geology
Grades 4-6 | Video + Discussion Questions
Expand students’ vocabulary and understanding of the various geologic forces that affect the Earth. The video illustrates the impact of earthquakes, volcanoes, water, and glaciers on the planet.
The Hydrologic Cycle
Grades 3-8 | Interactive + Support Materials
Invite students to explore the five main processes that comprise the hydraulic cycle and use this interactive resource from NASA to demonstrate how water is perpetually recycled between Earth’s surface and the atmosphere.
The Dirt on Dirt
Grades PreK-1 | Video
Get the dirt on what it’s like to be an earthworm by visiting its underground habitat. A catchy song imparts to young students to the significance of the soil on subterranean life.
Love to Teach? Then LIKE PBS LearningMedia! PBS wants to recognize teachers for all that they do. Enter the Love to Teach? LIKE PBS LearningMedia Facebook promotion for the chance to win great prizes for you and your classroom. Click here to enter
Video Challenges Unbelievers of Global Warming
Posted in Teaching Tools, tagged ecology, environment, global warming, grades 9-12, Video Lending Library on August 17, 2012 | 1 Comment »
This video chronicles a rare crossing through the Northwest Passage, made possible by melting ice due to climate change. The documentary challenges policy makers to consider the impact of the melting ice caps on the future of mankind. The title of this timely DVD is The Polar Explorer, ID229. Borrow it from the WGBY Video Lending Library for a month by clicking here.
Award: EPA Sense of Wonder Contest
Posted in Grants/Awards, tagged content, ecology, K-12, writing on May 1, 2012 |
To honor the late preservationist and ecologist Rachel Carson, the EPA, Generations United, and the Rachel Carson Council, Inc., are holding a photo, essay, and poetry contest “that best expresses the Sense of Wonder that you feel for the sea, the night sky, forests, birds, wildlife, and all that is beautiful to your eyes.” In her book The Sense of Wonder, Rachel Carson used lyrical passages about the beauty of nature and the joys of helping children develop a sense of wonder and love of nature.
Maximum award: publication on the websites of EPA Aging Initiative, Generations United, and Rachel Carson Council, Inc.
Eligibility: entries must be joint projects involving a person under age 18 and a person age 50 or older.
Deadline: June 1, 2012
Note: WGBY is not affiliated with this contest; please contact the contest sponsors directly for details.
With PBS LearningMedia, Earth Day is Everyday!
Posted in Lesson Plans, PBS Resources, Teaching Tools, tagged earth day, ecology, grades 3-5, grades 6-8, grades K-2, green, recycling on April 20, 2012 |
"What We Do Now" Interactive
Bring the power of green into your classroom. From info on wind and solar energy to interactives about composting and recycling, these environmentally-friendly resources from PBS LearningMedia will energize your students.
Recycling and Composting, Grades K-8
About half of the paper we use in our daily lives has been recycled. Follow the paper trail with Francesco and find out what happens to recyclables when they get to a material recovery facility.
What We Do Now, Grades 6-8
We live in an energy-dependent world. What’s changed? Find out by exploring the objects in two street scenes: one from a typical town in 1930 and one from present day.
Compost Office, Grades 3-8
Maintain your own virtual compost pile by adding the right mix of organic ingredients. Consider the ‘recipe’ behind this effective recycling technique and the resulting benefit to the environment.
PBS TeacherLine Spring Professional Development
Posted in PBS Resources, Professional Development, tagged curriculum, ecology, environment, literacy, math, PreK-12, reading, science, writing on March 26, 2012 |
In addition to robins and warming temperatures, another harbinger of spring are PBS TeacherLine‘s online courses, starting March 28. Classes range from 15-45 hours and span the PreK-12 curriculum. You also have the opportunity to earn graduate credit, CEUs, or professional development points. The online course catalog allows you to view and download syllabi that contain many of the resources within courses. You can also see which courses are aligned to the Common Core State Standards.
Among the many courses open for enrollment now are:
Reading Language Arts
- RDLA340 Teaching Reading in the Content Areas, Grades 3-12 (CCSS aligned)
- RDLA120 Teaching Reading in Science, Grades 3-12 (CCSS aligned)
- RDLA152 An Introduction to Underlying Principles and Research for Effective Literacy Instruction, Grades K-8
Instructional Technology
- TECH145 Teaching with WebQuests, Grades K-12
- TECH325 Searching & Researching on the Internet, Grades K-12
- NEW! TECH570 Fundamentals of Virtual K-12 Teaching, Grades K-12
Science & Mathematics
- STEM412 Global Climate Change Education for Middle School, Grades 5-8 and STEM417 Global Climate Change Education for High School, Grades 9-12 (Both CCSS aligned)
- MATH440 Seeing Math: Transformations of Quadratic Functions, Grades 6-12 (CCSS aligned)
- SCIE560 Teaching Earth & Space Science, Grades 5-12
- SCIE520 Teaching High School Biology, Grades 9-12
Instructional Strategies
- INST120Creating Units to Support Differing Learning Styles, Grades K-12
- INST325Using Assessment and Evaluation, Grades K-12
For more information you can contact Bess Kapetanis, PBS TeacherLine Coordinator at bkapetanis@wgby.org / 413.781.2801 x 292.
