3rd Grade Teachers Receive Training on GLOBE Soils Module and NASA eClips Resources

Third grade teachers in Hampton City Schools participated in an Elementary GLOBE Soils Module Training with NASA educators Tina Harte Ballinger and Marilé Colón Robles, English language arts (ELA) curriculum writer Billie Holbrooks, and HCS STEM teacher specialist Betsy McAllister on March 29 at the National Institute of Aerospace.  

During the training, teachers made observations and compared silt, sand, and clay components of soil using kits purchased by the HCS science department. Teachers examined the components from local soil samples and practiced separating the samples into their component parts using a soil shake bottle. Participants also learned additional literacy strategies and received writing prompts for use in ELA or with journaling observations, results, and learning in science notebooks. Teachers were also introduced to supporting NASA eClips resources such as Our World: What is Soil? 

Teachers have already introduced students to soil in small group lessons in ELA using the GLOBE storybook “The Scoop on Soils.” Teachers will be conducting two soil investigations with students during the months of April and May: “Getting to Know Soil” and “We All Need Soil!”

Hampton City Schools third grade teachers have been using Elementary GLOBE (Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment) and NASA eClips resources to bring hands-on inquiry opportunities to students through the integration of ELA and science. Third grade teachers implemented the Elementary GLOBE Earth System Module during the first nine weeks. GLOBE is an international resource supported by the U.S. Department of State, the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).