ERIC Number: EJ758557
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004-May
Pages: 3
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0036-8555
EISSN: N/A
Outdoor Ecology School
Cole, Anna Gahl
Science Teacher, v71 n5 p52-54 May 2004
In this article, the author describes how her high school environmental science students led third graders on a dynamic learning adventure as part of their first annual Outdoor Ecology School. At the water-monitoring site in a nearby national forest, the elementary students conducted field research and scavenger hunts, discovered animal habitats, studied population growth, and explored predator-prey relationships. The elementary students rotated through a series of inquiry-based activities inspired by research, classroom content, Earth science curriculum, and personal experience. Community members and parents who dropped by were treated to an enthusiastic flurry of activities and learning. Students generally come to high school with a lot of outdoor experience: farming, ranching, camping, and hunting. This experience is a great resource to use in environmental science. Considering the students' challenges and the school's location, this project sprung to mind as a way to use and address these dynamic aspects of learning in their community.
Descriptors: Grade 3, Ecology, Science Curriculum, Earth Science, Environmental Education, High School Students, Elementary School Science, Adventure Education, Outdoor Education, Elementary School Students, Water Quality, Science Activities, Inquiry, Science Education
National Science Teachers Association. 1840 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201-3000. Tel: 800-722-6782; Fax: 703-243-3924; e-mail: membership@nsta.org; Web site: http://www.nsta.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 3; High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A