Watching this icicle melt, grow and change in the West Elk Mountains of Colorado was a relaxing experience during winter break. From the below zero nights, windy, sunny days and heat from the home; this icicle grew and glimmered during the beautiful sunsets.  Now one week later back in the rolling hills of north Georgia, change is also occurring with temperatures rising and days lengthening. Local news stations are already posting pollen counts and schools are conducting tornado drills. Just sixteen hundred miles apart, these two landscapes differ in so many ways. How can you share the landscapes of diversity with learners? Connect with another group of learners online via Skype or other Internet connection servicesuch as e-pals. Take virtual field trips and connect with experts or participate in a global collaborative project. Whether it be the climate of a region or other characteristics to explore, sharing the diversity of different landscapes sparks interest and engagement in learners.

A Few for Friday – Exploring Diversity of Landscapes

Discover Your Parks from the National Parks Service, offers many EFTs (Electronic Field Trips). Each trip offers a televised broadcast plus a website that contains downloadable lesson plans and interactive activities for learners. Check out Climate Challenge or register for the new EFT – Sea Change – Gulf Islands National Seashore which begins March 1.

Bucket Buddies is a global project managed by Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education (CIESE). Students around the globe will collect samples from local ponds to answer the question: Are the organisms found in pond water the same all over the world? Now is the time to register for this collaboration that runs from March 14 to June 6. The Global Sun Temperature Project opens registration on March 7.

ePals National Geographic Collaborative Projects are standards based and guided by essential questions. Each project provides an overview, project elements which includes rubrics and an email exchange calendar. Visit Weather – Forecasting the Future – How Weather Works and don’t forget to visit the tabs at the top, Connect with Classrooms and Student Forums to collaborate and share the great diversity of landscapes.

Related Free Apps

Fotopedia National Parks – Learn more about this great app from iear – I Education Apps Review

MyRadar – Easy free weather radar app to stay tuned to local weather. WeatherBug and WeatherStation, the official NOAA’s information(iPad & US only)  are two more useful weather apps.

Photo Coutesy of irewired