2020 Class links & resources

COVID-19 @ Home Learning

Monday 3/30/2020

• Please accept the google classroom invitation I sent to your school email address.
• Moving forward all assignments will be posted in google classroom -- the total time needed to complete your environmental science work for the entire week should be about 2 hours. This should be manageable.
• If you do not have technology access that will allow you to use google classroom, please address your technology needs with our school Admin (281-5400) OR pick up the alternative assignments EACH WEEK in the BSH Main Office between 7:30am - 3:30pm

Friday 3/27/2020

Super short little report today to get you thinking about a "hidden benefit" of collecting phenology data in our communities :). Look for a google classroom invite from me in your email later today as we will be switching to that platform for the remainder of our time away. Shelter-in place orders still allow for solitary time in the outdoors -- take advantage!

Wednesday 3/25/2020

Thank you to those of you who have reached out since yesterday! If you haven't, please re-read yesterday's post before moving on.

Today I want to outline my expectations for phenology -- SO MUCH is going to happen between now and when we get back to school in mid-April. I want you to get outside, pay attention to signs of spring and record as much observational data as you possibly can over these next few weeks. Here's what that should look like:

• IF you can safely get to the park (by yourself and following physical distancing protocols) to check on your actual tree that would be fantastic. Many of you have willow's which are diecious (remember! look this up if you don't remember what it means!) and collecting samples of and making super clear observations (even taking photos!) of their catkins will be vital for knowing more about the "sex" of your tree.
• Whether you can get to the park or not I want you to get outside. Take a walk in your neighborhood or head to a local park or trail (by yourself and following physical distancing protocols) and simple pay attention. Look for buds, emerging leaves, flowers (on the ground and on trees), listen for bird sounds. Record your findings. The more data and journaling you have from these 4 weeks the better. Please make a good effort here.
• Use this link to track our sunrise, sunset and moon phases.

I am not going to post an assignment again until Friday so you can focus on phenology if you haven't been doing so already. On Friday I am going to have you submit a photo of your phenology work from this week.

Tuesday 3/24/2020

Hi everyone! I REALLY miss seeing you all. Today's article is one I chose to reinforce the complexity of "fixing" environmental and public health issues within our current political and economic structures. Send me a direct email today letting me know:

• that you are here, checking the website, reading these posts
• give me your thoughts on today's article
• and also please let me know if you have picked up your journal yet

Friday 3/20/2020

HAPPY OFFICIAL FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!!!! Buuuut.... spring came earlier this year than usual for two main reasons. Read today's article to find out why! Explain why in your journal along with an explanation of the spring equinox in general.

DON'T FORGET TO EMAIL ME... have only heard from a couple of you but I know you ALL have phones and thus can be checking your email, getting on the website, etc ;-p. Follow through here, please :)

Thursday 3/19/2020

• Today's article :)
• Also... I am placing your journals in the front office this morning and expect you to come pick them up in the coming days so you can reflect on the daily articles/posts and continue recording phenology data -- even if you aren't collecting phenology data in the park you can still be recording observations of what's happening in the environment around you. If we are out of school longer than the two weeks originally planned, we will have to reasses how we proceed in this class and will likely need to move to a google classroom style format for assigning and collecting work. PLEASE send me an email (lords@billingsschools.org) and let me know:

1) Do you have phone or computer access that is allowing you to access my website and read/view the daily posts?

2) Do you have phone, internet and/or computer access that would allow you to complete work via google classroom at home in the weeks ahead if needed?

Wednesday 3/18/2020

• Read or listen to this interesting finding regarding a paradoxical problem posed by climate change right here in our own backyard.

Climate Change (MAR 2020)

Climate Each-one-teach-one Assignment (3/12/20)

Climate Change -- history of the science and politics of the issue

• Timeline Assignment
• Times Article : Climate Change Used To Be A Bipartisan Issue.

Science of Climate Change (background/review)

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJAbATJCugs
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtW2rrLHs08&t=17s
• https://climate.nasa.gov/climate_resources/144/video-how-global-warming-stacks-up/

WINTER ECOLOGY (JAN - FEB 2020)

• Winter Ecology Unit Journal Rubric
• Winter Ecology Wrap-up
• Winter's Coolest Organisms Presentations -- Must review these if absent and fill out evaluation forms on the presentations you miss!
  • Winter's coolest peer evaluation form
  • Winter's coolest wrap-up assignment
• 2/5/20 Winter Ecology Quiz
• Quizlet Sets