In response to a community-identified need to prevent conflicts between humans and carnivores, the Woodland Park Zoo will develop new strategies to facilitate community-driven learning and problem-solving. The zoo will establish a community-based science education and conservation model in partnership with the city and school district of Issaquah. The project will include a middle school inquiry-based science program for 6th grade students that will begin with teacher orientations, followed by introducing program elements to students, and culminating in a community event at each school featuring student presentations. A three-phase community engagement program will begin with a resident survey on carnivores in the community and an open house launch event. A series of community events and formation of learning teams for further dialogue and for problem solving will result in the implementation of strategies developed by the teams. The framework produced by the project will be applicable to other communities attempting to balance urban expansion with wildlife conservation.
NatureStart Network brought together early childhood educators and environmental educators to support nature play, exploration, and inquiry for young children and their families within urban environments. Project partners included the Forest Preserves of Cook County and two established Head Start programs in the Chicago area, Mary Crane Center and El Valor. The foundation of the project was a series of three two-day professional learning sessions that took place over an eighteen month period. Through hands-on, collaborative learning and reflection activities, the participating educators
The Missouri Botanical Garden will work with six urban schools, to create new educational opportunities for teachers and students who use the garden's institutional research as a foundation for STEM Programming (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Students in the program will focus on one of three core garden research themes: medicinal uses of plants, plants as a food source, or the ecological value of plants. Anchored by multiple field experiences at the garden and its satellite sites, follow up programming, and teacher professional development, the program will be aligned with state standards to address concerns with student proficiency in the STEM disciplines.
This poster was presented at the 2014 AISL PI Meeting in Washington DC. It describes the CLUES project that provides STEM education opportunities to families.
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TEAM MEMBERS:
New Jersey Academy for Aquatic SciencesBarbara Kelly