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January 2014                                                  News for Teachers

 

Contests  
and  
Awards
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Joy in Nature Contest
Win two full days of activities and accomodation for your school or youth group in Jasper this spring.

Submit a picture of your group learning and exploring the outdoors and be entered to win. Easy!

 
Win a $25,000 Computer Lab for your School

The Staples Canada Recycle for Education Computer Lab Contest opened yesterday! Staples Canada, in collaboration with Earth Day Canada will be giving 10 schools a full computer lab.  

 


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UPCOMING EVENTS  

 

Click on titles for more info.

 

Jan 30 - Waste Education CoP Tour of City of Edmonton facilities

 

February 27 - EE Pub Night in Edmonton

 

March 5 - Edmonton Regional CoP meeting

 

March 14 - Water Education CoP, Calgary 

 

   

 

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BLOG 

What does a great environmental education for school kids look like?

Seven ideas from three guys who likely missed something important!

 



      
      





























Our 37 fabulous workshops will highlight the remarkable talents, teaching, programs, and accomplishments of environmental educators from across Alberta.

 

These are just a taste of what you'll find at this year's Earth Matters Conference:

  • Oil Sands Education Dialogue. Explore approaches to teaching and learning about this complex and important issue.
  • Earn-a-Bike: a vehicle for change in your community. Learn about this successful program and how you could use it in your community.
  • A number of outdoor workshops will add to your outdoor teaching toolkit, and give you a chance to appreciate the mountain scenery! 
Check out our fantastic conference program at a glance and view the full workshop descriptions and presenter biographies.
 
 

Weaving Inquiry Learning and the New Curriculum into your Environmental Education Program and Teaching

Thursday, April 24th, 11:00 - 5:00   

 

Alberta Education is creating new curriculum across all grades and all subjects that will be competency focused. We will explore the implications of the new curriculum for your work, the opportunities for inquiry learning and delve into environmental inquiry. Working with your colleagues (pre-service teachers, beginning teachers, experienced teachers or environmental education program providers), you will identify steps and support needed to prepare for the curriculum shift by weaving environmental inquiry into your teaching or programs.  

 

To attend the pre-conference, register for the Earth Matters conference and also select the pre-conference (additional cost $30.00, includes lunch).

 

Register here. 

 
 
If you are planning to attend the Earth Matters conference in April but have not yet booked a room at the Radisson, consider booking a room today!

The Radisson Hotel and Conference Centre is offering Earth Matters Conference registrants a special conference room rate of only $119.00/ night (single or double occupancy)! Book soon, there are a limited number of rooms left!

 

To book your room at the Radisson,  click here. 

 

Drayton Valley School Receives International Award  

 

Congratulations to Drayton Valley's Evergreen Elementary Grade 5 students, who were presented with the John Muir Discovery Award recognizing their hard work and dedication to protecting their local environment. The Grade 5 students became the first in Alberta to receive the international John Muir Award!

  

Click here for more information on this innovative community partnership.

 
 

Independent inquiry is becoming more common in the classroom. Find out how one Grade 4 teacher incorporated inquiry learning into his classroom in this blogpost.

 
   

The February 1 deadline for GEOEC Award nominations is quickly approaching! If you know of a deserving individual or group, please consider nominating them for an award.  

 

Full details on awards and nominations are available at: http://www.geoec.org/resources/awards-competitions.html

 
Winter Walk Day - February 5th  

Help your class celebrate winter by walking outside for at least 15 minutes! Join the thousands of Albertans participating in Winter Walk Day. Register your walk and join the movement.

Sign up now at: www.winterwalkday.com.
Quick Links

10 seconds of nature magic bound to inspire (and bring a smile) to kids of all ages.  

Watch the video. 

This 8 minute visualisation, comprised of imagery from the geostationary satellites, shows an entire year of weather across the globe during 2013!
For more information visit:  
www.abcee.org
Questions or comments? Please contact rosemarie@abcee.org.