Metro Nashville Public Schools Partnership with The Land Trust for Tennessee
December 6, 2021
STEAM Expeditions allow students to learn about plant species in Tennessee.
Through the lens of a video camera, sixth grade students in Nashville will be able to learn about native and invasive plant species in the state, thanks to Metro Nashville Public Schools’ (MNPS) partnership with The Land Trust for Tennessee. The virtual learning series is part of the school system’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Expedition series, helping students experience nature and science through inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking.
“Having the opportunity to partner with The Land Trust for Tennessee is extremely impactful. Exploring invasive species and ecosystem dynamics from The Land Trust’s Glen Leven Farm’s unique perspective and sharing the related career and college opportunities during their STEAM Expedition deeply engages the students.”- Tiffany Griffin-Minor, STEAM Experiential Learning Coordinator
Continuing the organization’s adaptation of education outreach for the virtual setting, classrooms from 17 middle schools will meet over the course of 13 sessions with The Land Trust for Tennessee’s Community Engagement Coordinator, Ellen Messerly, to learn about ecosystems from the organization’s 64-acre Glen Leven Farm. The Land Trust has previously hosted field studies for MNPS elementary schools and distributed STEAM Education Kits to 82 classrooms across the state this past spring.
“I am so excited to see this partnership come to fruition. It has been such a rewarding opportunity to be able to connect with students in their classrooms, regardless of where they are in the district. I enjoy the interactive nature of the expeditions and hearing the intuitive observations and questions students raise throughout the session.” – Ellen Messerly, Community Engagement Coordinator
In addition to this Fall’s STEAM partnership with MNPS, The Land Trust for Tennessee offers a free digital STEAM Educational Kit Digital Guide for download on their website. The organization also holds ongoing, monthly Nature Hikes with various themed activities for families to experience at The Land Trust for Tennessee’s 64-acre Glen Leven Farm.