Environmental Issue Instruction
Kindergarten
Butterfly Life Cycle
Date: April 2015
Subjects: Science, Language Arts
In May of 2014, 89 Kindergartens studied the life cycle of butterflies as part of their Science Curriculum. After their study, they each created a book highlighting what they had learned. Below is one of the students books.
Date: April 2015
Subjects: Science, Language Arts
In May of 2014, 89 Kindergartens studied the life cycle of butterflies as part of their Science Curriculum. After their study, they each created a book highlighting what they had learned. Below is one of the students books.
Biodegradation Study
Date: April 2015
Subjects: Science, Language Arts
Beginning in April 2015, each kindergarten class (77 students) will plant items in soil. Some items will be biodegradable (apple cores, vegetable peels, etc.), some will not (aluminum cans, Styrofoam cups). We will label what is planted where, and take pictures of what each item looks like prior to planting. After a time period of 1-1.5 months, we will dig up our items and determine what, if anything, has happened to them. Through this process, we will learn about biodegradable materials, pollution, and composting. After we are finished, our soil will be donated to the 2nd grade so that it may be reused for their butterfly garden!
1st Grade
"Nurturing Nature" & "As the Weather Changes" Instruction
Date: 2013-2014 School Year
Subjects: Science, Language Arts
During the 2013-2014 year, the First Grade (95 students) at Wellwood International School explored Standard 1 of Maryland’s Environmental Literacy Standards. The First Grade team met these standards, and engaged our environment to further enhance learning, over the span of two science units: Nurturing Nature, and As the Weather Changes. (Click the button below to download the document which includes photographs of students' work and students engaging in instruction.)
Date: 2013-2014 School Year
Subjects: Science, Language Arts
During the 2013-2014 year, the First Grade (95 students) at Wellwood International School explored Standard 1 of Maryland’s Environmental Literacy Standards. The First Grade team met these standards, and engaged our environment to further enhance learning, over the span of two science units: Nurturing Nature, and As the Weather Changes. (Click the button below to download the document which includes photographs of students' work and students engaging in instruction.)
Checkerspot Butterfly Study and Planting Turtleheads
Date: March - April 2015
Subjects: Science, Language Arts
During the 2014-2015 year, 88 first grade students will plant turtlehead plants in Wellwood’s butterfly garden. The turtlehead plant attracts Checkerspot butterflies, which are Maryland’s state butterfly. Checkerspots are endangered due to widespread destruction of their habitats.
Students study the Checkerspot butterfly in the first grade science unit, Nurturing Nature. In addition to planting the turtleheads, students will write letters to the Governor of Maryland offering their suggestions on how to save the Checkerspot. The first grade team will document the planting of the turtleheads with photographs and samples of student letters, and create a display for the STEM fair to share our work with the Wellwood community.
2nd Grade
The Lorax
Date: March - April 2015
Subjects: Science, Language Arts
Date: March - April 2015
Subjects: Science, Language Arts
Second graders in Ms. Lugli’s class participated in a Lorax project to celebrate Earth Day. After reading The Lorax, by Dr Suess, students identified and wrote ways that they would help the Earth if they were the Lorax. Students wore Lorax mustaches and presented their strategies to reduce, reuse and recycle to the class.
The Wellwood Butterfly Garden
Date: March - June 2015
Subjects: Science, Language Arts, Math, Art
This March, Ms. Bogardus' 2nd grade class (25 students) will begin designing a butterfly garden with the assistance of Master Gardener Pat Thomas. The students will conduct online research about native Maryland plants in order to design their garden. With the assistance of parents, students will install their butterfly garden in late April of 2015. It will be an environmental destination at Wellwood for all grade levels to enjoy and work in! This project was made possible by a grant sponsored by The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools.
Date: March - June 2015
Subjects: Science, Language Arts, Math, Art
This March, Ms. Bogardus' 2nd grade class (25 students) will begin designing a butterfly garden with the assistance of Master Gardener Pat Thomas. The students will conduct online research about native Maryland plants in order to design their garden. With the assistance of parents, students will install their butterfly garden in late April of 2015. It will be an environmental destination at Wellwood for all grade levels to enjoy and work in! This project was made possible by a grant sponsored by The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools.
Committee Meeting Agendas to discuss the Butterfly Garden and Grant:
Plan for the Wellwood Butterfly Garden:
The future site of the butterfly garden has been tilled and is waiting to be planted this spring!
3rd Grade
"Cats, Canines, and the Chesapeake Bay"
Date: March 12, 2014
Subjects: Science, Language Arts
On March 12, 2014, Ms. Ann Gearhart from the Snyder Foundation for Animals gave a presentation entitled "Cats, Canines, and the Chesapeake Bay" to the third graders (69 students) at Wellwood. It directly tied into their "Saving the Bay" science unit. Ms. Gearhart's topics included watersheds, wildlife, sharing habitats, and pollution. Below are pictures for the presentation and thank you notes written by third grade students.
Date: March 12, 2014
Subjects: Science, Language Arts
On March 12, 2014, Ms. Ann Gearhart from the Snyder Foundation for Animals gave a presentation entitled "Cats, Canines, and the Chesapeake Bay" to the third graders (69 students) at Wellwood. It directly tied into their "Saving the Bay" science unit. Ms. Gearhart's topics included watersheds, wildlife, sharing habitats, and pollution. Below are pictures for the presentation and thank you notes written by third grade students.
Safe Racer
Date: March 2014
Subjects: Science, Math, Art
In March of 2014, 69 third grade students took part in the Safe Racer challenge. They built cars out of recycled material.
Date: March 2014
Subjects: Science, Math, Art
In March of 2014, 69 third grade students took part in the Safe Racer challenge. They built cars out of recycled material.
Water-Reducing Pledge Date: January 2015 Subjects: Science As part of the third grade Science unit on Saving the Chesapeake Bay, Madame Cox's French class (? students) discuss the impact of the actions of residents living in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Through discussions, students recognized the need for a school-wide response to conserving water. Using a pledge posted on the Environmental Protection Agency's website, families of third graders reflected on what they do currently to help reduce their use of water and signed the pledge form to ensure the continuation of what water-reducing measures they currently take. This pledge and our class discussions and classroom experiments promote other water-reducing measures students and others can take. In addition, third grade classes created public service announcements that have been on display on ways we can conserve water and support a healthy bay, and some classes have signed a whole class pledge to save the bay through measures such as water conservation. |
4th Grade
Habitat Study
Date: June 2014
Subjects: Science, Language Arts
In June 2014, 65 students fourth grade students studied butterfly habitats and their benefits. They did research and wrote paragraphs about what they learned. They will share this knowledge with students who are helping to create a butterfly garden at Wellwood during the 2014 - 2016 school year.
Date: June 2014
Subjects: Science, Language Arts
In June 2014, 65 students fourth grade students studied butterfly habitats and their benefits. They did research and wrote paragraphs about what they learned. They will share this knowledge with students who are helping to create a butterfly garden at Wellwood during the 2014 - 2016 school year.
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No-Mow Zone Awareness
Date: September 2015 Subjects: Science, Language Arts, Arts Mrs. Devereaux's 4th grade class (19 students) studied why the No-Mow Zone at Wellwood is so important. They wanted to share this knowledge with the other students and visitors at the school. To do this, they created informational signage that shared important facts about the benefits of having the No-Mow Zone. The students took some time outside one morning to install their beautifully decorated signs. |
5th Grade
Eco-Trekkers
Date: April 4, 2014
Subjects: Science, Language Arts
On April 4, 2014, 80 fifth grade students participated in the Eco Trekkers field study. Below is a slideshow depicting their experience. Additionally, there are thank you letters written by the students which chronicles what they learned.
Date: April 4, 2014
Subjects: Science, Language Arts
On April 4, 2014, 80 fifth grade students participated in the Eco Trekkers field study. Below is a slideshow depicting their experience. Additionally, there are thank you letters written by the students which chronicles what they learned.
Reduce the Use of Paper Towels at Wellwood!
Date: March 2015
Subjects: Language Arts, Technology, Math
Date: March 2015
Subjects: Language Arts, Technology, Math
Wellwood
International School decided to make a change.
We decided to make posters to hand in the bathroom about using less
paper towels.
Mrs.
Mitchell’s fifth grade class watched a Ted Talks video about how to use one
paper towel and be able to talk out with dry hands.
As a
result of posting the posters, students at Wellwood are more aware of how much
waste they are making and are now using less paper towels. Soon, we will measure the amount of paper towels the school is using in order to see if we reduced our use.
By: Alessia Cusick, 5th grade student Wellwood International School
By: Alessia Cusick, 5th grade student Wellwood International School
Professional Development
Staff Development Meeting
On December 2, 2013, the staff at Wellwood International School were engaged in a presentation about becoming a Green School. Mr. Melito provided an overview of the process, along with examples.
Howard County Green Fest
First grade teacher, Amara Griffin, attended the Howard County Green Fest on April 5, 2014. The flyer below was created to share information with the staff.
First grade teacher, Amara Griffin, attended the Howard County Green Fest on April 5, 2014. The flyer below was created to share information with the staff.
Teachers' Night Out on the Farm
On October 16, 2015 8 Wellwood Teachers attended the 2nd Annual "Teacher's Night Out on the Farm". Here, they were able to establish a number of connections with different organizations and agencies that can assist in providing environmentally friendly lessons and activities for their students. They will also able to engage in hands on activities that they brought back to their school! Below, Wellwood teachers are pictured with Roger Williams, the President of the Central Maryland Beekeepers' Association.
On October 16, 2015 8 Wellwood Teachers attended the 2nd Annual "Teacher's Night Out on the Farm". Here, they were able to establish a number of connections with different organizations and agencies that can assist in providing environmentally friendly lessons and activities for their students. They will also able to engage in hands on activities that they brought back to their school! Below, Wellwood teachers are pictured with Roger Williams, the President of the Central Maryland Beekeepers' Association.
Celebration
Earth Day 2014
On May 6, 2014, Wellwood (464 students) observed Earth Day. Mr. Trombetti and his intern, Gina, came to present a primary and an intermediate recycling assembly. Students listened to a story, learned facts about recycling, participated in a recycling/trash sort, and received pencils and activity sheets. We learned how easy it is to recycle!
On May 6, 2014, Wellwood (464 students) observed Earth Day. Mr. Trombetti and his intern, Gina, came to present a primary and an intermediate recycling assembly. Students listened to a story, learned facts about recycling, participated in a recycling/trash sort, and received pencils and activity sheets. We learned how easy it is to recycle!
330 FLES students celebrated Earth Day by making posters in French sharing their love of nature and the Earth. This was done during April 2014.
65 fourth grade students celebrated Earth Day by participating in a planting activity on school property.
Earth Day 2015
On April 21, 2015 Wellwood will kick-off our Earth Day Celebration by having a STEM, Math, and Reading Nigh. Our teachers will use texts that focus on recycle, reuse, reduce and create a reading or math activity that explores the subject. Our 4th and 5th grade students will also have their STEM Fair projects on display for everyone to see and learn about.
The next day Wellwood will hold a school-wide Earth Day Celebration to commemorate our commitment to becoming a Maryland Green School. Teachers and students worked together to organize a number of activities, that all 480 students in the school will be able to participate in throughout the day. These activities include:
On April 21, 2015 Wellwood will kick-off our Earth Day Celebration by having a STEM, Math, and Reading Nigh. Our teachers will use texts that focus on recycle, reuse, reduce and create a reading or math activity that explores the subject. Our 4th and 5th grade students will also have their STEM Fair projects on display for everyone to see and learn about.
The next day Wellwood will hold a school-wide Earth Day Celebration to commemorate our commitment to becoming a Maryland Green School. Teachers and students worked together to organize a number of activities, that all 480 students in the school will be able to participate in throughout the day. These activities include:
- Painting a Mural designed by the 5th grade Art Club, Art Teacher Ms. Mim, and 2nd/3rd grade French Immersion Teacher Madame Cox.
- Student designed Grocery Bags donated by Shoppers in Pikesville featuring recycling messages. Shoppers will be using these bags to pack customers' groceries in to spread Wellwood's message of environmental appreciation throughout the community!
- A Recycling Relay, sponsored by Charm City Run, for students to learn how to appropriately sort their recyclables at school and at home.
- The Benjamin Banneker Museum will be hosting a Migratory Birds Game, where students act as birds and experience the many perils birds fact as they migrate.
- Thanks to the Maryland Agricultural Center, students will interact with a real goat and chickens in order to learn about the importance of agricultural in the Baltimore area.
- Students will learn what plants need to grow and survive and plant a seedling that they will be able to take home with them that day.
The Art Club enlarging their original mural design in preparation for Earth Day: