 Falmouth Outdoor Learning Project Recognizes East Falmouth Elementary School teacher Nicole Mele Outdoor Lesson for June. Ms. Mele is a fourth grade teacher with the Falmouth Public Schools. Ms. Mele reflected upon this engaging and fun lesson called "Math Review Scavenger Hunt" and is willing to share the lesson with any other teachers who are interested!  This lesson reviewed many of the math concepts that the students learned this year. Students were given a recording booklet and asked to find examples in the courtyard. Some of my favorite discoveries were when finding a fraction, a student found that 2/36th of the grates in the drain were clogged with wood chips. Another student standing near commented that it could be reduced to 1/18th. When looking for angles, the students found the obtuse angle roof above the library and acute angles on leaves. On a rotation, a couple of students at a time were chosen to water the garden. It was exciting to not only see the student recalling all of the math concepts that we learned this year, but also staying engaged on a hot June day. Congratulations to Ms. Mele! The Outdoor Learning Project, a committee of the Rotary Club of Falmouth, Cape Cod highlights one outdoor learning lesson each month submitted by our local educators that work with Falmouth students. The committee also awards a $100 as a thank you for featuring their outdoor lesson. Learn more about the Falmouth Outdoor Learning Project at: https://www.falmouthoutdoorlearningproject.com/ Interested educators can submit their lessons here: https://forms.gle/shV6rPwqh8z4AzFY8 If you would like to contribute towards the Lesson Recognition Fund, please visit The Rotary Club of Falmouth, Cape Cod, a 501c3 organization. Select Youth on the Paypal link and outdoor classroom project-outdoor lesson. You can also send a Venmo or mail in a check and be sure to include the same note. Our address is: PO Box 293 Falmouth, MA 02541
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 Falmouth Outdoor Learning Project Recognizes Morse Pond School teacher, Rachel Zaino’s Outdoor Lesson for February. Ms. Zaino is a sixth grade teacher at Morse Pond School. “STEM: Trash Fisher” was science lesson that asked students to design and build an an original Trash Fisher tool that will allow people to fish trash out of local waterways from the shoreline. The students absolutely loved this project and the fact that they got to do something hands on to make a difference in the community. “I enjoyed seeing the students testing their prototype in the pond to see if they were successful!” Congratulations to Ms. Zaino! The Outdoor Learning Project, a committee of the Rotary Club of Falmouth, Cape Cod highlights one outdoor learning lesson each month submitted by our local educators that work with Falmouth students. The committee also awards a $100 as a thank you for featuring their outdoor lesson. Learn more about the Falmouth Outdoor Learning Project at: https://www.falmouthoutdoorlearningproject.com/ Interested educators can submit their lessons here: https://forms.gle/shV6rPwqh8z4AzFY8 If you would like to contribute towards the Lesson Recognition Fund, please visit The Rotary Club of Falmouth, Cape Cod, a 501c3 organization. Select Youth on the Paypal link and outdoor classroom project-outdoor lesson. You can also send a Venmo or mail in a check and be sure to include the same note. Our address is: PO Box 293 Falmouth, MA 02541  Falmouth Outdoor Learning Project Recognizes Lawrence School teacher, Bob Porto’s Outdoor Lesson for December. Mr. Porto is an eighth-grade engineering teacher with over fourteen years of experience “Railcar Rally” was an interdisciplinary lesson taking place over the course of a few weeks culminating in a rally outside the front of the school. A new project that, Mr. Porto began this year in which students worked in teams to build old fashioned pump trolley type vehicles in their Engineering classes. They spent 3 weeks building both the carts and the accessories and explored a bit of history of Falmouth's railroad industry. This was supplemented by a walk to the bus station to see the relics from the old tracks. It also followed a lesson in Social Studies which was designed to supplement the project by exploring the local uses of the railroad from its construction to decline. “My students loved this lesson because they were able to personally "cause" and observe weathering and erosion, while in an outdoor learning space where they know real weathering and erosion take place.”  When asked what Mr. Porto, enjoyed most about this outdoor lesson, he told us that, “I enjoyed troubleshooting whether the project could be done, and then walking through it with the students. It's always great to get them outside, where they can be seen by a larger audience. Plus, the cold air is a great motivator to move faster! I think kids need a place to showcase their work and see the purpose behind a project. In this case, the purpose was to build the most efficient cart possible to win the fastest time.” The day of the race, teams planned and paired off to complete 4 laps of the bus runway in front of the school. Mr. Porto had to shorten the length due to the winds that day, but overall students worked in pairs to race to the end and back, before trading out with their next teammates, relay style. In the end, the team with the fastest time has their name engraved on a trophy made by one of our students. “I think students appreciated the attention of being in front of the school, recognizing that the project was valued by all their team teachers who supported and participated in the event. It showed that we all recognize that valuable learning occurs outside the confines of our individual classrooms and disciplines. Watching me go through the steps of the engineering process to learn along with them was also of value to them because it made them feel like we were all on a team together. We all troubleshot together as we figured out better ways to improve the carts every day. I was very upfront about the fact that I was learning right along with them. I think that holds a lot of value for the kids to see that we're still learning as well. They still have room to improve in future years, but I was satisfied with the way they worked.” This lesson is available to be shared with interested staff. “I hope to make this an annual project- one of many I do as a culmination of the Engineering trimester. Competition is a great motivator!”
Congratulations to Mr. Porto! The Outdoor Learning Project, a committee of the Rotary Club of Falmouth, Cape Cod highlights one outdoor learning lesson each month submitted by our local educators that work with Falmouth students. The committee also awards a $100 as a thank you for featuring their outdoor lesson. Learn more about the Falmouth Outdoor Learning Project at: https://www.falmouthoutdoorlearningproject.com/ Interested educators can submit their lessons here: https://forms.gle/shV6rPwqh8z4AzFY8 If you would like to contribute towards the Lesson Recognition Fund, please visit The Rotary Club of Falmouth, Cape Cod, a 501c3 organization. Select Youth on the Paypal link and outdoor classroom project-outdoor lesson. You can also send a Venmo or mail in a check and be sure to include the same note. Our address is: PO Box 293 Falmouth, MA 02541  Falmouth Outdoor Learning Project Recognizes Mullen-Hall School Teacher, Maureen Tichenor’s Outdoor Lesson for October. This month our outdoor lesson was share by Ms. Tichenor, a veteran Kindergarten teacher and BCBA at with over 22 years of experience “Ocean’s Day” was an interdisciplinary kindergarten lesson which covered standards in Science, Art, Cooperative Learning, and Listening. Every kindergartener across the district was able to participate by going to Mullen Hall last spring. The focus was on teaching children about the different layers of the ocean and the adaptations marine animals have made to survive. Ms. Tichenor also has ensured that all the kindergarten teams across the district received the shared materials so that this collaboration can continue.  When asked what Ms. Tichenor enjoyed most about this outdoor lesson, she told us that, “The children’s excitement elicited by their hands on exploration of marine life and the seed to learn more that was planted.” Based on the feedback received from children, teachers and families that attend as well as the joy on the student faces it is evident that lesson was loved by all. Congratulations to Ms. Tichenor! The Outdoor Learning Project, a committee of the Rotary Club of Falmouth, Cape Cod highlights one outdoor learning lesson each month submitted by our local educators that work with Falmouth students. The committee also awards a $100 as a thank you for featuring their outdoor lesson. Learn more about the Falmouth Outdoor Learning Project at: https://www.falmouthoutdoorlearningproject.com/ Falmouth Public Schools - Massachusetts Interested educators can submit their lessons here: https://forms.gle/shV6rPwqh8z4AzFY8 If you would like to contribute towards the Teacher Recognition Fund, please visit The Rotary Club of Falmouth, Cape Cod, a 501c3 organization. Select Youth on the Paypal link and outdoor classroom project. You can also send a Venmo or mail in a check and be sure to include the same note. Our address is: PO Box 293 Falmouth, MA 02541
 Falmouth Outdoor Learning Project Recognizes East Falmouth Elementary Teacher, Kate Skehill’s Outdoor Lesson for September The Outdoor Learning Project, a committee of the Rotary Club of Falmouth, Cape Cod highlights one teacher or staff each month featuring their outdoor learning lesson. Staff members are encouraged to self-submit their lessons for recognition and receive a $100 cash card as a thank you for featuring their outdoor lesson. For the month of September, we are highlighting Kate Skehill, a veteran 3rd grade teacher with 19 years of experience at East Falmouth Elementary School. The interdisciplinary lesson: “The Power of Flowers: Trait Variation, Inheritance, and Artificial Selection” covered standards in Math, Science, Social Studies, Cooperative Learning, Listening, Speaking and Productive Debate. The lesson took place in the gorgeous courtyard at the school. They explored answering the question: “Why are some apples red and some green?” through their senses and observation. The students also explored how are the apples color, texture, and taste similar and different through taste testing and observations under the microscopes. Students collected data and graphed student preferences among Granny Smith, Honey Crisp, Golden Delicious, and Red Delicious. The students had lots of fun learning, exploring, tasting, and debating! When asked what Ms. Skehill enjoyed most about this outdoor lesson, she told us that, “I love watching the excitement of students when learning to use scientific tools! They are so engaged! Working on social skills like forming opinions, justifying their thinking, LISTENING to opinions that differ from their own, and taking turns all while learning the subject matter and having FUN just can't be beat!” The students also loved the lesson! “They know they are real scientists and feel it when using the microscopes. Also, third graders love anything to do with food. They had such great questions about how apples have changed in the last hundred years!” Congratulations to Ms. Skehill! Interested educators can submit their lessons here: https://forms.gle/shV6rPwqh8z4AzFY8 If you would like to contribute towards the Teacher Recognition Fund, please visit The Rotary Club of Falmouth, Cape Cod, a 501c3 organization. Select Youth on the Paypal link and outdoor classroom project. You can also send a Venmo or mail in a check and be sure to include the same note. Our address is: PO Box 293 Falmouth, MA 02541
Falmouth Teachers & Staff:
Please submit your name and lesson for consideration of recognition by the Outdoor Learning Project, a committee of the Rotary Club of Falmouth, Cape Cod. Our committee is looking to highlight to the community our teachers and staff for their outdoor learning lessons. We hope to highlight 1 lesson per month beginning in July. The staff member for the lesson selected will receive a $100 cash card as part of the recognition and the lesson will be highlighted to the community thru various means. https://forms.gle/shV6rPwqh8z4AzFY8 |
Photo Credit: Steve Heaslip photos
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