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Innovative Learning through Nature, Inquiry,

and Mindfulness ~ hands-on learning with nature journals ~

June 25-27, 2019

The workshop is designed to introduce innovative learning

strategies that are easily transferable from the natural

environment to the classroom. Discover the connections among

nature, art, writing, and mindfulness, while at the same time

implement innovative learning strategies that encourage

inquiry, student engagement, and hands-on learning. Burnt

Island’s rich ecosystems, cultural heritage, and breathtaking

scenery will help you transition from the rigors of the school

year to summer vacation.

Each day we will explore a different ecosystem on the island and apply different

teaching pedagogies surrounding inquiry, visual literacy, and mindfulness. Teachers will

fill their teaching tool box with hands-on strategies for student generated inquiry

questions, concept mapping (mind maps), sketch notes, empathy mapping and more!

In addition, we will experience nature journaling

because it creatively integrates several disciplines and

standards into one exercise. NO ARTISTIC TALENT is

required, however the workshop is designed to sharpen

your observational and recording skills, thus deepening

your connection to the natural world. Mindfulness

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exercises that focus one’s awareness on the present moment while calmly

acknowledging one's feelings, thoughts, and physical being will also be modeled.

Join us for three days of unparalleled learning and discover ways to integrate nature,

inquiry, and mindfulness into your own curriculum. Share the joy of discovering and

creatively documenting nature with your students.

Objectives:

1. Introduce strategies that promote questioning,

inquiry, and reflection.

2. Make connections to the Common Core Standards

and Next Generation Science Standards.

3. Explore Maine’s rocky shore, sandy beach, meadow,

and forest in order to experience the flora and

fauna of Maine’s habitats.

4. Think out loud on paper with visual learning

strategies such as concept maps and sketch notes.

5. Create an awareness and understanding of the

natural world that will lead to its appreciation and preservation.

6. Experience the therapeutic benefits of spending quality time in the natural

environment.

7. Learn how to settle your overactive plugged-in classroom into a state of

mindfulness.

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Proposed Syllabus (dependent on weather, guests, and resources)

TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2019 9:00 AM Arrive at the Department of Marine Resources Laboratory in W. Boothbay Harbor, Maine.

● Load the boat, and travel out to Burnt Island. ● Settle into Education Center

Sense of Place

Burnt Island is a five-acre island in Boothbay Harbor rich in environmental, cultural, and geological resources. Participants will orient themselves to their surroundings by understanding their “sense of place.” This experience will increase awareness of Burnt Island’s natural wonders and historic past, as well as set the stage for an extraordinary week of learning. Activities

● Set the stage with a group icebreaker activity creates a collaborative communal focus.

● Develop a sense of place by mapping the island’s habitats. ● Use your senses and make observations of the island’s flora, fauna, terrain, and

features. ● Listen to the landscape, record its story, and trace her footsteps back in time. ● Learn the art of field sketching and nature journaling. ● Use the basic tools of a naturalist such as field guides, hand lenses, and peace

in the natural environment.

Sandy Beach Studies

Beaches are constantly reshaping and re-shifting sand, often revealing treasures that were once lost. Go beachcombing for various curiosities that have been washed in by the tides and preserve them as a tiny treasure. Learn how to survey life in, on, and under the sand. Activities

● Use an explorer’s necklace, a strategy that focuses on careful observation of the natural world.

● Compare the complexities of beach sand found on Burnt Island to sands from around the world.

● Learn to use a transect line to observe the diversity richness

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of any habitat. ● Apply creative writing prompts developed for the natural environment. ● Encapsulate your “tiny treasures” in resin. ● Make a momentarily mandala with found materials. ● Use “nature’s templates” to learn basic drawing techniques. ● Unwind by learning how to make beads out of recycled paper.

The evening will conclude at the dock where teachers will learn about bioluminescence by observing it in the water and viewing it as a glow in their hand.

WEDNESDAY June 26, 2019 Field and Maritime Forest

Studies

Field and forest ecosystems are biologically diverse, rich with teaching possibilities, and readily available to most teachers. Therefore, observations and activities in Burnt Island’s field and forested area can be easily duplicated in a school’s backyard. Activities

● Apply a collaborative inclusive approach to inquiry, where every student generates a question.

Eco-Printing

● Learn to identify flowers and plants through the process of eco printing-a process where fresh flowers and leaves are steamed onto natural fibers in order to release their pigments.

● Use a dichotomous key and field guides to identify plants and trees. ● Write poetry where every student’s voice is heard in a collaborative manner. ● Learn how to use sketchnoting in the classroom- it is not about drawing, but

about making meaning. The evening will conclude with a tour of Lighthouse Keeper’s house and

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island ghost stories told by Elaine Jones

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THURSDAY June 27, 2019 Rocky Shore

The rocky shore is an environment that is battered by

surf, wind, and weather and yet, many organisms call this

place home. Explore the zones to observe, draw, describe,

and identify flora and fauna that live in various regions of

the intertidal zone.

Activities

● Protect yourself from the sun’s rays

by making balms, creams, and salves

from Maine beeswax as well as

essential oils.

● Summarize a unit by visually thinking

with concept maps (also called mind

mapping).

● Explore with all of our senses and the

secrets of the intertidal zone.

● Marblize journal covers.

Primary Instructors Elaine Jones (Education Director, Department of Marine Resources) Carolyn Nichols (Science Teacher, Artist, and Beekeeper – Morse High School)

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Class Schedule This 3 day residential workshop will be based at the Burnt Island Light Station in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Instruction will begin at 8:00 AM with activities continuing into the evening hours. Participants will be expected to complete assignments; participate in all classroom and field activities; and engage in discussions and critiques. Books We have a medley of books available for review on the island. We recommend that you peruse through our collection and then purchase the ones that best suit your needs. Tuition $400 for 30 Contact Hours or 3 CEUs which includes tuition and materials. Free transportation to and from the island is included, along with free housing in the island’s Education Center or tent sites. For additional information or photographs of the site, visit www.maine.gov/dmr/burntisland/courses/index.htm For More Information: E-mail Elaine Jones (elaine.jones@maine.gov) or call (207) 592-1839