Michelle Herness, July 31, 2002
Integrating Eighth Grade Curriculum Around Environmental Themes Improves Student Understanding
Michelle
Herness, Wausaukee, a 2001 graduate of the Master of Science in Natural
Resources Program for Teachers at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, has
spent the last four years researching whether integrating environmental themes
into an eighth grade classroom would improve student understanding and
retention of the material being taught.
More
specifically, Herness, along with her advisor Dr. Randy Champeau, Associate Dean
of Extension and Outreach in the College of Natural Resources and the Director
of the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education, determining how an
integrated curriculum centered on the environmental themes of air quality,
water, land use, and energy, when taught to her eighth grade students from Team
R.O.C.K. (Recognizing Outrageously Cool Kids) at the Marinette Middle School,
would benefit student retention and understanding of science concepts.
With
funding from a Wisconsin Environmental Education Board grant and the cooperation
of other Team R.O.C.K. teachers and her administration, Herness developed and
implemented two science units that were integrated into English, math, and
social studies/history classes.
The
first unit was “Know Your Watershed” which included the environmental themes
of air quality, water, and land use. As the students and teachers participated
in this unit they conducted many hands on experiments to determine the status of
the air and water in the lower Menominee River watershed and in Green Bay.
With the assistance of Al Stenstrup, State PLT/WILD Coordinator from the
Department of Natural Resources, students studied air quality by conducting
milkweed studies and using Ultra Violet light meters to measure the
amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth’s surface.
The
students learned about water quality from Herness and two students who attended
an Adopt-A-Lake workshop. On an
subsequent field trip to Seagull Bar Natural
Area, Greg Cleereman and Amanda Kostner of
Marinette County’s Land and Water Conservation Department provided
equipment and additional expertise while the students did water quality testing
and conducted macroinvertebrate studies. During
this unit the students also looked at the size and dimensions of their
watershed; the historical and present day effects humans have had on the local
air and water quality through their land use choices; and how those choices
affect the quality of life in the area.
The
second integrated science unit was “Earth’s Matter” which incorporated an
energy environmental theme. In this unit the students explored earth’s chemistry, rocks
and minerals, the formation of fossil fuels, mining, and the use of energy from
the earth. They also used maps to
identify where this stored energy was located and followed the “energy
trail” from discovery through final usage.
The students finished looking at the various aspects of energy and energy
efficiency by completing hands on experiments as they examined building design,
proper building siting, and construction.
Herness
presented her findings at a seminar this summer at the College of Natural
Resources on the UWSP campus where she talked about the significant improvement
her students demonstrated on the multiple choice tests that were administered
after the integrated units were completed.
She said,” The results of this study are encouraging and it would be
beneficial to the students of Team R.O.C.K. to continue learning through
integrated units centered around various environmental themes.”
Teachers
interested in getting more information about the Masters degree program in
environmental education at UW Stevens Point can contact Tim Byers, Program
Coordinator at (715) 346-4176.
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