SVALBARD! Land of the Ice Bears! In 2010 we had the privilege of following Nat. Geo. travel writer Andrew Evans on a trip to Antarctica. He inspired my classes to journey new places. We realized how small the world is and my students want to learn about "inhabitable" places on earth.
My Middle School students are dynamic and diverse.
We are a rural Texas district moving towards a more urban environment. Seven years ago we had 150 6th graders in an old building; today there are 420 6th graders in two new schools. They are caring, sweet, surprising individuals. Last year the 6th grade class adopted Andrew Evan on his way to Antarctica and shared in his adventures from Washington D.C. to Ushuaia via bus. The kids asked questions, wrote letters, and Tweeted. We even sent a signed shirt and Girl Scout Cookies to Argentina. He gave them all a chance to explore the world with him. When he visited in May; many teachers were shocked the kids treated him like a rock star. Inspiration comes in many forms as does the quest for knowledge. My students inspire me to be creative and they deserve nothing but the best. Although I'll have a new group of 6th graders, I plan to start an Explorer Club for the 7th graders to continuing exploring.
My Project
I have been named a National Geographic Teacher Fellow. In July 2010, I will travel to Svalbard on an expedition. The Arctic resources requested are on the "recommended list" from Lindblad Expeditions and are what I've been using to prep with. The unit plan I'm developing for my students uses these material with cooperative learning groups discovering the vast wildlife, habitats, and human interactions found in the European Arctic. My goal is for students to learn more than how many seals a Polar Bear eats a day. I want my students to do more than watch a PowerPoint of my experience. I want them to prepare for their own Arctic trip and uncover new worlds.
Following Andrew Evans' visit to HMS, my students started talking about what they wanted to do in life.
Travel started to top the list. I want my new students to share the enthusiasm of our world and what we have on Earth. I want them to explore the far reaches and know it's not impossible. I want their dreams, no matter how farfetched they sound, to grow. With the addition of these resources, we will have enough copies of the book for all 6th graders to use.
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