Have You Set Your New Year's Resolutions Yet? Sustainability Matters Can Help Get You Started!
Have you made your 2025 sustainability resolutions? Mine include limiting my use of single use plastics, continuing to purchase upcycled or thrifted clothing, eating a plant-based diet (and nurturing a garden to grow my favorite veggies and fruits and to benefit the pollinators), advocating for the planet and the creatures that live on it, and collaborating with Sustainability Matters to volunteer and to bring their ideas and insights into my daily life and work.
On this episode, I talk with Andrea McGimsey, Executive Director of Sustainability Matters, about the innovative ways her organization is transforming environmental education and conservation. Discover how they are making nature accessible and engaging for all, while empowering the next generation of scientists and environmental stewards.
In this episode, Andrea shares her journey from her Virginia roots to leading Sustainability Matters, an organization dedicated to environmental stewardship and education. We discuss the transformative Making Trash Bloom project, which turns landfills into wildlife habitats, and community events like Native Meadow seeding parties that connect people of all ages with nature. The episode highlights Sustainability Matters' educational programs, including EcologicGALS, which inspires young girls to pursue science careers through mentorship. We also discuss strategies for collaborative problem-solving, inviting YOU to engage with Sustainability Matters as you make your New Year's resolutions.
Plus you will want to follow Sustainability Matters on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn for short doses of practical advice for upping your sustainability game and making and keeping effective resolutions! And check out Dr. Diane's and Andrea's recommended STEAM picture books from this episode: Michael Recycle, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, In Our Garden, and The Last Straw: Kids Versus Plastics.
What are your New Year's sustainability resolutions? Share them in the comments.
The STEAMy 6:
Meet Some of 2024's Most Fascinating STEAMfluencers
How can we connect STEAM to nature and language learning and gains for all of our students? Each of the thought leaders highlighted here offers concrete ideas for building STEAM and language learning far beyond the classroom walls. From Antarctica to the Blue Ridge Mountains, from cicadas to krill, there's something for everyone. Give them a listen and share your key takeaways. What can. you use in your own classroom or environment? What would you like to learn more about?
Plus, in part one of this series, we looked at five more of Dr. Diane's favorite thought influencers from 2024 -- be sure to check it out if you missed the post.
Meet 6 more of Dr. Diane's STEAMfluencers of 2024:
BE LOVE: Teaching, Inspiring, and Writing To Ensure Success for All Children with the STEAMsational Dr. Kimberly P. Johnson: How can educators embrace their crucial role in shaping lives and communities? Meet motivational speaker, author, and educational leader Dr. Kimberly P. Johnson, whose life work illuminates the transformative power of teaching. Her TedX Talk and her book Data Doesn't Always Determine Success have been important influences in my own work in classrooms across the country. And, I can tell you from personal experience, she is one of the most engaging keynote speakers out there. She's got the power to motivate and lift an audience and inspire them to find the joy in teaching because she practices what she preaches -- and we get a good dose of that on Episode 70. As a resource for families and educators alike, Dr. Kimberly shares a Positive Parenting Guide with 126 practical tips for engaging children and offering invitations to explore and self-regulate. The guide was created by her students at Clemson University.
Transformative Nature Play with Jordan "Jo" Joly: Ever wondered how nature can transform your life? Join us as we explore the magical intersection of play and the natural world with Jo Joly, the dynamic program manager at Families in Nature. Discover how rediscovering joy in the wilderness can lead to personal growth and a deeper connection to our environment. In this episode, we explore innovative nature-based learning programs that make outdoor experiences accessible to children and families, emphasizing play-based learning through immersive trips and creative activities. Jo also introduces us to forest bathing, a practice that calms the nervous system and enhances sensory awareness.
Links:
Families in Nature - Explore resources and programs that connect families to nature.
Ecologist School -- Explore educational programs, curriculum, and badges for families and school settings
Books - Discover captivating picture books that enhance nature literacy.
Scientist at Sea, Meet Dr. Kim Galvez: Ever dream of running away to sea to become a scientist? In this episode, you can! We chat with Dr. Kimberly Galvez, chief scientist aboard the Viking Octantis, about the groundbreaking work her team is doing in Antarctica and the Great Lakes. Discover how advanced technologies like multi-beam sonar systems, drones, and remotely operated vehicles are expanding our understanding of the ocean's depths. Dr. Kim delves into groundbreaking research on microplastics and plankton DNA, emphasizing the critical importance of data collection and storytelling in science. This episode highlights the pivotal role of women in STEM and the transformative power of environmental education, hopefully inspiring future generations to pursue careers in science.
Beth Skelton, a Visionary in Integrating Language and STEAM for Multilingual Learners: Unlock the transformative power of multilingual education and STEM integration as we explore how language can revolutionize learning and create more inclusive and equitable educational experiences for all students. In this episode, we are graced with the wisdom of global consultant and author Beth Skelton. Brought together by Steve Spangler and Science in the Rockies, we quickly discovered so many ways that our work in language, literacy, and STEM overlaps. Join us as we delve into innovative approaches to multilingual education. Discover how Beth's journey from teaching German to advising educators worldwide has shaped her vibrant perspective on multilingualism as an invaluable asset. We explore insights from her co-authored book, Long-Term Success for Experienced Multilinguals, which challenges traditional views and highlights the potential of integrating language with STEM education. This episode underscores the importance of professional development and offers practical strategies for educators to effectively incorporate language learning into subjects like math, science, and social studies, benefiting both multilingual learners and native speakers alike.
Links:
Beth Skelton's Co-Authored Books: Putting it Together and Long-Term Success for Experienced Multilinguals
Beth Skelton's Website and Resources
Schools in Parks: Making STEAM education natural and fun: What happens when the classroom canopy reaches the sky, and every leaf turns the page to a new lesson and experience? In this episode, we meet some of the creative minds behind North Carolina's successful Schools in Parks program. Join Randy Bechtel and Mary Meyer of North Carolina State Parks, and Sarah Yelton and Taylor Prichard from UNC Institute for the Environment, as we uncover the magic that happens when third through fifth graders swap their desks for dirt and textbooks for the textures of the great outdoors. Our guests bring to life strategies for building STEAM experiences — think water quality testing or wildlife tracking — that complement the curriculum while also fostering connections between children and the world around them. Afraid of bringing the kids outside? Not sure where to begin? This episode is a treasure trove of strategies for transforming STEAM education into unforgettable outdoor experiences. Starting small can ignite a wildfire of curiosity — even a ten-minute jaunt outside the classroom can open new possibilities. Randy, Mary, Sarah, and Taylor share some of their favorite outdoor lessons and experiences, as well as strategies for engagement. The Schools in Parks Collaborative page on the UNC Institute for the Environment website includes some great lessons and activities that can be taught in parks or on school grounds, as well as contact information for Taylor Prichard and Sarah Yelton.
STEAM BONUS is....Cicada Mania: In 2024, we took you an an adventure with the cicada convergence, drawing on the expertise of scientists, authors, museum educators, and even adventursome home chefs. Check out all three episodes of our cicada adventures, plus send me an email or comment below to receive a cicada-themed lesson you can use in your classroom.
The Cicadas Are Coming: Meet Dr. Gene Kritsky: The Cicadas Are Coming!!! It's a once-in-our-lifetime opportunity to observe and take part in citizen science with your class. Not since Thomas Jefferson was President have broods XIX and XIII emerged together! It won't happen again until 2245. And we have you covered with everything you need to share this magic with your students and friends. Join us as we embark on an enthralling journey through the remarkable world of cicadas with the Indiana Jones of the insect world, Dr. Gene Kritsky. Discover why these creatures captivate our imaginations and create memories that span generations. Dr. Kritsky unveils the mysteries behind the evolution and distribution of periodical cicadas, the entomology of ancient Egypt, and even Darwin's fascination with insects. Video is shared below.
The Cicadas Are Coming (Part 2): Science, history, and gastronomy are on the menu this week! Building on our cicada episode with the buzz-worthy Dr. Gene Kritsky, co-hosts Dr. Diane and Lynn Wareh Coles unlock the secrets of the cicada convergence with a swarm of guests. First up, Sue Fliess, author of the beautiful picture book Cicada Symphony. Sue's passion for cicadas, ignited during quiet pandemic strolls, led to a treasure trove of surprising facts. Discover how these insects protect their hearing while creating their trademark music and how you can engage with these fascinating creatures. Next up, history buff Jennifer Coleman provides insights into the world during the last major cicada convergence in 1803 and helps us connect the dots between their periodic emergence and pivotal moments in history. Our conversation takes an unexpected turn to the kitchen, where cicadas transform from backyard curiosities to culinary delicacies with Christy Mihaly, co-author of Diet for a Changing Climate: Food for Thought and home chef Barry Schnoor Here's the video link, as well as links you can use this spring:
Cicada Road Trip: Have you ever wondered what it feels like to witness a natural spectacle that only happens once every 17 years? From midnight adventures in Chicago's Centennial Park to loud walks through Ryerson Forest Preserve, join Lynn and Elena Coles and me as we dig deeper into the heart of the Cicada Convergence. Get to know the Brood XIII magicicadas and join us as we try to find all three species by sight and by call! For this last chapter of the cicada arc, we journey to the area around Chicago to record the amazing cicada party for ourselves -- and YOU! Here's the video!
Up Periscope Book Give Away Contest Winner
Congratulations to Allison L, in Virginia, who won the autographed copy of Jennifer Swanson's latest book, Up Periscope! How Engineer Raye Montague Revolutionized Shipbuilding. Here's a snippet from her winning entry: "I have two little girls: Susie, who is 5 and in kindergarten and Jane, who is 3 (almost 4!) and in preschool. At a recent Girl Scout meeting we went around and asked the girls what they want to be when they grow up and Susie said "a scientist!" I am a pharmacist now but I used to teach middle school science (majored in earth science). It brings me a lot of joy to see my girls feel excited and confident while learning about science, which is something I didn't develop until college. I love finding ways to foster their love of science and learning and hope to keep showing them that girls can do amazing things for the world by engaging in science!"
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