Aligned with STEM standards, TurfMutt's
lesson plans teach kids valuable science lessons in the
green space around them
ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 11,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- While kids are enjoying some
time off from school this summer, it is also important to keep
their minds active. Parents can help their kids avoid the dreaded
"summer slide," where students lose some of their academic gains
from the school year, by encouraging their children to participate
in TurfMutt's environmental education and stewardship program.
TurfMutt youth education lesson plans are
free and aligned to STEM standards.
The TurfMutt youth education lesson plans are free and
aligned to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)
standards for kids in grades K-8. The lessons are available on the
TurfMutt website and in the USGBC Learning Lab. They are designed
as a fun and engaging way for students to learn valuable science
lessons in their own backyards, parks or school yards.
The lessons focus on getting kids outside to conduct interactive
experiments and other fun activities. "Our lesson plans help kids
learn how to care for the green space around us so they can learn
early on how to be good stewards of the environment and why that is
so important," said Kris Kiser,
President & CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation.
In the lesson plans, superhero and Foundation spokesdog,
Mulligan the TurfMutt is joined by her "outdoor power" pals Big
Rooty, Water Warrior, Green Ranger, and Professor Botany. The
superheroes battle the environmental "bad buys" including Carbon
Creep, Dust Demon, Heat Freak, and Dr. Runoff.
Mulligan is real-life rescue dog who was adopted by Kiser at the
TurfMutt Foundation's annual pet adoption event Mutt Madness. The
event is hosted in conjunction with the Kentucky Humane Society and
held at the Equip Exposition trade show each year. "No one loves
and appreciates a yard and green space more than a dog like
Mulligan," said Kiser. "Parents and teachers know that kids are
more likely to engage in learning when it's fun, and that's what
the TurfMutt curriculum is, thanks to Mulligan leading the
way."
The arts are included in the lessons, as well. One of the plans
provides an original drama script where students can act out parts
for flowers, sun, trees, shrubs and environmental villains, such as
Carbon Creep. By putting on the play as a class or for others,
students can learn how green plants, trees and shrubs help our
communities.
The TurfMutt lesson plans are free on the TurfMutt website and
available via subscription from the USGBC Learning Lab. Prior
TurfMutt lesson plans, created with Scholastic, Discovery Education
and Weekly Reader, are also housed on the TurfMutt website.
For more, sign up for Mutt Mail, a monthly e-newsletter with
backyarding tips and all the news from the TurfMutt Foundation
here. To learn more about creating the yard of your dreams, visit
TurfMutt.com. Look for Mulligan the TurfMutt on the CBS Lucky
Dog television show on Saturday mornings.
Media contact
Debbi
Mayster, Four Leaf PR on behalf of the TurfMutt Foundation,
240-988-6243, debbi@fourleafpr.com
About TurfMutt
TurfMutt, which is celebrating its
15th anniversary in 2024, was created by the Outdoor
Power Equipment Institute's (OPEI) TurfMutt Foundation and has
reached more than 70 million children, educators and families since
2009. Championed by Foundation spokesdog, Mulligan the TurfMutt,
and through education partners such as Weekly Reader, Discovery
Education and Scholastic, TurfMutt has taught students and teachers
how to "save the planet, one yard at a time." Today, TurfMutt is an
official USGBC® Education Partner and part of their
global LEARNING LAB. TurfMutt has been an education resource at the
U.S. Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools, the U.S.
Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Green Apple, the Center for Green Schools, the Outdoors Alliance
for Kids, the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project,
Climate Change Live, Petfinder and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. In 2017, the TurfMutt animated video series won the
coveted Cynopsis Kids Imagination Award for Best Interstitial
Series. TurfMutt's personal, home habitat was featured in the
2017-2020 Wildlife Habitat Council calendars. More information at
www.TurfMutt.com.
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SOURCE TurfMutt Foundation