Voyageurs Classroom Newsletter: Fall 2022

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Bring Voyageurs National Park to Your Classroom

Presented by Voyageurs Conservancy and the National Park Service, the Voyageurs Classroom offers engaging opportunities for your students to connect to Minnesota's national park through hands-on learning.

October is the launch for our Virtual Dark Sky Classroom! These three-part lessons give students a chance to deepen their understanding of dark skies and bring an Education Specialist directly to your classroom. In our Educator Newsletter, you'll also find a snapshot of our Voyageurs Classroom Calendar and highlights from our busy season of education programs. Thank you for being a part of the Voyageurs Classroom Initiative!

The Education Team at
Voyageurs Conservancy &
Voyageurs National Park

Virtual Dark Sky Classroom

10/10/2022 - 12/09/2022
Monday - Thursday
9:00 am - 4:00 pm

The Dark Sky Classroom brings the wonder of the night sky and Voyageurs National Park to your classroom! Our lesson plans support national and state standards, including Next Generation Science Standards. Scroll down for Dark Sky Classroom lesson offerings.

Thanks to generous support from our grant partners, all Voyageurs Virtual Classroom programs are free to schools in 2022-2023.

Northern Lights Lesson
Grade Level: Upper Elementary
Virtual Lesson w/ Live Classroom Visit

Our most recent program is about the phenomenon of the Northern Lights. The Northern Lights reveal themselves as a brilliant display of greens, reds, and whites that fill the night sky. Students will learn about how the Northern Lights are created and how you can increase your chances of witnessing this spectacular light show on your own.

Pre-activity: Prepares students for engaging in the lesson's main concepts (to be led independently by the teacher in the classroom) 60 - 90 minutes
Activity: Virtual Classroom visit with a Voyageurs Conservancy staff member 45 minutes
Post-activity: Students apply what they have learned (to be led independently by the teacher in the classroom) 60 - 90 minutes

Feel free to look at our Northern Lights Lesson Plan for more details.

Light Pollution Lesson
Grade Level: Upper Elementary
Virtual Lesson w/ Live Classroom Visit

This interactive engineering design lesson introduces the concept of light pollution, demonstrates its adverse effects, and allows students to investigate mitigation practices through hands-on activities. Students will also learn how places like Voyageurs National Park are preserving dark skies.

Pre-activity: Prepares students for engaging in the lesson's main concepts (to be led independently by the teacher in the classroom) 45 - 60 minutes
Activity: Virtual Classroom visit with a Voyageurs Conservancy staff member 45 minutes
Post-activity: Students apply what they have learned (to be led independently by the teacher in the classroom) 60 - 90 minutes

Feel free to look at our Light Pollution Lesson Plan for more details.

150+ Local Students Discover Rainy Lake's Ecology

This September, we welcomed 150+ students from local high schools to participate in a "Floating Classroom" in Voyageurs National Park! Students from Falls High School, Indus School, and Lake of the Woods School swapped their pencil for a paddle to learn team-building skills on Rainy Lake and National Park Service career opportunities.

Dark Sky Classroom Student Inventions

In the Dark Sky Classroom, students learn how to engineer solutions to light pollution and disappearing dark skies. Using their newfound knowledge, students construct DIY light fixtures that reduce harmful light pollution.

Questions?
Please let us know if you have any questions about the content or registration process. Email us at education@voyageurs.org

We Value Your Feedback!
If you have suggestions on our program offerings or know of teachers / schools who would be interested in joining the Voyageurs Classroom Initiative, please let us know! Email us at education@voyageurs.org

Funding for this project was provided in part by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).

DONATE

The Voyageurs Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving as the official partner of Voyageurs National Park. Our mission is to connect people to Voyageurs National Park, enhance the visitor experience, and protect the park for present and future generations. Visit Voyageurs.org to learn more, join us as a volunteer, or become a member with a donation.

1400 Van Buren Street NE, Suite #200-235

Minneapolis, MN 55413

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