Additional
Information About Our Programming
----------------------------------------------------------------------
YOUR
OPTIONS
Cornell
Cooperative Extension has resources and project kits available
for teachers/schools to purchase and use on their own. Most
of the lessons are adaptable for any grade and provide opportunity
for integrated curriculum planning. Prices vary.
Cornell Cooperative Extension Community Educators are available
to present a classroom enrichment lesson of 45 minutes, during
school or after school hours. The maximum students per session
is 26. The fee schedule is $5.00 per student.
There
is a limit of four classes per day. The educator brings all
necessary materials.
Teacher in-service workshops can be scheduled for selected curriculum
at your location or at the CCE office in Valhalla for a minimum
of ten participants.
At Cornell Cooperative Extension we believe in the experiential
learning model. This means having students do hands-on activities,
relect on the meaning and apply what they learned. The entire
Youth Development Curriculum Collection can be viewed at www.csrees.usda.gov.
THE
4-H RESOURCE CENTER at CCE of WESTCHESTER, VALHALLA, NY
The Resource
Center is a lending library that offers a variety of curriculum-based
resource materials including comprehensive lesson plans, and
enrichment activities to satisfy New York State Learning Standards.
These include hands-on activities, educational videos, and kits
that correspond to various educational themes. Our goal is to
provide specific program information to educators, 4-H clubs,
and community members, both for formal and informal educational
settings.
The resource materials have been correlated with the New York
State Learning Standards so educators can use our materials
in the easiest manner possible.
Because we are an extension of Cornell University, our staff
can access the collections of Mann Library. We can provide access
to the periodicals on-line and request books from the shelves.
The books usually arrive here for your use within a week.
Come visit the resource center and see the materials for yourself!
IN SCHOOL
OFFERINGS
The
Life Cycle Studies:
The Humble
Potato
From the Andes to You/Life Cycle Study
The
Living Environment Standard 6-Plants and animals depend on each
other and their physicalenvironment. The people who first grew
the potato in the Andes held ceremonies around the planting.
The Irish Potato Famine is a tragic example of an altered food
web, when the environment favored the growth of the blight.
"The Humble Potato"can be grown indoors.Using a CCE
publication by Marcia Eames-Sheavly of Cornell, or the expanded
binder, students explore a food crop from the perspectives of
science and socioculture. Planting a potato begins with one
potato and ends with many more! Originating in the Andean Highlands,
the potato was carried to Spain, then to the rest of Europe
and China Explore world geography, classify plant families (plant
a tomato indoors too), test for nutrients in a variety of foods
and learn about the blight that caused the Irish Potato Famine.
(Construct the food web for that community.) Social studies
(#2-4), nutrition and science process skills (M,S,T #1-7) working
together!
The Three
Sisters Life Cycle Study
Living
Environment-standard #1. Living things are both similar to and
different from each other and non-living things. Corn is a monocot,
beans and squash are dicots. Their flowers, seeds and fruits
are all different. Use seed catalogs and develop some classification
keys.
Standard
#6 Plants and animals depend on each other and their physical
environment. The Three Sisters Garden of the Iroquois is a wonderful
example of this. Share this story and learn the oral tradition
of the people. Students can construct a food web to describe
the flow of energy and matter, measure and record the growth
rates and patterns, see evidence that green plants make food
and learn the significance of this, and discuss how we have
changed the environment of our area since the days of the Iroquois
ancestors in NY State (Std.7).
To compliment Native American studies plant the Three Sisters
Garden outdoors or indoors under lights. Plant life cycles can
be observed as the corn, beans and squash reach maturity in
about 90 days. Students will explore the foods, customs and
oral traditions surrounding the planting of the crops. Available
as a short CCE publication by Marcia Eames-Sheavly of Cornell
University or as an expanded lesson plan binder developed by
our staff with many activities related to plant studies. STDs:
Health 1 and 2,MST 1,3-6,Arts 1 & 2, English 1-4, Language
2, Social Studies 1 & 3.
Click here for a sample
activity. Click here for the
Project Web for the Three Sisters Garden. This 24 page booklet
written by Marcia Eames-Sheavly is available for $5.50.
Curriculum
Kits and Workshops
CCE educators
will come in for set up with the planter pots, growing mix,
seeds and the lesson binder. An introductory 45 minute lesson
of your choice of either "Requirements for Germination"
or "The Three Sisters Mosaic" will be conducted by
the Extension educator. The corn and pumpkin will be planted
following the lesson (allow 30 minutes). If your classroom needs
a grow light frame, the set up is included in the purchase.
The Three
Sisters Classroom Kit Includes 2 planters, growing mix, seeds,
lessons binder and classroom visit........................................
$200.00
Grow light set up includes one PVC frame, 2(48") fluorescent
lights with
fixture and timer......................$ 80.00
The Humble
Potato Classroom Kit Includes 2 planters, growing mix ,
potatoes, lesson binder and classroom visit......................................
. $200.00
Grow light set up as above.. $ 80.00
Hydroponics:
This
is a ten-session teacher led curriculum built around a hydroponic
growing unit. Lesson plans include : What is Hydroponics?, What
is a Seed and What Does it Grow Into?, Plant Stresses, Why Hydroponics?,
World Food Supply, and Nutritional Value of Vegetables among
others.
Standards
ELA 1-4, MST 1-7, Halth 1&3, Social Studies 3 & 4.
| The
Hydroponics Classroom kit includes the loan and set up of
one hydroponics unit and grow light system, rock wool cubes,
nutrient solution, maintenance instructions, curriculum
guide, one student workbook, and one curriculum guide |
$130.00 |
| with
one introductory lesson for students |
$5.00/student |
| Additional
Curriculum Guide to keep |
$80.00 |
| Additional
student workbooks |
$5.50
each |
Bird
Sleuth :
Bird
Sleuth, a New Inquiry Curriculum for Middle School Students
http://www.birdsleuth.net
The Bird Sleuth curriculum is designed to give students experience
with the entire scientific process: observing birds carefully,
collecting data, asking their own questions, drawing conclusions
through research and observation, and publishing their results.
In this way students become practicing scientists. Each spring
the Lab publishes the national edition of a newsletter called
BirdSleuth reports, which features student research and creative
work--that's real science by real kids!
The curriculum consists of multiple modules, each made up of
six or more investigations. These modules can be completed sequentially
or they can be used as stand-alone units.
As students are engaged in inquiry they gain a deeper understanding
about central biological concepts such as the function of specific
behaviors, ecology, adaptations, life cycles and biodiversity
as illustrated by birds.
RESOURCES
FOR EDUCATORS
The Appealing
Apple
Learn
what makes an apple an apple, how the trees grow, flower and
produce fruit. Activities include apple puppets, historical
games and easy recipes. 28 page booklet written by Marcia Eames
Sheavly, $8.00
In addition
there is a video "Apples", available in the office
which visits an orchard over the seasons from winter pruning
to fall harvest. $35.00 or may be borrowed.
Beneath
our Feet- Lessons on Soil
This teaching kit is comprised of six separate lessons on soils.
The titles are: A Closer Look at Soils, Soil Texture, Soil Profile
and pH, Water Holding Capacity, and Effect of Crop Covers and
Mulch. The Dust Bowl and Starvation in the Sahel are covered.
The lessons integrate language arts (reading comprehension and
vocabulary), social studies and science. This kit ties in with
Agriculture in the Classroom grades 3-6, but can be used on
its own. 49pp.with 2 transparencies. $5.00
Crazy
About Corn- Seed, Stalks & Science: Agricultural Awareness
Corn is the gift of gold. This curriculum, designed for youth
aged 5 -8, increases knowledge of corn. Lessons include: Corn
Plant Part Identification, Corn-Husk Design, Observing the Force
of Gravity on a Root System, and Corn Domestication Mapping.
Kit, which includes workbook, video, and CD.
Flight
and Fabric connection
This
workbook is useful for youth aged 5 to 19 and introduces students
to the principles of aerodynamics (paper airplanes and windsocks)
with contributions from fiber science and technology to aviation
(hot air balloons and space suits). Composite materials and
polymer science are discussed. Includes patterns and instructions
for making boomerangs, parachutes and hot air balloons. Curriculum
$31.95, Classroom enrichment session available. Video also available
for $31.95.
The Great
American Peanut
Children learn about peanuts, the farmers who have grown them,
and some agriculture history. Grow peanuts in the classroom.
20pp.$6.50
Kitchen
Science for Kids: 
Students explore the sensory, physical and chemical properties
of food as well as nutrients that thebody needs to function.
Each of the 5 experiments is designed for child centered learning
along with additional information for teachers. Color chromatography,
food odors, fat content and acid/base properties are explored.
Grades K-6. 39 pp. $4.99
Journey
North
This internet /World Wide Web program follows the migration
of the Monarch butterfly, bald eagles, and humpback whales.
You will need to subscribe (no cost) to enter information. Great
for development of map skills. Visit them at http://www.learner.org/jnorth.
Teacher guide available through the CCE office. This is an inquiry
based science program that uses seasonal migrations, signs of
spring and changing daylight to make students more aware of
the global link between sunlight and life cycles. Integrates
science, math and geography. Teacher manual (includes lessons
and poster) is $39.00.
Learning
About Ecology, Animals and Plants
These teacher guides are designed specifically for each grade
K - 3 and divided into four units of "hands-on" lessons.
For example: Grade 1 lesson "Living things go through a
series of stages during their lives". Grade 3 lesson "
Plant growth and animal behavior change in response to the amount
of sun's energy reaching the earth". Worksheets are reproducible.
Call for sample lessons. Great for after school series. Each
binder $40.95.
Learning
about Butterflies
A leader guide with information about the life cycle, behavior
and conservation. $7.50
Monarch
Watch
This
inquiry based curriculum is grade level specific for grades
K-2,3-6, and 7-8. It 
includes
directions to -plant a butterfly garden (or grow milkweed indoors).
Students learn the life cycle of the butterfly, how it protects
itself, which plants it needs, use graphs to track how fast
the leaves are eaten, and tag the butterflies before release.
Maps can be used to track their butterflies after workers in
Mexico record their arrival. Larvae must be ordered in spring
for fall delivery. Rearing kit of 16 larvae $32.00. Membership
kit with tags is $25.00. Curriculum guide $20.00. Laminated
posters $15.00 each. This project is online at www.MonarchWatch.org.
You can join on your own or order through our office.
Pond
and Stream Safari
An activity based set of materials for exploring ponds and streams.
Seven activities for middle school students contain detailed
drawings and information on insects found in aquatic environments.
$15.75
Rice
- Grain of the Ancients
Through an imaginary pen pal who lives in Northern China children
learn about rice. There are lessons on growing rice, nutrition,
socioculture and making rice paper. 40pp. $8.25
Watershed
Science for Educators
Written for high school and middle school teachers and students.
Easily incorporates the study of watersheds into science classes
with activities such as calculating discharge, sampling aquatic
invertebrates, calculating biotic index, and using a dissolved
oxygen nomograph. Reproducible data sheets. 213 pp. $39.00
Waterwise-Lessons
in Water Resources
Use our water related resources to give students a comprehensive
understanding of water characteristics. "Water Wise:Lessons
in Water Resources" for 5th and 6th grade is a teacher's
guide with background for instructors, student information sheets
and worksheets. Activities include classifying, creating models,
generalizing, inferring, observing, measuring, predicting, recording
and analyzing data. Key concepts include material and energy
transfer and interactions with a cause and effect on ecosystems.
$8.95. Meets stds: Health #2 ; M,S,T # 1,3,4,6,7; English #1,3.
AFTER
SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
IN TOUCH SCIENCE
Color
Or Not
This workshop explores how color is a part of food and fabric
by making natural dyes with berries and red cabbage. Then the
students do some experimenting by dying cotton and nylon fabric.
Experiments continue by testing acidity and chemical reactions
creating a color change in the fabric.
Polymers
Students are introduced to the nature of chemical bonds and
how they determine the properties of substances. First a polymer
is made from glue, water and borax. The students record observations.
Next a polymer is made from starch, and again observations are
recorded. The study concludes with experiments with a water
absorbing polymer and brainstorming ways it would be useful.
SOILS
What are
the important properties of soil?
Workshop 1: Just Passing Through
In this workshop students will be introduced to groundwater,
soil as a filter and how human activities can affect water quality.
Students will manipulate the Enviroscape model to study point
source and non-point source pollution. If time permits a simple
method of water treatment will be explored.
Workshop
2: Soil Color, Texture and Structure
This workshop explores the soil texture and properties (including
pH) of different soil types and soil particles. Students "dissect"
a soil sample, discuss soil profiles, ecosystems and learn how
soil is created by trying some basic hands-on explorations.
M,S,T Std #1, 4-7
Enviroscape
Kit: Water Pollution Begins With You
Discover how water pollution occurs! The Enviroscape Unit, available
for classroom visits through the
4-H Resource Center, is designed to communicate the basic facts
about groundwater and the connection between land activities
and groundwater. The interactive Enviroscape demonstrations
show how water pollution occurs, and how you can prevent water
pollution, focusing on both point source pollution and non-source
point pollution. Students can see the effects of fertilizer,
pesticide and erosion in runoff into bodies of water and the
aquifer. Then they can attempt to minimize the impacts by restructuring
surface use and activities and retest the system they have set
up. Call the Extension office at 285-4632 to reserve your dates
to use this kit!
Seeds for Thought
To begin this workshop students are given a key and then sort
a variety of seeds and non-seeds. They will create a list of
observations such as measurement, weight, and color as they
sort. Then pre-soaked beans will be opened to observe, seed
parts noted and sprouting studied either by a) students observing,
writing and drawing what they learn from observing pre-sprouted
seeds at 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 days of growth or b) sprouting seeds
themselves by setting up a germination experiment beginning
with a prediction and then by daily writing and drawing their
observations. If you wish additional experiments can be conducted
concurrently to study the effect of temperature on germination,
or tropism and the effect of gravity on a sprouting seed. See
workshop fee schedule for cost.
What
is Composting?
Composting can reduce solid waste in our landfills by turning
organic wastes into valuable resources which can enhance soil
health. In this session, students will learn what composting
is, and how and why food decomposes. The program will also introduce
the concept of microorganisms. (1 hour)
$100; maximum 26 students.
The 4-H
Youth Development staff and volunteers at Cornell Cooperative
Extension invite you to visit our Resource Center in Valhalla
and to utilize our plethora of curriculum materials.
Please PRINT,
FILL OUT, AND MAIL the form below to receive e-mail news
and updates for educators from Cornell Cooperative Extension.
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Return to: Cornell Cooperative Extension of
Westchester County
Educators Resource Center
26 Legion Drive
Valhalla, NY 10595
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Address:
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Phone #: _____________________________________________________________________________
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Address: ______________________________________________________________________
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E-mail:
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