Professional Development (P Credit) Courses

Course Catalogue as of August 4, 2010
•  Beyond the Lima Bean: Incorporating Plant Science
with Math, Art and Literacy — Saturdays, 9/25/10 to 11/6/10
•  Green STEM: Building with Greenwall
and Greenroof Technology — Tuesdays, 11/2/10 to 12/21/10

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This hands-on course will delve into plant parts with an innovative, interdisciplinary and sensory focus. We will connect basic botany with mathematics, art and literacy aspects of the elementary school curriculum, to maximize student learning. The science of plant parts will be the primary teaching topic as we observe stem transportation, dissect flowers
(a component of which is found on the city-wide 4th grade science test), investigate seed function and analyze leaf shapes. The six main parts of a plant will then be happily united with visual, culinary and musical arts as participants photograph hairy roots, create playful "plant chants", design floral arrangements and learn how chocolate is made from cacao seeds. Additionally, educational links with practical mathematics and relevant literacy techniques will be implemented. Each session will teach strategies for delivering differentiated instruction to address some of the many types of learners, especially the auditory, visual, tactile and kinesthetic learners. As a culminating project, participants will create an integrated botany portfolio to use as a teaching tool in their classrooms.

Course Descriptions

Saturday September 25, 2010 // 9am - 4pm
This session will focus on the science of Roots and Stems. Participants will work in small groups to study the structure, collection and transportation of roots & stems. We will explore and dissect three root types: adventitious, tap and fibrous then plant a root observation chamber. We will also revisit a simple stem experiment update it. Interdisciplinary connections will include: measuring and diagramming adventitious roots, creating lesson plan visuals and setting up a stem experiment. Literacy links will include reading books like: What do Roots do? by Kathleen Kudlinski. HSNY's Librarian, Katherine Powis will sharing teachers non fiction resources for teachers, workbooks with gardening lessons and age appropriate books for all grade levels. Each participant will create their own activity along with a lesson plan that integrates non-fiction writing, reading and an art component to engage their students. This session will conclude with reflective journaling to encourage participants to describe their own learning processes and progress.

Saturday October 2, 2010 // 9am - 4pm
This session will focus on the science of Leaves. Participants will delve into photosynthesis namely how plants make sugars from sunlight and are primary producers in the food chain. The interdependence of producers and consumers will be reviewed. Teachers will identify leaf characteristics by arrangement, taste, shape and texture. Interdisciplinary connections will include: visual arts–where we will make leaf creations and musical arts–where we will compose a song, chant or photosynthesis poem to background music. Literacy links will include reading/discussing books like: Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm. Each participant will create their own activity along with a lesson plan that integrates non-fiction writing, reading and an art component to engage their students. This session will conclude with reflective journaling to encourage participants to describe their own learning processes and progress. The session will conclude with a contest for the most delicious, colorful and healthy fruit recipe to share with the group.

Saturday October 16, 2010 // 9am - 4pm
This session will focus on the science of Flowers;
a delight for the eyes, nose and fingers. We will demystify flower anatomy, function and pollination by dissecting and comparing real, live flowers. Interdisciplinary connections will include: visual and tactile arts as participants design their own unique flower arrangement. Upon completion of each floral masterpiece, participants will critique, sketch and paint a rendition of their arrangement. Literacy links will include reading/discussing books like: The Reason for a Flower by Ruth Heller. Each participant will create their own activity along with a lesson plan that integrates non-fiction writing, reading and an art component to engage their students. Participants will continue with reflective journaling to engage in their own learning progress.

Saturday October 23, 2010 // 9am - 4pm
This session will focus on the science of Fruits. Participants will explore and compare the skins, peels, pulp/flesh and seeds of both edible and non-edible fruits. We make observed sketches and non-fiction journal entries about each fruit. Participants will study the function of fruits and prepare the winning fruit recipe for taste testing. Mathematics connections will include charting numbers of seeds in each fruit type and calculating average sizes of seeds. Additional interdisciplinary connections will include making pigment paintings using fruit skins. Literacy links will include reading/discussing books like: A Fruit is a Suitcase for Seeds by Jean Richards. HSNY's Librarian, Katherine Powis will sharing teachers non fiction resources for teachers, workbooks with gardening lessons and age appropriate books for all grade levels. Each participant will create their own activity along with a lesson plan that integrates non-fiction writing, reading and an art component to engage their students. Participants will continue with reflective journaling to engage in their own learning progress.

Saturday November 6, 2010, 2010 // 9am - 4pm
The morning session of this last class will occur at the Union Square Farmers Market:
130 East 16th St.
This session will focus on the science of Seeds. Participants will investigate the biology and lifecycle of seeds from dormancy to germination, growth and finally reproduction. Participants will uncover the complex relationships between seeds and their dispersal mechanisms. Interdisciplinary connections will concentrate on seed dispersal theatre and culinary arts–where we will study how chocolate is made from Cacao seeds. Literacy links will include reading/discussing books like: A Seed is Sleepy by Diana Aston Hutts. Each participant will create their own activity along with a lesson plan that integrates non-fiction writing, reading and an art component to engage their students. Participants will continue with reflective journaling to engage in their own learning progress.

Registration Information:

Click here to register for Beyond the Lima Bean!

Cost: 250 for course; $100 ASPDP processing fee**

Link to DOE ASPDP site: https://pci.nycenet.edu/aspdp
Also see the DOE Program policy including attendance requirements

Dates and time: Saturday, September 25; Saturday, October 2;
Saturday, October 16; Saturday, October 23; Saturday, November 6; 9am - 4pm

Location: The Horticultural Society of New York
148 West 37th Street, 13th Floor
(between 7th Ave and Broadway)

The morning session of the last class on November 6 will occur at the Union Square Farmers Market: 130 East 16th St.

Each session will be limited to 27 participants.

** Refund policy: Full refund minus a $50 processing fee will be issued upon written requests if received four (4) weeks prior to the start of the course. If a participant enrolls in a "P" In-Service course after the four week grace period and withdraws with fewer than four weeks to the start date, no refund will be provided. The ASPDP course fee of $100 is non-refundable. All refund requests must be made in writing by e-mailing ASPDP at aspdp@schools.nyc.gov and HSNY at pito@hsny.org.

About the Instructor: Pamela Ito, HSNY Director of Children's Education has been teaching in New York City, rural Kenya, the shores of Kauai, and the Oregon woodlands for over 22 years. Her prior experience includes the creation of training materials for the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Division in Nairobi, Kenya, as well as HSNY's Apple Seed curriculum. Pam has a B.S. in Biology with Certification in Secondary Science Education from Lewis & Clark College and a Masters of Environmental Studies from Bard College.

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Explore and build with HSNY! This hands-on course will focus on how our urban environment necessitates innovative thinking about growing plants. Participants will expand their scientific knowledge through exploration of green roof and vertical gardening technologies then translate them into practical application within the unique New York City context. We will investigate the relationship between science and technology— not only in the context of tools, but also of processes, designs and products. Additional educational links with practical mathematics and relevant literacy techniques will be implemented. Each session will teach strategies for delivering differentiated instruction to address some of the many types of learners, especially the auditory, visual, tactile and kinesthetic learners.

Participants will incorporate calculations of vertical and horizontal space to construct a wall-mounted greenwall. Starting with basic engineering skills, participants will assess an open space and evaluate photographs. Then they will measure and create a project design. We will refer to our HNSY library to research the functions of various soil substrates, then explore the properties of materials and design the ideal substrate for their green wall or green roof. Each newly created substrate will be "put to the test" by scientific measurements to determine the highest level of water retention and lowest overall weight of each participant's soil creation. The results of our soil experiment will be combined with a careful selection of unique plants to invent a new, sustainable, urban ecosystem.

 

Registration Information:

Click here to register for Green STEM!

Cost: $350 ($250 for course; $100 ASPDP**)

Link to DOE ASPDP site: https://pci.nycenet.edu/aspdp
Also see the DOE Program policy including attendance requirements

Dates and time: Tuesday Evenings 4pm-8pm;
November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, December 7, 14 & 21

Location: The Horticultural Society of New York
148 West 37th Street, 13th Floor
(between 7th Ave and Broadway)

The November 9 class will occur at the High Line: 430 West 14th St at 10th Ave

Each session will be limited to 27 participants.

** Refund policy: Full refund minus a $50 processing fee will be issued upon written requests if received four (4) weeks prior to the start of the course. If a participant enrolls in a "P" In-Service course after the four week grace period and withdraws with fewer than four weeks to the start date, no refund will be provided. The ASPDP course fee of $100 is non-refundable. All refund requests must be made in writing by e-mailing ASPDP at aspdp@schools.nyc.gov and HSNY at pito@hsny.org.

About the Instructor: Pamela Ito, HSNY Director of Children's Education has been teaching in New York City, rural Kenya, the shores of Kauai, and the Oregon woodlands for over 22 years. Her prior experience includes the creation of training materials for the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Division in Nairobi, Kenya, as well as HSNY's Apple Seed curriculum. Pam has a B.S. in Biology with Certification in Secondary Science Education from Lewis & Clark College and a Masters of Environmental Studies from Bard College.

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For more information, here are a few of our favorite resources:

New York City Department of Environmental Protection
Visit the Environmental Education section for watershed bus tours for teachers, recommended books, Trout in the Classroom and hands-on activities. Also of interest is a Video on Demand called The Secrets of New York: The Sewers

Catskills Watershed Corporation
Become a Watershed advocate, learn about their grant program, sign up for their e-newsletter and print out a map of the NYC watershed.

Environmental Protection Agency
In the Environmental Kids club, visitors can participate in an animated activity called the Interactive Water Cycle. With activity books with regional specifics like Coastal North Carolina, Chesapeake Bay, Hawaii's Oceans and Coastal Louisiana, this site is an amazing resource for both teachers and students.

Water Education Foundation
Information on Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) and water kids. Over 30 videos appropriate for classroom viewing.

American Museum of Natural History
In their past exhibitions, check out h20=life and click on the "for educators" section for classroom activities for students of all ages!