2023 - 2024 School Partnerships Guide
Muddy Sneakers is proud to offer 5th grade public schools across North Carolina a variety of partnership opportunities for the 2023 - 2024 school year.
Muddy Sneakers is proud to offer 5th grade public schools across North Carolina a variety of partnership opportunities for the 2023 - 2024 school year.
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<strong>2023</strong> - <strong>2024</strong> SCHOOL<br />
PARTNERSHIPS GUIDE<br />
Available to North Carolina's 5th Grade Public <strong>School</strong>s<br />
Muddy Sneakers is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit outdoor science education program serving North Carolina’s 5th-grade public schools.<br />
828-862-5560 info@muddysneakers.org muddysneakers.org P.O. Box 146, Brevard, NC 28712
CONTENTS<br />
Teacher Findings 2<br />
Learning Expedition Topics 3<br />
Muddy Sneakers<br />
Classroom Curriculum<br />
7<br />
Muddy Sneakers LIVE!<br />
Online<br />
9<br />
Additional Support 10<br />
Let's Get Started! 11<br />
“Hands down the best program with the best instructors!<br />
I can tell a tremendous difference in the students’ depth<br />
of knowledge. Their understanding of science is more well<br />
rounded and the joy that sticks after our expeditions is<br />
something that's going to stay with them forever.”<br />
Page 1<br />
- Alex Merced-Hall, Atkinson Elementary <strong>School</strong>
2021 - 2022 TEACHER FINDINGS<br />
Independent NC State University research<br />
shows Muddy Sneakers students demonstrate:<br />
INCREASE<br />
Science<br />
Knowledge<br />
100% TEACHER<br />
SATISFACTION!<br />
Teachers reported that Muddy Sneakers:<br />
50% Critical<br />
especially supports students who can<br />
INCREASE Thinking Skills<br />
struggle in the classroom<br />
helps students connect with nature<br />
has positively impacted:<br />
relationships among students<br />
75% Learning About<br />
relationships between teachers and<br />
INCREASE Nature<br />
students<br />
their own teaching<br />
their confidence in teaching science<br />
(indoors and out!)<br />
100%<br />
does an excellent job prioritizing safety,<br />
learning, and fun!<br />
400%<br />
INCREASE<br />
Science<br />
Confidence<br />
"As a teacher, I only have so many hours a day. So when I have a<br />
resource that I can call, and they save me 2-3 hours of time finding the<br />
resources, that allows me to be prepared, and gives me back time for<br />
myself and my family. You get more than what your money pays for,<br />
Muddy Sneakers saved me from buying resources online out of my<br />
own pocket. Muddy Sneakers’ partnership is amazing!."<br />
- Mrs. Jackson, Jacksonville Commons Elementary <strong>School</strong><br />
* Currently, data represents the full partnership level. Additional partnership levels are available. See page 12 for details.
LEARNING EXPEDITION TOPICS<br />
DAY 1: SCHOOL IN THE<br />
WOODS<br />
Muddy Sneakers expeditions begin with a day<br />
introducing students to the outdoors as a<br />
learning environment.<br />
Students learn basic safety procedures, Leave No<br />
Trace principles, navigation, and personal wellness in<br />
the outdoors while becoming accustomed to their<br />
new role as field scientists!<br />
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS<br />
Students explore aquatic ecosystems and<br />
investigate what make these environments<br />
unique and interconneted.<br />
During this aquatic science lab, students will practice<br />
their observation skills, learn to identify<br />
macroinvertebrates, and test water quality. Be<br />
prepared to discover salamanders, tadpoles and more!<br />
“Muddy Sneakers is how you really meet your students. You learn so<br />
much more about them on an expedition than in the classroom.”<br />
- Rebekah Morse, Polk Central Elementary <strong>School</strong><br />
Page 3<br />
KEY: TOPIC MEETS/SUPPORTS THE FOLLOWING NC EDUCATION STANDARDS<br />
Science<br />
Math<br />
Mental & Emotional Health<br />
Collaboration & Communication<br />
ELA<br />
Art<br />
Healthful Living/Physical Education<br />
Cognitive; Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving
LEARNING EXPEDITION TOPICS<br />
ECOSYSTEM INTERACTIONS<br />
Students set out in search of connections<br />
between organisms and their biotic and abiotic<br />
factors, predators, prey, friends, and foes!<br />
Through hands-on activities, students will develop<br />
an understanding of the interconnectedness in the<br />
world by considering the roles of producers,<br />
consumers, and decomposers as well as the different<br />
forms of relationships between these organisms.<br />
LIVING SYSTEMS<br />
Students study how a body system is built -<br />
from cell to organism - and learn how multiple<br />
systems work together within the human body.<br />
Equipped with their imagination and scientific<br />
knowledge, students will find connections between<br />
their own bodies and the natural world.<br />
FORCES & MOTION<br />
Students experience forces and motion through<br />
activities that promote creativity, problemsolving,<br />
and the use of simple machines.<br />
Boat building, hanging a bear bag and other activities<br />
explore the concepts of push, pull, friction, gravity,<br />
acceleration, deceleration, momentum, inertia,<br />
balanced forces, unbalanced forces, and velocity.<br />
KEY: TOPIC MEETS/SUPPORTS THE FOLLOWING NC EDUCATION STANDARDS<br />
Page 4<br />
Science<br />
Math<br />
Mental & Emotional Health<br />
Collaboration & Communication<br />
ELA<br />
Art<br />
Healthful Living/Physical Education<br />
Cognitive; Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving
LEARNING EXPEDITION TOPICS<br />
INHERITANCE &<br />
ADAPTATION<br />
Students practice close observation to<br />
compare inherited and acquired traits they find<br />
in the nature around them.<br />
Through student-led learning and play-based<br />
activities, students explore which traits are inherited,<br />
which are acquired, and what are learned behaviors.<br />
ENERGY & HEAT TRANSFER<br />
Students explore the concept of energy and<br />
heat transfer in the environment through real<br />
life application, exploration, and experiments.<br />
Challenged to “Keep the Heat,” students find and<br />
observe real wildlife nests, then craft their own bird<br />
nest to insulate their “eggs” against heat loss,<br />
examining which styles and materials work best<br />
Students leave with an appreciation for the variety<br />
of ways that organisms harness or generate heat.<br />
"Having this opportunity to learn through doing rather than<br />
just listening has helped our students become more<br />
inquisitive and invested in their own learning."<br />
- Heidi Lee, Science Specialist at Rural Hall Elementary <strong>School</strong><br />
Page 5<br />
KEY: TOPIC MEETS/SUPPORTS THE FOLLOWING NC EDUCATION STANDARDS<br />
Science<br />
Math<br />
Mental & Emotional Health<br />
Collaboration & Communication<br />
ELA<br />
Art<br />
Healthful Living/Physical Education<br />
Cognitive; Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving
LEARNING EXPEDITION TOPICS<br />
MATTER<br />
Using nature as a laboratory, students<br />
experiment with chemical and physical change,<br />
and analyze quantitative and qualitative data.<br />
Students learn through play as they embody<br />
molecules in the water cycle! They evaporate to the<br />
cloud, condense with friends, and precipitate back<br />
into the game.<br />
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS<br />
Students practice categorizing organisms as<br />
producers, consumers, or decomposers as they<br />
search the woods for the coolest creatures.<br />
After hypothesizing about which types of organisms<br />
they will discover, students examine a log habitat<br />
and catalog their finds.<br />
WEATHER<br />
Students will use a variety of scientific tools to<br />
measure weather conditions and discover how<br />
weather impacts nature.<br />
Using weather logs, weather instruments, and their<br />
own compasses, students will collect data on weather<br />
conditions and make predictions.<br />
KEY: TOPIC MEETS/SUPPORTS THE FOLLOWING NC EDUCATION STANDARDS<br />
Page 6<br />
Science<br />
Math<br />
Mental & Emotional Health<br />
Collaboration & Communication<br />
ELA<br />
Art<br />
Healthful Living/Physical Education<br />
Cognitive; Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving
MUDDY SNEAKERS CLASSROOM CURRICULUM<br />
Muddy Sneakers partnerships offer access to<br />
our acclaimed Classroom Curriculum, a<br />
resource for teacher-facilitated lessons in<br />
the classroom and on the schoolyard.<br />
WHAT'S INCLUDED?<br />
90+ ready to use lesson plans<br />
8 topic modules cover all NC Essential<br />
Standards for 5th Grade Science<br />
Cross-curricular activities address ELA, Math,<br />
A Muddy Sneakers instructor demonstrates an experiment in a video<br />
about inherited and acquired traits.<br />
Social Studies, and Visual Arts standards through science concepts<br />
Professional videos of Muddy Sneakers instructors demonstrating experiments<br />
Accessible design ensures lessons work with adaptive technology<br />
Navigation aids make it easy to choose lessons for:<br />
Indoor or outdoor teaching<br />
Specific learning styles<br />
Cross-curricular standards<br />
Asynchronous instruction with or without internet<br />
Substitute teacher lesson plans<br />
Pacing and scaffolding<br />
Homework activities<br />
Each video features Muddy<br />
Sneakers' professional team of<br />
field instructors explaining<br />
demonstrations and<br />
experiments in a friendly and<br />
entertaining manner<br />
specifically designed for fifth<br />
grade students to increase<br />
interest, engagement and<br />
retention of information.<br />
Page 7
MUDDY SNEAKERS CLASSROOM CURRICULUM<br />
EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW!<br />
Students compare data after a lesson simulating the<br />
impact of nature events on farm yields.<br />
“There are two components to<br />
the Muddy Sneakers Classroom<br />
Curriculum that I find extremely<br />
valuable for my students:<br />
Activities that encourage daily<br />
outdoor experiences and the<br />
cross-curricular teaching<br />
opportunities. After utilizing the<br />
lesson plans in my science class<br />
on a daily basis, I can't imagine<br />
bringing the science standards<br />
to my students any other way.”<br />
- Jennifer Warren,<br />
Hillsborough Elementary <strong>School</strong><br />
Scan to access a preview of<br />
the Muddy Sneakers<br />
Classroom Curriculum<br />
Page 8
MUDDY SNEAKERS LIVE! ONLINE<br />
Muddy Sneakers LIVE! Online is an<br />
interactive, STEM-learning adventure<br />
that brings science into your classroom<br />
and transports your students to outdoor<br />
spaces near and far! A Muddy Sneakers<br />
Instructor will guide your group in real<br />
time through innovative online lessons<br />
and hands-on classroom activities, all<br />
while meeting the NC Essential<br />
Standards for Science.<br />
WHAT'S INCLUDED?<br />
17 different topic modules to choose from<br />
that meet all NC Essential Science<br />
Standards.<br />
<strong>Guide</strong>d, one-hour live program by a Muddy<br />
Sneakers Instructor<br />
Tangible connections to distant locations<br />
generally unavailable in-person<br />
Hybrid instruction and alternative learning<br />
opportunities for students<br />
Customized schedule and technology<br />
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT<br />
choices<br />
Printable student worksheets<br />
Oceans Away<br />
Topic: Ecosystems<br />
Science Standards: 5.L.2.1, 5.L.2.2, 5.L.2.3<br />
Students embark on a choose-your-own-adventure journey through several<br />
aquatic ecosystems. We’ll visit wild spaces through live video feeds and examine<br />
interactions of organisms from those environments - it’s not uncommon to<br />
glimpse a manatee grazing!
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT<br />
ON-CALL TEACHER COACHING<br />
Each school is paired with a Muddy Sneakers Science Education Specialist who is<br />
available for consultation and coaching. This person will be available to serve as a<br />
resource for teachers in support of science instruction and school-based STEM<br />
events.<br />
EOG TEST PREP<br />
A Muddy Sneakers Instructor guides your students through a dynamic review of the<br />
NC Essential Standards for Science. Students connect their outdoor learning<br />
experiences with EOG-style question language to leave them confident and<br />
prepared for testing.<br />
ACCESS TO NC STATE DATA<br />
Understanding the impact and outcomes of Muddy Sneakers programs is vital to<br />
actualizing the greatest impact of our partnerships. <strong>School</strong> partners are granted<br />
access to our NC State-supported evaluations, including data and reports that may<br />
assist with school and district internal objectives and reporting requirements.<br />
PRIORITY SCHEDULING<br />
Remote and Full <strong>Partnerships</strong> will gain access to our priority scheduling option which<br />
provides early access to book the dates that work best for you.<br />
GRANT WRITING SUPPORT<br />
Muddy Sneakers offers support for any grant applications related to partnership<br />
costs. Your local field office can assist in crafting narratives and supplying data to<br />
bolster your grant requests.<br />
Page 10
LET'S GET STARTED!<br />
STEP 1<br />
WHICH PARTNERSHIP IS RIGHT FOR YOU?<br />
*DISCOVERY BASIC FULL<br />
FIELD EXPEDITIONS 2 3 4<br />
**REMOTE<br />
0<br />
MUDDY SNEAKERS LIVE<br />
ONLINE (virtual sessions)<br />
1 1 2<br />
8<br />
SCHOOLYARD EXPEDITION 0 1 2<br />
0<br />
CLASSROOM CURRICULUM<br />
TOPIC MODULES<br />
1 5 ALL (8)<br />
ALL (8)<br />
ON-CALL TEACHER COACHING<br />
EOG TEST PREP<br />
ACCESS TO NC STATE DATA<br />
PRIORITY SCHEDULING<br />
GRANT WRITING SUPPORT<br />
Partnership fees are underwritten by generous donations from foundations, businesses, and individuals.<br />
COST/STUDENT $200 $350 $500<br />
YOUR FEE/STUDENT $100 $115 $130<br />
$75<br />
*Available to new partners only.<br />
**Available to schools located outside of current service area only.<br />
STEP 2<br />
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL FIELD OFFICE!<br />
(828) 862-5560<br />
nikki@muddysneakers.org<br />
(704) 209-4009<br />
cody@muddysneakers.org<br />
(828) 862-5560<br />
info@muddysneakers.org<br />
828-862-5560 info@muddysneakers.org muddysneakers.org P.O. Box 146, Brevard, NC 28712
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