ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE GRADE 6 ENVIRONMENTAL SSL REQUIREMENT

MARCH 25, 2015Outdoor Environmental Education Programs

Science, Technology and Engineering Student Service Learning

WHY SSL IN GRADE 6? AND WHY THROUGH SCIENCE?

First, way back in 1963…..

“OUTDOOR ED” IS BORN!

EARTH DAY !APRIL 22, 1970

S1992SL1992

SSL GRAD REQUREMENT!

General Instructional Programs 13A.03.02.06D. Student Service. Students shall complete one of the following: .... (1) seventy-five hours of student service that includes preparation, action, and reflection components and that, at the discretion of the local school system, may begin during the middle grades; or (2) a locally-designed program in student service that has been approved by the State Superintendent of Schools.

Mandates a meaningful Bay or stream outdoor experience for every school student in the watershed before graduation from high school. Experiences should be investigative or project oriented.

2000Chesapeake Bay Agreement

2008!

MSDE Code of Maryland Regulations for Environmental

Education

COMAR 13A.04.17 2010Comprehensive PreK-12 multidisciplinary program of environmental education in every school system aligned with the Maryland Environmental Literacy Curriculum

COMAR 13A.03.02June 2011 High School Graduation RequirementComplete a locally designed high school program of environmental literacy

MSDE Code of Maryland Regulations for Environmental

Education

Mandates a meaningful Bay or stream outdoor experience for every school student in the watershed at least once at each grade band before graduation from high school. Experiences should be investigative or project oriented.

Chesapeake Bay 2014 Agreement

Outdoor Environmental

Education Programs

OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE GRADE 6 ENVIRONMENTAL SSL REQUIREMENT

MARCH 25, 2015

What is Student Service Learning• A teaching method that addresses real community need

through meaningful service and curriculum-based learning.

• High quality service learning promotes civic knowledge, civic engagement, academic success, character and social development in students.

• SSL neither substitutes for, nor replaces service to families, neighbors, and/or religious organization members.

Maryland Seven Best Practices of Service Learning

1. Meet a recognized need in the community

2. Achieve curricular objectives through service-learning

3. Reflect throughout the service-learning experience

4. Develop student responsibility

5. Establish community partnerships

6. Plan ahead for service-learning

7. Equip students with knowledge and skills needed for

service

MCPS SSL Program75 Hour SSL

Graduation

Requirement

Summer after Grade 5 to Grade 12

www.mcpsssl.org

• Specific MCPS Courses• School sponsored clubs, activities, departments• Approved Non-profit Organizations

SSL Coordinator in every secondary school

3 systemwide deadlines to document service

SSL hours reflected on report cards and transcripts

MCPS SSL Awards for Exceptional Service

3 Phases of SSL

SSL Implementation

Plan approved by MSDE

Secular Activities

Public Place

Supervised by an adult

representing the nonprofit

organizations or school

1 SSL hour for every hour of service outside

of the school day (maximum of 8 hours in

a 24 hour period)

My not receive financial compensation

May not involve door-to-door canvassing or

telephone solicitation

Individual SSL Request FormSSL Activity Verification Form

Three Phases of SSL:

1. Preparation

2. Action

3. Reflection

1. PreparationProvides students with the knowledge and

skills needed for service.

• Direct service provides face-to-face contact with the service recipients. These activities include tutoring young children; serving meals at homeless shelters; working with the elderly in nursing homes.

• Indirect Service meets a need with no direct contact. These activities include food & clothing collections and environmental projects.

• Advocacy shares viewpoints on issues of interest. These activities include letter writing, public comment, and participating in community activities.

2. Action

Encourages students to rethink:

• the need they have addressed

• the service they have performed

• the impact of their service on the community

• what they learned about themselves

3. Reflection

SSL CoordinatorThe primary point of contact for students, parents, & staff

regarding the MCPS SSL program, guidelines and requirements

School• Implements the MCPS SSL guidelines and

requirements

• Participates in meetings with building administrator to discuss the status of the SSL program

• Chairs the local school SSL advisory committee

• Coordinates MCPS SSL awards program

• Shares monthly SSL notes with school newsletter editor

• Communicates with staff who provide SSL opportunities in courses

• Designates a place where students can drop off forms according to timeline

• Maintains an OASIS SSL Log and SSL folder for every student

Parents - Students - Community• Shares preapproved organizations &

opportunities with students

• Provides all necessary MCPS SSL Forms

• Recommends students for award opportunities

• Works collaboratively with an SSL parent liaison at the school to promote the MCPS SSL program and opportunities within the community

• Reviews opportunities from community organizations for pre-approval

Automatic SSL Hours Process

Achieve Curricular Objectives through SSL Activities

Kimberly Bloch-RincanCoordinator, Student Service Learning

301-279-3454

Kimberly_A_Bloch-Rincan@mcpsmd.org

Integration Classroom Instruction

Student Service LearningOutdoor Ed

Curriculum

MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCESREQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

BIODIVERSITY RESTORATION PROJECT

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources requests proposals from an

experienced design team to promote public awareness of the ecological value of the Lathrop E. Smith Center ecosystem and

develop a solution for threats to its biodiversity and health.

• Drinking water• Timber• Wood fuel, natural gas and oils• Plants used to make clothes/other materials• Medicinal benefits• Pollination• Decomposition• Water purification• Cultural and educational values• Recreation and ecotourism

Ecological Services Benefits

Examples:• Habitat loss (hummingbirds, bees)• Overexploitation (Trout schools)• Spread of non-native species (Wine-berry, mile-a-minute, garlic mustard, stilt grass)

• Disease (limiting factors, honey bees)• Water Quality (macro invertebrate lab)• Nutrient recycling (protist lab, bacteria soil lab) • Soil erosion

Design a Solution

Develop a communication tool that educates the public on the negative conditions affecting the ecosystem and persuades the community

to participate in solving the problem.

Promote Public Awareness

Habitat model must be drawn to scale and show all relevant abiotic and biotic factors of the habitat design that are necessary for maintaining the ecological health of the ecosystem.

A review of the history of the habitat and an assessment summary of its current health.

A description of the abiotic and biotic factors of an ideal habitat, including an explanation of any unique needs.

Curriculum Connections

A food chain which includes an organism most directly connected with the design solution.

A food web which includes the 10 organisms most directly impacted by the design solution, identifies the predator and prey relationships of the ecosystem, and explains the positive impact to the food web.

Symbiotic relationships that exist within the ecosystem.

Energy pyramid

Curriculum Connections

Connections