Date post: | 19-Jan-2018 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | melina-wade |
View: | 214 times |
Download: | 0 times |
DISCOVER NATURE SCHOOLSGROWTH REPORT 2011
DISCOVER NATURE SCHOOLS (DNS)WHAT IS IT?
• Science, Biology, and Ecology instructional units
• About Missouri habitats and species
• Aligned with MDC mission
• Aligned with DESE Grade-Level and Course-Level Expectations
DISCOVER NATURE SCHOOLS (DNS)WHAT IS IT?
Each unit includes:• Student book
• Teacher guide with outdoor activities
• Local outdoor component is key• Improves physical and mental health• Improves academic performance• Encourages familiarity with the outdoors
DISCOVER NATURE SCHOOLS (DNS)WHAT IS IT?
Each unit includes:• Free training by MDC Education Consultants
• Grants for outdoor field experiences
• Grants for outdoor exploration equipment and outdoor classroom supplies
DISCOVER NATURE SCHOOLS (DNS)WHAT IS IT?
Inquiry-based hands-on learning• Observation• Field investigations• Testable question• Data collection and analyzing• Hypothesis• Conducting experiments• Checking results with hypothesis• Reporting
DISCOVER NATURE SCHOOLS (DNS)GOALS
• Helps us achieve MDC mission and vision• Students and teachers “learn about fish, forest, and
wildlife resources” and become active participants in the outdoors.
Familiarity OwnershipAppreciation
Participation Empowerment Stewardship
DISCOVER NATURE SCHOOLS (DNS)GOALS
• Helps teachers teach DESE Standards• Closely aligned with GLEs and CLEs• Covers material in state standardized tests
• Connects students with nature close to home
DISCOVER NATURE SCHOOLS (DNS)ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
• Creates a new learning environment• Collaborative work• Information exchange• Active, exploratory, inquiry-based learning• Critical thinking and decision-making• Proactive, planned action• Real world context
Elementary Unit
• Grades 3-5
• Pond, forest, and prairie habitats
• Activity example: Students build bird feeders, observe birds, and complete data sheets
Middle School Unit
• Grades 6-8
• Aquatic Ecosystems
• Activity example: Students make observations about their school’s watershed, erosion, and potential non-point source pollution.
High School Unit
• Grades 9-12
• Ecology/Wildlife management
• Activity example: Students record examples of organism interactions with cell phones or digital cameras. Groups make observations, record data, and make presentations to the rest of the class.
K-2 unitDNS grew 227% in 2010!
DNS CURRENT RATE OF GROWTH
2006 2007 2008 2009 20100
50
100
150
200
250
300
030
242
030
76113
193
032
Elementary Middle High
# of
Sch
ools
By Each Unit
DNS CURRENT RATE OF GROWTH
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010050
100150200250300350400450500
030
76143
467
All Units
# of
Sch
ools
All Units Combined
What’s coming up?
• Unit for Kindergarten – second grade
• Unit for early childhood
• DNS training at MSU as part of a conservation education minor for education students
Conservation Education = Conservation