Biomimicry… Innovative Imitation 27 Jul 202127 Jul 2021 What does birdwatching have to do with trains? What does “shark week” have to do with staph infection? What do termites have to do with ventilation? These are just a…
Being an Example A Letter To My Students 6 Mar 20206 Mar 2020 Dear Fifth Grade Students, I am SO sorry I have not been in our classroom for an entire month! When the doctor first described my surgery, I was told I…
Being an Example… Don’t “Have” a Great Day (Part Two) 21 Jul 201921 Jul 2019 You can have a Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, Plan D, and even a Plan E for your day, and still end up with a big, colossal “F.” You…
Collaboration… Place-Based Education: Field Trips with a Long-Lasting Focus 5 Sep 2018 Did you know that Christa McAuliffe was also known as “the field trip teacher?” This was because McAuliffe understood the value of place-based education. But, what exactly is place-based education?…
Conservation Why You Should Take Care of the Ocean…Now. 14 Aug 2018 “Why should I care about the ocean?” This is the first question I asked middle school students from the Kearsarge Regional School District to think about this summer (and hopefully…
Elementary Science… Our Solar System Unit: Learning At Its Best 28 Feb 2018 Our third grade solar system unit is more than just another teacher-made, elementary school science unit – it is learning at its best. Why? Because it is a whole…
Collaboration… Coast Encounters of the Best Kind 2 Aug 20172 Aug 2017 Who doesn’t enjoy a good tide pooling excursion? There are so many fascinating and unusual creatures to be found existing solely at the rocky shore. Kids and adults alike find…
Biomimicry… Biomimicry: Innovative Imitation 25 Jul 2017 The Kearsarge Cougars STEM Camp is an incredible two-week experience for middle schoolers of the Kearsarge Regional School District. Participants have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of exemplary educational…
Curriculum… Nearing the Finish Line 26 May 201726 May 2017 It is hard to believe that a year ago I was preparing for the end of the school year and getting ready to embark on my sabbatical journey. Now there…
Collaboration… Tuning the Unit – The Rocky Shore Ecosystem Curriculum is Almost Ready for Instruction! 24 Mar 201724 Mar 2017 When members of an orchestra tune their instruments before a big concert I imagine there is a high level of anticipatory excitement. That is exactly how I felt yesterday at…
Thom R. Smith 