March 2011: Marvelous Mangroves Teacher Training Workshop Martin Keeley and Fanny Howard, from the Mangrove Action Project (MAPs), co-presented their Marvelous Mangroves biology curriculum teacher training workshop. With 70+ teachers in attendance all 3 days, the workshop was a big event. The school district even declared a holiday so teachers could attend.
The hands on activities really captivated the participants by engaging everyone in experiencial learning. The activities presented go along with a full curriculum text book which all the teachers can now use in their classrooms. A developing segment on mangrove restoration will go along nicely with future field trips. Students will be able to volunteer and gain experience with Guanaja Mangrove Restoration. Scroll down the photos below to see the story...  The Marvelous Mangroves curriculum text was destributed to all the teachers and is an essential resource with everything needed to present the many activities and lesson plans.  Martin Keeley and Fanny Howard presenting the Marvelous Mangroves biology curriculum  The "Oil-Spill" activity demonstrates principles of pollution<>mangrove effects and the challenges of cleaning up.
 The "Web of Life >< Web of Death" activity falls apart around Martin.  Nothing like a race to get competetive spirits flowing and to demonstrate principals of the Water Cycle.  And we boarded skiffs and zoomed off to Mangrove Bight where we picked up more teachers and went on to the restoration field sight.
 The field trip grew to become quite a crowd.
 We stopped at Manawar Bight, where we learned some things about detritus and mangrove soil...  And started a mud fight!...  And explored a restoration area.  We saw how the mangrove detritus soil is the foundation for an extensive food chain with crabs providing critical ecological services.  We went back to the class room to develop poster presentations... 
 Complete with poems and songs! |
