Science Exploration

Breathe Day Treatment Jefferson Village School

Breathe Day Treatment in Portland Public Schools used their funds to help them explore their bog as they purchased boot covers, nets, jars, binoculars, owl pellets, microscopes and microscope slides as well as many wildlife, field guides, nature signs, trees and insect books. These materials allowed for more time outside as students not only went to the bog, but since they had boot covers, were able to go into the bog and really explore. They found toad eggs, and brought them into the classroom and have watched them turn into tadpoles and released back into their natural habitat.

They had a visitor from Spark’s Ark come and teach about some animals. One of them was an owl. After, students dissected owl pellets, removed the bones, cleaned them and then identified the bones with a chart that was also purchased with grant money. Teacher Linda Rao saw the impact of the grant funded supplies, “We upgraded our beginner microscopes and purchased advanced microscopes. The difference between the two was quite startling to our kids. We were able to get a much closer view of prepared slides and also make our own. The slides we made were from samples of the bog, tadpoles that died, and insects that we found while exploring outside. Thank you so much for giving our students these great opportunities to get out and explore our own backyard.”

At Jefferson Village School,the grant purchased two sets of 24-compass deluxe instructor’s kits. Kits also included lesson plans, worksheets, and an instructor compass with a lot of additional instructions and directions. The skills that go along with using and navigating with a compass are life long skills that will always be pertinent and important. The math teacher used them to do some orienteering right at the school. She set up a scavenger hunt with coordinates and had hidden eggs with prizes in them, but they had to match the coordinates on the paper you were trying to find. The students loved this activity and it was perfect for the end of the year where students are starting to shut down from classroom type academics.

Students shared their experiences learning how to use a compass: “At first they were hard, but with practice they got much easier.” “They were so fun to learn with.”

“When you learn how to use them it’s pretty exciting.”

“Once I got one in my hand I didn’t even know what it was, but thence learned how to use it and I got better and better.”

“It was fun to do something different in math class since usually we are just sitting in class.”

“The fun thing about it was getting stuff and prizes and it motivated us to learn and want to try harder.”

Messalonskee Middle School Mountain Valley Middle School

At Messalonskee Middle School, the grant was used to purchase ice fishing gear to support our science classes; Heritage tip-up traps, 2 pack baskets, 4 ice skimmers, 2 jig poles, 1 bait bucket, lures, line, hooks, sinkers, swivels and bait for two ice fishing days. We also purchased lumber, metal, tape, and other materials for students to make their own “perch traps”.Additionally, we purchased a GoPro to be able to see fish under the ice (unsuccessful this go around but we are hopeful for next winter!).

A student reported, “The second trip we went to Messalonskee Lake and a biologist joined us. He predrilled holes for us. We also used the auger to drill more holes and set all our traps. We only caught one fish that day, a yellow perch. It was really windy and only about 20 degrees F that day, but it was worth it. One of the best parts was when we were out drilling the holes out on the ice and watching the ice come out of the hole. It is also fun watching the flags go up when a fish bites it. I hope we can do this again next year.”

Lacey Todd at Mountain Valley Middle School spent her grant on tools that provide students with the opportunity to learn more about local plant, animal, and fungal species and their impact on the ecosystem. Students used these tools to conduct multiple outdoor investigations, including citizen science projects and student-driven investigations. These supplies also enabled students to set up indoor microcosms to investigate vernal pools. MVMS fifth-grade students recently learned about the importance of vernal pools to the local ecosystem. They made observations of a local vernal pool and created a list of questions around which they could design and conduct an investigation.

As part of their investigations, students created microcosms and developed their own data collection protocols. Over the course of two weeks, they made observations, collected data, and collaborated with scientists from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and Vanderbilt University to help answer their questions. During the third week, students analyzed and shared their data and published their findings.

Teacher Lacey Todd shares, “This experience has given students an understanding of our local ecosystem and the roles that organisms that are exclusive to vernal pools contribute to the ecosystem. It has also provided the opportunity for students to engage in scientific practices by planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, constructing explanations, and discussing their findings.”

Mt. Blue High School

At Mt Blue High School the funds were used to purchase 5 sets of Dutch ovens, lid lifters, cover cooling rack, grates, tarps, rope, axes, bow saws.

All of these supplies were used in a Survival Chemistry Class, which saw students learning chemistry outdoors and through cooking- in all kinds of weather! One student commented on how much this class has impacted her, “It is hard to sit through a class and memorize facts. Our class was the first period of the day and normally I struggled with the motivation to get out of bed to go to school, but survival chemistry made me excited to go to school! After the first class, I turned to my friend Katie and said “This class gives me a reason to wake up and be excited for my day!” I know a lot of students struggle with remembering the material we learn in a normal class environment, but hands-on learning has made it easier for us to learn and remember. I always thought that heat was released when the wood burned, but in class through making fire, and learning about how it works, I learned that wood breaks down because of the heat, then those parts reassemble to make carbon dioxide, and the formation of that bond releases the heat, which makes fire. I also learned that fire is a release of energy.”

Pownal Elementary School Washington Academy

At Pownal Elementary School grant funds were used to purchase snowshoes, a trail cam for observing and documenting wildlife in our area, a flower press to enhance the study of wildflowers, and literature. The literature includes information on wildflowers, birds, land mammals, tracks, mushrooms, and trees. Pownal Elementary School has a long history of incorporating the outdoors into learning with the support of parents, teachers and staff.

Snowshoes gave students the opportunity to learn outside when the snow is deep. A favorite activity is looking for scat and tracks.This year the fifth graders developed a relationship with Royal River Conservation Trust and they are creating an outdoor classroom and trail guide with seasonal activities and things to observe. A trail cam, flower press and resource materials support this work. All classes spend a great deal of time outside observing the changing seasons and following birds and wildlife that live around our school.

Parents have shared that one of the things that they find special about our school is the outdoor learning. One parent said, “My daughter is an expert on animal tracks and scat, but don’t call it poop!” He also shared that she loved sharing her knowledge with the family and they looked for both when outside. A Mom shared that her children, “Absolutely love forest Tuesday. They love being outdoors and are learning so much.”

At Washington Academy, the grant funds were utilized to purchase watercolor pencils and plant preservation materials. These resources will be an integral part of a herbarium specimen collection that will become a valuable part of the Coastal Ecology program at Washington Academy.

Providing students access to valuable resources like herbarium collections allows students to study the material even when the field resources are out of season. When the season is right, students head out into the field to sketch and record field observations and collect water quality samples and plant specimens with the goal of assessing water quality at several local beaches and in the Machias River.

Teacher Caroly Coryea reports, “There was a noticeable improvement in the quality of the sketches by students with the new tools and the students became more and more comfortable collecting water quality samples and analyzing field data with the marine science kit and microbe hunter kit.This provision of watercolor pencils was such an integral part of this grant and to see students sketching collaboratively was very inspiring.”

Noble Middle School Samuel L. Wagner Middle School

MSAD 60 and Noble Middle School values outdoor education and alternative learning strategies so the purchase of snowshoes with this grant was an exciting addition.

For the 2021-2022 school year, PE teacher Sam Lenson decided to use them with the enrichment time as a sort of pilot this year and will plan on including the snowshoe unit in the 2022-23 school year.

Overall 8 students were part of the pilot group. The students who participated chose to do so based on their interest in being outside and enjoying physical activity. One student said, “It was really fun! I loved going out in the woodsy area and seeing the birds.”

Moving forward, snowshoeing lessons will be part of the Lifetime Fitness Unit in the physical education curriculum. They will learn how to dress for the climate so they can appreciate the outdoors during winter months without being cold.

Sam took every chance to open up the doors for opportunities to get outside. He offered snowshoeing and other outdoor activities during the enrichment block throughout the year. In addition, he partnered with the health teacher, Sarah Loranger to combine classes on Wednesdays. Together they planned “Wellness Wednesdays” often including outdoor walking, scavenger hunts and team building activities. Students were thrilled for the opportunity to get outside. They enjoyed participating in something a little different from the normal day.

Wagner Middle School used the funds to purchase snowshoes for the physical education classes. It has been a desire to incorporate outdoors activities for students in the winter months, and this was a great way to start that plan.

They purchased 25 sets of snowshoes, enough for each PE class to have a set for every student. Since students range from grades 5-8, they purchased a variety of sizes, so regardless of their grade, they could have a pair that fit them appropriately. Many students come from a low socioeconomic background and do not have the opportunity to participate in such life-long activities as snowshoeing, nor the resources to purchase their own.

Principal Nick Raymond explained, “This grant allowed all of our students the ability to use them at least once, with a high level of interest in getting outdoors and doing something they have never done before. Our students and families are very appreciative of the generous support to help them learn such a fun way to be outdoors during the winter months and enjoy themselves in ways that they have not experienced in the past.”