The last seven weeks at Hope Elementary School have been full of lesson plans and practical experiences to get the students prepared for their field study by the middle of May. Denise Blanchette, a biologist with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), has provided immense support to the project through her instructional visits to Read More
Students Engaging in the Nature of Maine
Many middle school classrooms and programs across the state were awarded “Engaging Maine Middle School Students in the Nature of Maine” grants from the Natural Resources Council of Maine. Hear from the students and teachers about their creative and exciting projects designed to explore, understand, and protect Maine's environment.
Science in the Woods—Creating an Outdoor Classroom
Forty Days in the Woods is a science program I designed at the Center for Teaching and Learning in Edgecomb, to engage K-8 children as citizen-scientists and future stewards of the environment through use of an outdoor learning center and curriculum. Students have conducted ecological, arboreal, and animal studies in collaboration with mentor scientists and Read More
Animating Students to Reduce Climate Change
Students in the Gifted and Talented program in the RSU 75 school district are creating a short film and lesson for younger students to show how they can help solve problems associated with climate change. Students plan to go to area elementary schools and present their videos along with a brief classroom activity. They have been making Read More
Hall-Dale Middle School Environmental Club Food Waste Reduction Project
When the HDMS Environmental Club first met in September to discuss potential environmentally focused school projects, we decided to focus on food waste reduction in the cafeteria. First, we needed to find a local farmer to pick up food waste on a daily basis, to alleviate concerns from the Manager of Buildings and Grounds and Read More
Loranger Memorial School Trail Mapping Project
The fifth, sixth, and seventh grade GATES (gifted and talented) students from Loranger Memorial School are working together on this project with help from their teacher, Mrs. Nye. The Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) is helping us by providing a grant that we will use to go on field trips to local trails in Read More
Hope Elementary School’s 7th Grade Invasive Species Project
The 7th grade class from Hope Elementary School (HES) is undertaking a project funded by the Natural Resources Council of Maine to investigate invasive aquatic plant species. With their teacher, Mr. Amundsen, they have proposed to survey and detect the presence of invasive aquatic plant species from a local lake in Hope. Invasive aquatic species Read More
Athens Community School Middle School Students Learn about Local Wildlife
At Athens Community School, we have a unique Friday afternoon program called Learning Power. In this mock community, students choose a group to join for the year where they learn and practice real-life skills. This year, my group is a 4-H Club. In 4-H, children “learn by doing” while applying life skills, strengthening the fundamentals Read More
Meet Lily Bailey, NRCM’s School Grants Intern
Maine is a state with a little bit of everything. Whether you prefer to spend your time tucked in a cozy cabin, climbing mountains, strolling along the coast, or enjoying lobster and Maine blueberry pie with friends and family, it’s easy to lose yourself in all Maine has to offer. But what might all those Read More
A Great Year of Learning about Maine’s Environment by Middle School Students
Since January, eight middle schools selected for grants that help students engage with Maine’s environment have been working diligently to learn as much as they can about the nature of Maine through projects designed by their teachers. Though school is out for the summer, many of these projects will continue into the fall and beyond. Read More
