Exploris 8th Grade Service-Learning at Swift Creek Bluffs Preserve

This fall and spring, Exploris 8^th graders are doing service-learning at the Triangle Land Conservancy’s Swift Creek Bluffs Preserve near Cary.  Sponsored by a generous grant from Partners for Environmental Justice (PEJ), Exploris students will have 10 service-learning trips to Swift Creek Bluffs.  Their time is spent removing the invasive vine Japanese honeysuckle from the floodplain.  Students are also field testing nature awareness and journaling activities designed by NC certified environmental educators Ross Andrews and Randy Senzig.  Exploris Students have removed over 20 garbage bags of honeysuckle sprigs so far this year.  The nature awareness activities have also left an impression on the students.  One eighth grader commented, “You know, I am not a nature person, but I am really beginning to enjoy being outside” while another asked if he could bring his family out to the site to show them the impressive large beech trees he has seen.

8^th grade service-learning this year also includes volunteering at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences and teaching science lessons at Hope Elementary Charter School.

Class of 2012 Bus Bench installed!
Formal dedication taking place in
January!

In Spring of 2011, Exploris seventh graders participated in an innovative design challenge with Erin Sterling-Lewis and Matthew Griffith of in situ studio to fulfill a need for more seating at city bus stops. The design challenge connected the class with Have A Seat, NC, a local organization whose mission is to install a bus bench at every stop in Raleigh. Currently only 25% of stops have benches.  Mentored by four local architects and designers, Exploris students received feedback on their designs and built prototypes for the competition. Designs had to be innovative, sustainable, safe, durable, and easy to use. The winning Exploris bench was built by the volunteer mentors and Have A Seat, NC.  The bench has been installed by the City of Raleigh at its permanent site on Wilmington Street near the Polk Street intersection.  A formal dedication and celebration will take place in January 2012. 

Photo Credit: in situ studio

Seventh Grade Presents at World Food Day Events

In October, the seventh grade class presented interactive projects about global food issues at World Food Day events to culminate their study of agriculture and geography.

On October 24th, seventh graders attended NC Food Day at the NC Legislature.  After presenting their projects to the 200 conference attendees, students listened to keynote speakers including Exploris teacher Sonja McKay. Additionally, students presented fresh fruit and vegetables for the Interfaith Food Shuttle food drive to Dr. Jeff Engel, NC’s Health Director.

On October 26th, the class presented at the NC State University Farmer’s Market. Exploris students enthusiastically engaged hundreds of NCSU students and professors with interactive educational projects in the NCSU Brickyard.  The highlight was when a professor canceled class and required that all of his students join him to learn from our Exploris seventh graders.  Their work also received praise and attention on social media sites and in the News and Observer. (http://www.midtownraleighnews.com/011/10/25/9758/school-notes.html). 

Photo Credit:  NC Food Day

Exploris and CAM Raleigh Develop Partnership

Exploris is building a great partnership with CAM Raleigh, a new neighbor and contemporary art museum.  In the fall, seventeen students participated in an elective that included museum visits, volunteering, and creating a permanent art installation for the school stairwell. The art installation earned rave reviews from fellow students and CAM employees. The collaborative design involving duct tape patterns in school colors was inspired by Rebecca Ward’s CAM exhibit “Thickly Sliced.”

Recently, eleven students were selected for the CAM Student Docent Program. Congratulations to these eleven students who will receive free training as guides for the upcoming CAM exhibit “Born Digital.” Students will volunteer at the exhibit opening on January 28^th and again on February 5^th from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Please attend if you can!

CAM Raleigh is located two blocks from the school at 409 West Martin Street (http://camraleigh.org/).

Exploris Seventh Graders Field Test Genetics
Lessons at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences

The seventh grade class recently field tested a series of interactive plant genetics lessons at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in partnership with NC State University.  With the help of museum educators Debra Bailey, Bob Aldernick, and Christy Flint (also an Exploris parent), the seventh graders field tested three hands on lessons about plant genetics and disease that both educated and entertained.  The activities were made possible with leadership and generous grant funding from Dr. Peter Balint-Kurti of NC State (http://www4.ncsu.edu/~pjbalint/peter.htm).  Thank you to Dr. Peter and our amazing museum educators for their effort and for giving us this incredible learning opportunity. 

Seventh Grade Teacher Published in International Math Journal

For  the past two semesters, seventh grade teacher Meredith Cheetham has been working with mathematics and education professors at East Carolina University on independent research projects. Their research has focused on common errors students make when manipulating algebraic equations and the development of mathematical fluency. In October, one of their papers was published in the International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, an online resource for educational researchers that aims to stimulate educational conversations through innovative research. To view the article, please visit http://www.iejme.com/032011/ab1.htm

Exploris Looks to Grow Partnership with NC Museum of Natural Sciences

Dr. Meg Lowman, director of the new Nature Research Center (NRC) at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, met with EMS staff on August 5th to discuss ways that staff and students can be involved with the new wing of the museum which opens in April 2012.  According to the museum website, the NRC will “bring research scientists and their work into the public eye, help demystify what can be an intimidating field of study, better prepare science educators and students, and inspire a new generation of young scientists.”  With a focus on engaging visitors in the “How We Know” of science and active scientific research, the facility is the first of its kind in the nation.  The opening of the NRC presents a unique opportunity for EMS and we are excited to develop ways for students to be active partners.

Learn more about the NRC:  http://naturalsciences.org/nature-research-center