Pen Pals for the PlanetPen Pals for the Planet

Shauneen GiudiceShauneen Giudice

NSTA, San Francisco 2011NSTA, San Francisco 2011

PART 1PART 1

EcoPals for the PlanetEcoPals for the Planet

Shauneen GiudiceShauneen Giudices_giudice@delmar.k12.de.uss_giudice@delmar.k12.de.us

Grade 7 Science / MS Science ChairGrade 7 Science / MS Science ChairDelmar Middle and Senior High SchoolDelmar Middle and Senior High School

Delmar DEDelmar DE

Personal PhilosophyPersonal Philosophy Today’s world requires that we teach beyond our disciplines to Today’s world requires that we teach beyond our disciplines to

help our students become responsible global citizens. help our students become responsible global citizens. Critical thinking and science mastery is not enough; our Critical thinking and science mastery is not enough; our

students must also learn to consider the world from students must also learn to consider the world from perspectives other than their own. perspectives other than their own.

Pen pal relationships and shared projects weave literacy, Pen pal relationships and shared projects weave literacy, science and social studies skill together as they challenge science and social studies skill together as they challenge students from around the world to create a vibrant learning students from around the world to create a vibrant learning partnership and to become effective global participants partnership and to become effective global participants appreciative of other cultures and environments and able appreciative of other cultures and environments and able communicate about their own. communicate about their own.

A little about usA little about us My school –My school –

Bi-state school (Maryland/Delaware) – run by DEBi-state school (Maryland/Delaware) – run by DE Approximately 1100 students, grades 5 – 12 (1 building)Approximately 1100 students, grades 5 – 12 (1 building) Strong community links and support – especially for sportsStrong community links and support – especially for sports

My students: My students: rural/small down residents from southern Delawarerural/small down residents from southern Delaware Grade 7Grade 7

What we have doneWhat we have done Shared joint science projects and video conferencesShared joint science projects and video conferences Exchanged letters, artwork, projects and videos.Exchanged letters, artwork, projects and videos. In processIn process: biome boxes and video letters, shoreline stories and : biome boxes and video letters, shoreline stories and

ecopostcards, micromysteries and kid-mapsecopostcards, micromysteries and kid-maps

ProjectsProjects Teacher-at-Sea (1998)Teacher-at-Sea (1998) EarthwatchEarthwatch

Cascades (1999)Cascades (1999) Brazil (1999)Brazil (1999) Costa Rica (2000)Costa Rica (2000)

Aquaculture (Tufts, 2001)Aquaculture (Tufts, 2001) Globe (Galludet, DC 2001)Globe (Galludet, DC 2001) Microbial World (UC Davis, 2001)Microbial World (UC Davis, 2001) Keystone Institutes I and II (2002, 2003)Keystone Institutes I and II (2002, 2003) Japan Fulbright Master Teachers Program (2004, 2005, 2006)Japan Fulbright Master Teachers Program (2004, 2005, 2006) India Fulbright (2008)India Fulbright (2008) Mexico Rio Seco (2009)Mexico Rio Seco (2009) India (2010)India (2010)

Kushiro, Hokkaido JapanKushiro, Hokkaido Japan2004, 2005, 20062004, 2005, 2006

Master Teachers ProgramMaster Teachers Program

Spring- Japanese teachers hereSpring- Japanese teachers here Summer – U.S. teachers there (6 weeks)Summer – U.S. teachers there (6 weeks) During the following yearDuring the following year

Monthly video conferences with the studentsMonthly video conferences with the students BUGS projects (all partners)BUGS projects (all partners) Partner projects (developed by each partner Partner projects (developed by each partner

pair)pair) Science (water quality, animals, wetlands)Science (water quality, animals, wetlands) Cultural (language, holidays, music, school life)Cultural (language, holidays, music, school life)

Japan Fulbright – Science ClubJapan Fulbright – Science Club

Most of the project workWas done in after-schoolClubs (both in Kushiro andDelmar) because of Curriculum constraints.

Video ConferencesVideo Conferences

Video ConferencesVideo Conferences Student-taught language Student-taught language

lessonslessons Project exchanges/reportsProject exchanges/reports

BUGSBUGS WetlandsWetlands Local animalsLocal animals

Owl pellet dissectionsOwl pellet dissections Gingerbread housesGingerbread houses Pumpkin carvingPumpkin carving ConversationsConversations

Halloween favorites

Zoo Trips and Animal ProjectsZoo Trips and Animal Projects

Students from Delmar andKushiro visited their localZoos. At the next video-Conference, they exchanged Photos and information aboutLocal species.