Two years ago, Tucson High teacher Michelle Morden, received a US Forest Service Arizona Community Challenge Grant through Partners for Equitable Science Instruction (PESI) and the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (AZDFFM). She recently reached out to PESI with this wonderful update.

The Tucson High Trees Project continues to grow! 

Michelle and her students planted 10 trees last April, and 18 more trees on November 4th, 2021. Michelle reports that Round 3 is planned for the spring of 2022. Their Round 3 plan includes planting 12 more trees.

Through this amazing US Forest Service grant opportunity and the help of PESI’s Community Partners, Trees for Tucson/Tucson Clean and Beautiful and the Watershed Management Group, Michelle and her students will have planted 40 trees on the Tucson High School campus!

Congratulations to Michelle Morden and her students! You are creating a living legacy for the Tucson High community to enjoy for years to come.

PESI Meeting 10/28/2021 Minutes

Connections & Adaptations  

An interdisciplinary approach to classroom & field trip experiences

Presented by 

An in-person workshop for grades 3-6 teachers

Brought to you with financial support from the Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund

Connections & Adaptations  

An interdisciplinary approach to classroom & field trip experiences

                                            WHEN:  Tuesday, December 7^th  8am – 3pm

                                            WHERE: Camp Cooper, 5403 W.  Trails End Road,  

                                                                            Tucson, AZ  85745

                                             COST:   Workshop is free

The wonders of our Sonoran Desert provide the perfect context for teaching many key ecological understandings.

In this workshop, we will focus on two of these concepts:

interrelationships between living and nonliving things

plant and animal adaptations for survival

These understandings are a critical part of upper elementary science.

We will discuss how these topics can be effectively taught in the classroom and how field trip experiences can be used to increase understanding and retention. We will also explore how these concepts can be taught using your school/district curriculum and external resources, as well as how an interdisciplinary approach can enhance the learning experience.

Funding for substitute teachers available as needed.

Please contact us if your school needs funding for your sub.

Registration

              ONLINE:  https://bit.ly/teacher-workshop-2021

              EMAIL:  coe-coopercenter@arizona.edu

              BY PHONE:   520-626-1825

Deadline to register: November 30^th

The Instructors

Caryl Crowell is a retired classroom teacher with over 40 years of experience as an educator. Caryl also serves as a Docent at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and is a founding member of Partners for Equitable Science Instruction.

Esther Witt is a retired teacher. She worked for TUSD as a classroom educator for 27 years. She is also an active PESI member. Throughout her career as an educator, she has always been interested in learning and teaching science.