Olympic Educational Service District 114 has recently launched the Growing Elementary Science schoolyard garden initiative. This year long project began with thirty-five elementary teachers learning the science behind plant growth and how to anchor science learning experiences in an outdoor garden space. On October 4th, teachers from districts across the region began to germinate ideas for how to identify engaging phenomena within their garden space and teach important science core ideas from the Washington State Science Learning Standards. This was the first in a series of ongoing professional learning opportunities for this cohort of teachers in the Olympic Region. The next learning opportunity will take place at a working schoolyard garden in the North Mason School District at Belfair Elementary.
Localizing Guides for Amplify Science Units
Over the course of the 2024-25 school year, more than 60 teachers from across Western Washington connected Amplify Science units to their students’ funds of knowledge, experiences, and communities. They were introduced to a unit-specific “localizing guide” that...
