Brineshrimp's and Avocet
Meetings Standards Naturally is a national curriculum standards for all educators promoting the environmental sciences in all academic disciplines. They partner with EETAP (Environmental Education and Training Partnership). As a former park naturalist and science educator I enjoy how their lesson plans follow state core curriculum within all disciplines.
Environmental sciences provide an excellent template for learning and developing intellectual skills that cross disciplines. The incorporation of "Blooms hiearchy" of learning skills including: critical thinking, making connections, analysis, creativity and questioning are easily presented into lesson plans.
Environmental sciences provide an excellent template for learning and developing intellectual skills that cross disciplines. The incorporation of "Blooms hiearchy" of learning skills including: critical thinking, making connections, analysis, creativity and questioning are easily presented into lesson plans.
In urban environments where habitat diversity is limited, inspiration, wonder and scientific inquiry may come from environmental sciences component in a lesson plan. Moreover, it can be the educational component that creates the joy of becoming a life-long learner of our spinning planet, its inhabitants and the expanding universe.
Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Costume Project
Antelope Island State Park (Goldberry)
"Some have said that not a single oasis exsists on my shores. But in my entirety I am an incredibly rich oasis. My waters team with life, and that life attracts other life. I am a fertile stopover for millions of migratory birds; swans, ducks, geese, grebes, avocets, and many other species seeking respite from the surrounding desert. Perhaps you could broaden your restricted definition of an oasis to include more than humans and trees."
Ella Sorenson in: The Seductive Beauty of the Great Salt Lake, Images of a Lake Unknown. 1997
Sunset at Bridger Bay, Great Salt Lake (Goldberry)Meetings Standards Naturally:
Friends of the Great Salt Lake:
Current News Release on Research:
http://www.standard.net/topics/news/2009/09/25/grad-student-spain-studies-infected-gsl-brine-shrimp
Great Salt Lake Alliance & Utah Sustainability: (links to many other organizations)
http://gaia.econ.utah.edu/organizations/gsla
International Society for Saline Lakes:
I think that the Great Salt Lake and Antelope Island are really taken for granted by people living in the state. It is surprising how few people have actually been there up close to see it's beauty. Sure, it is a little stinky :), but once you get past that you can see the uniqueness of this wonderful place.
ReplyDeleteBryce I would have to agree with you. If you get a chance read one of Terry Tempest Williams books. She paints a picture of the Great Salt Lake that would change any negative thoughts. Shaunna posted a link to her website. I'm sure you have heard of her and most likely you have already read her work.
ReplyDeleteLove the pictures of people dressed up as brine shrimp. Thanks for the laugh.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of Terry Tempest Williams, so I am going to definitely check out her website. Sadly, I have not been to the Great Salt Lake or to Antelope Island. I feel like a bad Utahan.
ReplyDeleteDear Marianne, Bryce and Debbie:
ReplyDeleteThank you for all of your comments. I am the avocet:) Debbie, please go to the island! Once you pass mile marker four on the causeway, the island aroma (decaying wetlands) reduces! I promise! I used to cycle to the island almost everyday to work. In the visitors center they show a beautiful video about the island, Terry Tempest Williams speaks on the video. Please stay for a sunset, they are the most exquisite in the entire world. I haven't seen the entire world, but the colors are so vivid and beautiful that I am sure that it is the truth. Perhaps, all of the sunsets, knowing how beautiful they are on the island, leave home a few minutes early to watch, and hear the sun say farewell. "Til tommorrow," I'm sure that she sings, to the swirling colors. "All is well."