Buresh Blog: Earth Day... Jags 2019 schedule & the weather

If you gave students the choice of completing a worksheet or going outside, you already know the winner—nature! Besides being more fun for kids, going outside boosts cognitive function says the American Psychological Association.

There’s even been a push to green-up schoolyards, replacing concrete slabs with more natural schoolyards, include outdoor classrooms, native gardens, storm water capture, traditional play equipment, vegetable gardens, trails, trees, and more, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

A great way to engage young learners in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) lessons is to use the outdoors as a hands-on classroom. Studies such as this 2015 research brief continue to show how “outdoor school helps kids stay more engaged in the classroom by making schoolwork more relevant and fun, through hands-on activities that show children how their lessons in school apply to the world around them.” Whether they’re digging in the dirt or splashing in a stream, many kids enjoy a fun, interactive activity to better understand the world around them.

Enter, the Greening STEM educator toolkit. Recently updated and expanded for Environmental Education Week 2019, the toolkit includes teaching resources, case studies, and a community of practice to support the Greening STEM approach. An interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to teaching STEM subjects, Greening STEM uses the natural environment and real-world challenges to engage learners and deliver high-quality STEM education. The Greening STEM toolkit aims to:

1. Give educators a strong case by explaining the reasons this approach is effective.
2. Show educators the way to use this approach by describing the ways to organize a lesson, project, or expedition.
3. Provide the tools to put the approach into action by offering links to suggested activities, lessons, and curriculum that can be used immediately.

The Greening STEM toolkit will be launched during NEEF’s Environmental Education Week, happening from April 22-26, 2019. Sign up to stay updated on EE Week!

The Jacksonville Jaguars have posted their 2019 football schedule!  Here are the avg. temps. for each game whether home or away:

Sun., Sept. 8 - K.C. Chiefs, 1 p.m. - avg. high: 88 degrees(!), record - 98 - watch for afternoon storms

Sun., Sept. 15 - at Houston (retractable roof) - avg. high 90 degrees

Thu., Sept. 19 -Titans - avg. high 86 degrees (record - 96) but sunset at 7:27pm so temps. typically falling into the 70s by kickoff

Sun., Sept. 29 - at Denver - avg. high 73 degrees

Sun., Oct. 6 - at Carolina - avg. high 75 degrees

Sun., Oct. 13 - Saints, 1pm - avg. high 81 degrees

Sun., Oct. 20 - at Cincinnati - avg. high 64 degrees

Sun., Oct. 27 - Jets, 1pm - avg. high 78 degrees

Sun., Nov. 17 (in London Nov. 3, bye week Nov. 10) at Indianapolis - avg. high 52 (closed stadium)

Sun., Nov. 24 - at Tennessee - avg. high 57 degrees

Sun., Dec. 1 - Tampa, 1pm - avg high 70 degrees

Sun., Dec. 8 - Chargers, 4:05pm - avg. high 68 degrees (sunset - 5:26pm)

Sun., Dec. 15 - 4:05pm at Oakland - avg. high 57 degrees (sunset - 4:51pm)

Sun., Dec. 22 - at Atlanta (retractable roof) - avg. high 55 degrees

Sun., Dec. 29 - Colts, 1pm - avg. high 65 degrees......... then on the playoffs! :)

The National Hurricane Center has released a webinar schedule  - April 23, 30.... May 7, 24 & 29.... & June 4th.  Click ** here ** for specific subjects for each webinar.