The GLOBE Program is convening a timely annual conference with the help of LAUSD organizer, Henry Ortiz and its Colorado team working at the Universal Hilton and the Beverly Garland Hotels. Attendees will study, share, and explore our local watershed while learning about online resources, lesson plans, the GLOBE portal and data collection and more.
From July 19-24, participants will learn about the global environment from linking Earth observing satellites with children's engagement in hands on science. Because of GLOBE, teachers are able to work with children on vital issues of weather, water, El Nino, drought, aquifers, and stewardship that will be discussed at the meeting. The GLOBE Program (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) is celebrating 20 years and over 127 million measurements in its global database. Students from around the world have contributed measurements to this database. Students and scientists can then use the data in their research.
For example, one of the more recent collaborations is with the Soil moisture Active Passive Satellite (SMAP) mission launched this Spring. This NASA Earth observing satellite is collecting data on the levels of soil moisture on a global scale. GLOBE students will take direct soil moisture measurements in their local area and send their data to be used by the SMAP scientists. To prepare for this, Erika Podest, a SMAP scientist, and Peter Falcon from JPL Earth Science worked with Henry Ortiz to train teachers at Irving Middle School to use the scientific protocol developed by NASA and GLOBE to collect and enter measurements into the GLOBE database and plan their classroom activities and supplies for 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 academic years.
From rocketry in the news. to Pluto-GLOBE uses the newly launched SMAP Satellite, with teams, capturing water data as a local reporting experience...the result is to expand student understanding of this vital earth asset (water) as it moves in its cycle worldwide.
What can we do to get in sync with water changes and challenges in California?
Education is an important component. Los Angeles is active in facing these challenges. Next week, teachers, scientists, researchers, and international partners will be convening at the Universal Hilton to use GLOBE to expand the access of children, classrooms, and educators to learning about their local, state, country, and global environment through hands-on exploration and accurate reporting frin school site to neighborhood ....and beyond.
Among many diverse work groups and activities, over fifty students from around the world attending the meeting are traveling to Catalina Island to explore and learn about its unique biome and our Californian environment for 2 days.
On Thursday evening, July 23, under the tutelage of Bo Lebo and William Elliott, local students will join the audience in song... singing the "World Around Me*" from Mr. Elliott's "Wind in the Willows" musical theater adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's works. The World Around Me is also the name of the Calrecycle Kindergarten Unit teaching science.
Creating a cultural fabric with vocabulary, melodies, scientific measurements, recording protocols, and school relevancy, the founders of "WaterBuddy" are utilizing California State Standards with federal guidelines to elevate comprehension and standard academic English levels through blended instruction, arts education standards, and the Common Core benchmarks by caring for nature and raising personal interest in conservation and community service activities by singing.
As part of coming together, this small welcoming musical presentation by KidsFirst at Hamlin children as a preview of the WaterBuddy Curricula, these local students will sing with the Globe.gov and LAUSD guests from 34 countries before their banquet.
These enrichment activities combined with GLOBE's research allows them to embrace the City of Los Angeles goals in leading California and the world with exemplary sustainability activities.
With GLOBE measurements and new consumer electronics from ipads to smartphones, children in LAUSD will be building a new relationship with water, energy, our natural resources from the beaches to our headwaters making water efficiency and stewardship more comprehensible to generations of Angelenos in and out of school.
GLOBE is a K-12 international science and education program. For more information about GLOBE, visit www.globe.gov. As the LAUSD GLOBE Partner, write henry.ortiz@lausd.net to find out about the next GLOBE teacher training in our area.
· The World Around Me is also the name of CalRecycle Education and Environment Curriculum Kindergarten unit.
www.parks.ca.gov/pages/735/files/draft_eei_links_k.pdf
Globe Schools:
http://www.globe.gov/globe-community/community-map
Globe Hawaii:
http://www.globe.gov/web/hawaii-globe-v-school
Globe books:
http://www.globe.gov/web/elementary-globe/overview/44
Kids First at Hamlin:
www.kidsfirst.la
Pedagogy that embraces STEM/STEAM:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nxhz6Izi0k
Neo, Inc.:
www.waterbuddy.org
LAUSD Schools:
http://home.lausd.net/