Martha Friend has been a NJ public school teacher in Central Jersey for the last 30 years. She is a part of the Next Generation Science Standards Teacher Leader Program in conjunction with Princeton University, Rider University and Raritan Valley Community College which provides NGSS professional development to NJ educators. Martha is most proud of being a finalist for the Elementary Science PAEMST because she was nominated by parents of her students. She is deeply involved in all things sustainable in her school and is inspired daily by her students and colleagues. When Martha is not in the classroom, she is taking photos of natural phenomena that amaze her, planning lessons to use them with her students and grinning the entire time.
Students learn the importance of preparing for extreme heat with the help of an informational text and write a letter to share their new knowledge with a community member.
Inquire: Students connect patterns of extreme heat to their lives and their behaviors.
Investigate: Students learn about how to prepare for extreme heat while looking for word patterns in the American Red Cross book, Prepare with Pedro: Extreme Heat.
Inspire: Students write to a community member who works outside, explaining preparations for extreme heat using one-syllable words.
Students prepare for a “field trip” to the beach on a hot day through a read aloud, writing, and hands-on activities.
Inquire: Students think about what they should bring to the beach to stay safe in the sun.
Investigate: Students engage in a read aloud of If You Ever Want to Bring a Piano to the Beach, Don’t! by Elise Parsley, and choose what to bring to the beach to be safe from the sun and heat through writing and a hands-on activity.
Inspire: Students write and draw to explain necessary items or physical adaptations for a heat wave.
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