Whether far away or close to home, there is always much to learn and explore about nature.
In the month of November, Read Across SMSD invites our community to “Cultivate Connection” and gain more understanding about how humans are linked to nature.
The featured book for this month is called “I Love Salmon and Lampreys: A Native Story of Resilience” by Brook M. Thompson. In this book, a young girl is fascinated by her environment and learns as much as she can about salmon and lampreys (a jawless fish that is sometimes compared to a vampire!) Eventually, she becomes a professional caretaker for the animals.
At Shawnee Mission South, Environmental Science Students in Derek Berg’s class often serve as caretakers of the land. They shared some tips for how younger students and anyone in our community can learn about and take care of the environment in Kansas.
Shea McNellis, SM South senior, shared that sometimes the students in Environmental Science take time to pick up litter and put it in a proper place.
“Whether it’s a trash bin, recycling bin, or compost bin, that’s a better spot than our water sources!” Shea shared.
Chloe Visina, SM South senior, highlighted how the pond at the Shawnee Mission Environmental Science Lab (SMESL) serves as a fishing spot, where students can get up close and learn about fish.
“We hope it inspires students to learn more about the amazing creatures right here in our own backyard!” Chloe added.
Abianna Jenkins, SM South senior, noted that students also help remove invasive plants at SMESL. “It’s a very important job because when we remove invasive plants, it allows native plants to thrive.”
About Read Across SMSD
Read Across SMSD is modeled after the National Read Across America program and is led in partnership with NEA-Shawnee Mission and the Shawnee Mission Education Foundation. Access to books for Shawnee Mission students is made possible through the Shawnee Mission Education Foundation.
Click here for the Read Across SMSD webpage, featuring resources from previous years, archive videos, and more information about the program.
NEA Book List
Elementary
I love Salmon and Lampreys by Brook M. Thompson. Click here to learn more.
Middle Grade
On a Wing and a Tear by Cynthia Leitich Smith. Click here to learn more.
Young Adult
Where Wolves Don’t Die by Anton Treur. Click here to learn more.
Shawnee Mission School District is the third largest school district in Kansas. The district serves students in Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade in 34 elementary schools, five middle schools, five high schools, and several educational centers. It has been consistently ranked among the finest school districts nationwide for its high student performance. The district’s objective is that each student will have a personalized learning plan that will prepare them for college and careers, with the interpersonal skills they need for life success. The district serves a diverse student population from 14 cities within northeast Johnson County, Kansas, which is 10 miles from downtown Kansas City, Missouri.
For more information, visit www.smsd.org.
There are multiple ways you can stay up-to-date on all of the news highlighting students and staff members in the Shawnee Mission School District throughout this school year. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, or watch for stories posted under “recent news” on www.smsd.org.
