Laura Wilbanks Permian Basin Fellow

2012

Fund for Teachers Curriculum Unit

Project Title: Off the Beaten Path: Defeating Nature Deficit Disorder using Adventures in the Field Description Students participate in diverse activities in the science classroom and in the field which are inspired by the national parks of the American west. Grade Level and Content Area Grades 3-5 Science, Grades 6-8 Scientific Research Teams Author Laura Wilbanks, Whiteface Elementary School, Whiteface, Texas

Setting Where/When does this unit fit into your larger curriculum map Science curriculum at the elementary level includes process skills and outdoor experiences weekly throughout the year. The teacher-created national parks kits will be used during the school year to complement units in the Texas curriculum CSCOPE. Prior Knowledge Required of Students: Students need the ability to read and follow basic directions. Students also need the curiosity of a scientist! Unit Goals: Increased time spent outdoors; link the value of the natural world in Cochran County Texas with that of parks in the American west; Create a desire in families of our community to visit national parks and wild places Timeframe: The national parks kits will be used monthly in a science center. They will be available for check-out by students in grades 3-5, beginning in September 2012. Students will spend 30% of scheduled class time in science outdoors and in the field conducting investigations associated with their environment.

Laura Wilbanks Permian Basin Fellow

2012

Unit Scaffold

Enduring understanding Develop a deep understanding of the natural world and every humans essential need for outdoor experiences, in order to become a balanced individual.

Essential Questions: How have people in history viewed the Grand Canyon? What balance was formed between civilizations and the natural resources of this park? What outdoor experiences are offered that create a desire to protect natural resources of northern Arizona? What relationships exist between the value of this park and the value of the land we inhabit in Cochran County, Texas? Student Learning Objectives Knowledge Each unique place on earth has value Each unique place on earth has a people associated with the land through history Throughout history, human activity shapes the land and affects the environment. We are all connected - each aspect of the environment is interdependent. Skills Students will effectively research the people inhabiting the land in this county 100 1,000 years ago and describe their contributions to the land as we know it today. Students will demonstrate proper trail etiquette within nature parks and develop the ability of hiking 5 miles in a responsible way. Students will learn to use GPS units, compasses, maps, and iPad apps to meld technology with nature.

Laura Wilbanks Permian Basin Fellow

2012

Performance Standards: The Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for elementary level science will be the guiding performance standards for each kit in this project. Recurring themes are pervasive in science. These ideas cross curriculum boundaries and include patterns, cycles, systems, models, and change and constancy. The study of elementary science includes planning and safely implementing classroom and outdoor investigations using scientific processes, including inquiry methods, analyzing information, making informed decisions, and using tools to collect and record information, while addressing the major concepts and vocabulary, in the context of physical, earth, and life sciences. Performance standards include:

Organisms and environments. The student knows that organisms resemble their parents and have structures and processes that help them survive within their environments. Earth and space. The student knows that the natural world includes the air around us and objects in the sky. Scientific investigation and reasoning. The student uses age-appropriate tools and models to investigate the natural world. Scientific investigation and reasoning. The student knows that information and critical thinking are used in scientific problem solving. Scientific investigation and reasoning. The student develops abilities to ask questions and seek answers in classroom and outdoor investigations following home and school safety procedures and uses environmentally appropriate and responsible practices.

Evidence of Learning
Assessment/performance task/project: Students will spend time in the outdoor environment of the South Plains and in the playa wetlands region developing hands-on activities for students in grades K-2. Activities from the 10 national parks will be used as a template to compare ecosystems and interactions across the country. These assignments will be assessed using a rubric grading system.

Laura Wilbanks Permian Basin Fellow

2012

Learning Objective Knowledge Develop a deeper understanding of ecosystems in this country and the value of each to both the environment and humans Gain a knowledge of the ecosystem in this region of Texas and its unique role in the recharge of the Ogallala Aquifer Describe the ever-changing nature of the playa wetlands on the South Plains and their role as the keystone ecosystem of the Great Plains region

Learning Objective Skill Use tools including microscopes, hand lens, flower press, binoculars, field guides, and nature journals to record detailed observations of the environment on a weekly basis Record physical properties of both living and non-living objects in nature Develop the desire to be outdoors and active participants in nature Decrease the amount of time spent indoors by 20% Baseline Assessment A survey developed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service will be used to assess each childs attitudes towards the outdoors, the amount of time spent outdoors compared to the amount of time their parents and grandparents spent outdoors. Resources and Materials per Class Ten learning kits have been developed and each one represents one of the ten national parks of the American West. Included in each kit are the following items: Reusable bag from that national park stamped with the name and logo of the park CD and DVD overview of that national park Visitors guide to that national park Map of that national park

Laura Wilbanks Permian Basin Fellow

2012

Junior Ranger booklets, pins, and patches from that park which students will learn as they master material and complete WebRanger activities online through the National Park System Card games, books, mobiles, puppets, bookmarks, coloring books, and childrens learning materials from that park Resources and Materials per Student Students check out the learning kits through a classroom system, and therefore there are not materials for individual students. Differentiation Strategy Learning kits were designed with activities for grades K-8, therefore there is inherent differentiation built into each center. CDs and books give each child the opportunity to read or listen to information and the kits can be completed with partners. In addition, in the outdoors when exploring nature, children naturally differentiate due to interests and curiosity, and with the freedom to write or draw in nature journals, all abilities can equally participate in this unit. Learning Plan Outline the teaching and learning plan, describing learning experiences that support students in reaching unit goals. Learning plan should guided by the units big idea and essential questions, and give context for the performance tasks.
The following lesson plan is the first example of how I am incorporating lessons from rangers and national parks into the outdoor education and science curriculum. The use of local experts, university professors, and the playa wetlands ecosystem greatly increased the excitement of the students and their desire to be outdoors and exploring nature. Festivals accompanying other national parks will be developed ointly by teachers and students throughout the school year !"#!$!"#%. To reach more students, I invited all &th grade students in this '" mile region to oin us for (nit #) *laya Festival, including students from +hiteface and ,orton, Texas, and Floyd, Elida, and -ora, .ew ,exico.

Laura Wilbanks Permian Basin Fellow

2012

Whiteface Playa Festival Agenda

Learning about High Plains Water & Ecosystems through Science, reative Writing, Art, & History September 27, 2012 With students from Whiteface and Morton, Texas and Floyd, Elida, and ora, !e" Mexico 9am-2:00pm (Mountain Time) 10 am 2:10pm (Central Time) Science Rocks U W ite!ace "lementar# Sc ool
104 West Third Whiteface, Texas 806-287-1285

Sponsored by: Ogallala Commons Playa Lakes Joint Venture Dixon Water Foundation Xcel Energy Foundation Hig Plains !nderground Water Conser"ation District Faculty #ill include guides #ell ac$uainted #it %laya lake &lora and &auna' ( ey #ill also ser"e as guides &or eac o& t e grou%s in t e a&ternoon &ield tours' )n t e morning session* t e +t ,raders #ill -e di"ided into . large grou%s /0120+ students3 to attend t eir sessions at staggered times' 4tudents need to -e reminded to -ring t eir 5ournal* -ack%acks and ot er suggested items'

Laura Wilbanks Permian Basin Fellow

2012

6:11am

For t e morning* teac ers and t eir students #ill gat er in one large grou% &or . %resentations' Gro p !: "#ayas: What are they, ho$ did they %et here, and What do they do in the &i%h "#ains $ater cyc#e' Julie Hodges* Ogallala Commons* Lu--ock* (X Gro p !!: &o$ to (eep a )at re *o rna# Julie Hodges* 74* Ogallala Commons* Lu--ock* (X

6:81

Gro p !! goes to "#aya +,er,ie$ %resentation Gro p ! goes to *o rna# %resentation

91:11

:reak

91:91 10-10 . 10-40

4tudents #ill -e s%lit into 0 grou%s and rotate t roug &our 81 minute %resentations' G/+0" 1 to "#aya 1acro!n,ertebrates Justin (rammel* W(;7!* Canyon* (X G/+0" 2 to "#aya 23phibians <o-ert 7artin* ( e =ature Conser"ancy* Clo"is* =7 G/+0" 4 "#aya "#ants and Soi#s (is 4te#art* :otanist* Clo"is* =7 G/+0" 4 "#aya 5a6es 7 ffers 8 Waterfo$# 9e3onstration Jim 4teiert* outdoor #riter and #ater&o#ler* Here&ord* (X

10-45 . 11-15 G/+0" 4 to "#aya 1acro!n,ertebrates Justin (rammel* W(;7!* Canyon* (X G/+0" 1 to "#aya 23phibians <o-ert 7artin* ( e =ature Conser"ancy* Clo"is* =7 G/+0" 2 "#aya "#ants and Soi#s (is 4te#art* Clo"is* =7

Laura Wilbanks Permian Basin Fellow

2012

G/+0" 4 "#aya 5a6es 7 ffers 8 Waterfo$# 9e3onstration Jim 4teiert* outdoor #riter and #ater&o#ler* Here&ord* (X 11-20 . 11-50 G/+0" 4 to "#aya 1acro!n,ertebrates Justin (rammel* W(;7!* Canyon* (X G/+0" 4 to "#aya 23phibians <o-ert 7artin* ( e =ature Conser"ancy* Clo"is* =7 G/+0" 1 "#aya "#ants and Soi#s (is 4te#art* Clo"is* =7 G/+0" 2 "#aya 5a6es 7 ffers 8 Waterfo$# 9e3onstration Jim 4teiert* outdoor #riter and #ater&o#ler* Here&ord* (X 11-55 . 12-25 G/+0" 2 to to "#aya 1acro!n,ertebrates Justin (rammel* W(;7!* Canyon* (X G/+0" 4 to "#aya 23phibians <o-ert 7artin* ( e =ature Conser"ancy* Clo"is* =7 G/+0" "#aya "#ants and Soi#s (is 4te#art* Clo"is* =7 G/+0" 1 "#aya 5a6es 7 ffers 8 Waterfo$# 9e3onstration Jim 4teiert* outdoor #riter and #ater&o#ler* Here&ord* (X 9.:8+%m 9:1+ 2## :esti,a# "articipants eat # nch St dents $i## ride b s to "#aya* all need to recei"e 4ca"enger :ags i& you #is to make art #it &ound materials' ,rou% ): Jim 4teiert ,rou% )): Julie Hodges ,rou% ))): (is 4te#art ,rou% )V: <o-ert 7artin

.:91 St dents ret rn to ho3eroo3s, $rap p and store 3ateria#s for the day

Laura Wilbanks Permian Basin Fellow

2012

Resources and Materials Grand Canyon Stacking Blocks: A Canyon of Knowledge Grand Canyon National Park Arizona; National Park Service Map and Guide CanyonViews: Grand Canyon Association Magazine, Volume XIX, No.1/Spring 2012 Collectors Edition Grand Canyon Playing Cards: A Deck of Information Be a Part of Something Grand; Partnering with Grand Canyon National Park Climate Change in National Parks, US Department of the Interior Wildland Fire in National Parks, US Department of the Interior Grand Canyon Celebration of Art Grand Canyon National Park Virtual Tour CDROM Junior Ranger Activity Booklet, Grand Canyon National Park Digital Cameras Binoculars Nature Journals GPS Units Backpack CamelPak Pens, pencils, map colors Plastic bag for gathering field materials Hand Lens or Magnifying Glass for the Field Collecting Nets Aquatic Nets Field Guides: Insects, Trees, Wildflowers, Fossils, Spiders, Butterflies & Moths, Ponds

The resources for the playa festival unit were created to compare the water cycle of the canyon regions and the use of fire in Grand Canyon National Park, with the equally unique water and fire cycles of the Great Plains. Students learned the benefits of fire and water in the park and then applied that knowledge to the benefits of the resources here at home.

References Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv Texas Wildlife Identification Guide, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Austin, Texas 2006 Common Rangeland Plants of the Texas Panhandle, NRCS, Grazing Lands Initiative

Laura Wilbanks Permian Basin Fellow

2012

How to Keep a Naturalists Notebook by Susan Leigh Tomlinson, Stackpole Books Native Harvests, Recipes and Botanicals of the American Indian by Barrie Kavasch Playas: Jewels of the Plains by Jim Steiert, Photographs by Wyman Meinzer If Youre not from the Prairie by David Bouchard, Images by Henry Ripplinger
Ogallala Commons Playa Lakes Joint Venture Dixon Water Foundation Xcel Energy Foundation Hig Plains !nderground Water Conser"ation District =um-er 9 =atural <esource Conser"ation 4er"ice !4 Fis and Wildli&e 4er"ice 7ules oe =ational Wildli&e <e&uge West (exas ; > 7 !ni"ersity De%artment o& En"ironmental 4tudies