Education Commons^™

Reducing Your Water Footprint: An Activity Packet On Water Conservation For Young Children, Mallory A. Colegrove

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This curriculum guide capstone sought to answer the question of, how can young children reduce their water footprint? In order to achieve this, it was determined that the form of an activity packet focused on water conservation would allow for young children to be introduced to, and habitually practice, water conservation methods. The author researched child development theories that were most effective in educating the widest possible audience of children while dually causing the instilling of environmental values; the science of habits was also examined. Additionally, the author examined preexisting activity packets and curriculums regarding the environment that had been …

Case Studies Of Nature-Based Preschool Models In The Midwest, Janelle Dawn Phillips

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The main motivation behind this capstone research project was to more fully understand the four major program models of nature-based preschools. This qualitative, multiple case study sought to uncover the benefits and challenges of these models and apply these benefits and challenges to opening a diverse, nature-based preschool in South Bend, Indiana. Data collection included interviews and site visits to four nature-based preschool program models in the Midwest and two interviews with local early childhood experts. The study concluded each nature-based preschool program model had both benefits and challenges unique to that model. Two additional differences were found as well. …

How Can Education Improve The Recycling Behaviors And Attitudes Of Middle School Students, Sara Flanagan

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This research project adapted and implemented curriculum into a middle school science classroom to gauge the effect of the curriculum on the students’ behaviors and attitudes. The focus of the curriculum was on waste management and recycling. Students participated in surveys both before and after the curriculum. Their responses were compared to others in the school who did not go through the curriculum. There are not many updated curriculums available however, through this study it was concluded that education can impact the recycling behaviors and attitudes through curriculum in a positive way that makes students connect their actions to the …

How Does An Environmental Based Service-Learning Project In An Non-Science Classroom Affect Student’S Values And Motivate Them To Be Better Stewards?, Nathan Fritz

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This study addressed the question: how does an environmental based servicelearning project in an non-science classroom affect student's values and motivate them to be better stewards? The participants of this study were tenth grade AVID students in a suburban high school setting. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected, analyzed and compared to accurately measure student’s attitudes towards the environment. The quantitative data was collected using the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) Likert Scale Survey. The students were surveyed prior to their service-learning project and then again after the project's completion. Qualitative data was obtained through one-on-one interviews and a short writing …

How Does Experience-Based Learning Impact Students’ Decisions To Perform Sustainable Actions?, Andrew J. Pierson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to answer the question: how does experience-based learning impact students’ decisions to perform sustainable actions. Three specific key points that surfaced throughout the capstone focused on appropriate environmentally sustainable actions for students, influences that change behaviors and effective implementation methods for sustainable actions. This six week study took place in a third grade elementary classroom. Experience-based learning incorporated in the study included tracking daily and weekly classroom and food waste as well as recycling. The featured experience-based learning activity of the study was using vermicompost in the classroom to develop student understanding of compost …

Teaching Outside To Engage Student Learning, Juliane T. Chapman

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

I conducted action research as a way to focus on how teaching outdoors benefits students in special education. This action research answer the question, “Does teaching academic subjects outdoors help Level IV special education students with increased attention, active engagement, and decreased negative behaviors?”. It used hands on learning in the outdoor environment to measure students engagement in their own learning. Students did activities in several instructional areas including science, math, reading, and social skills. Both teachers and students were interviewed at the end of the study to obtain results. Teaching academic subjects in an outdoor setting does have a …

Curriculum Development And Analysis To Encourage Positive Environmental Attitudes In High School Students, Matthew Johnston

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This capstone project used a qualitative research design to explore the research question, how do students who are participating in a course on ecology and resource conservation, describe their understanding of ecology and conservation? The capstone researcher designed a student centered curriculum that used project based learning and outdoor experiences in an elective science course. A major goal of the course was to engage high school students in environmental education and shift students’ attitude to be more positive toward the environment. To measure students’ attitudes, the New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) (Anderson, 2012) survey was completed at the start and end …

Environmental Stewardship: Protecting Our Planet’S Future, Barbara Pierce

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project was how can Understanding by Design be used to create a curriculum that can be used to teach upper elementary students the basis of environmental stewardship? The motivating factor behind this project was a noticeable lack of outdoor exploration in public elementary schools, combined with limited science instruction in the classroom. Designing the curriculum using and Understanding by Design framework, the unit includes lessons on habitats, food webs, natural resources, and interdependence. Methods of teaching include hands-on and multimedia lessons, and time for free outdoors exploration. The unit culminates in a group presentation …

Building Capacity: How A Local Government Agency Can Support Partners In Offering Environmental Education For Youth, Alisa Reckinger

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This project addressed the research question: what are the most effective strategies for a local government agency to support partner organizations in implementing environmental education for youth? Environmental education partners from a large county in Minnesota participated in group conversations to explore questions related to the definition of, benefits of, barriers to and strategies for environmental education. Additional research methods included a pre-questionnaire to learn more about the group conversation participants and an online survey to get broader participations and prioritize the goals, key elements, topics, benefits, barriers and strategies for environmental education. The project results were compared to information …

Student Engagement With Nature When Using Nature Journals And Ipads, Xeng Jasiczek

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This capstone is a collection of lessons to teach nature journals while using iPads in the

elementary classroom from first grade through fifth grade. This curriculum is cross- curricular and includes teaching lessons in art and science, and work on students being

reflective of their work either verbally or written. This curriculum is supported by research done about outdoor learning, the use of modern technology and free play. All these things contribute to a better mental and physical health of children into adulthood. The use of technology in the classroom is changing how teachers teach and how students learn. This …

Connecting Environmental Stewardship, Youth Development, And Community Engagement, Through A Student-Centered Pollinator Curriculum, Elizabeth Huerta Ortiz

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this capstone was to find the means to engage inner city youth in outdoor experiences that would help them form a deep connection to nature. The research question that I focused on was: how can national parks, native plant nurseries, and school districts work together to inspire inner city youth to become active stewards of the natural world? The analysis of the literature review guided me to find one possible answer, which is to develop and implement a student-centered pollinator curriculum in partnership with the national parks, native plant nurseries, and school districts. The pollinator curriculum is …

Student-­Led Farmers Market: Engaging, Real-­World Experience And Nutrition Education That Prepares Students For A Successful Professional Life After High School, Rebecca A. Hennessey

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

School gardens are becoming an increasingly popular tool for environmental education. Learning in a school garden offers many benefits, from first­hand experience in applying information learned in school, to nutrition education, to growing in character. School garden curriculum is readily available for students at the elementary level, but is difficult to find at the high school level. This capstone includes curriculum that is easily adaptable and supports a student­led farmers market program, providing garden and nutrition education to students at the high school level through the context of a fully­functioning farmers market that is completely run by students.

How Do You Empower At Risk Students To Become Active Citizens About The Environment, Through The Design And Implementation Of An Urban Environmental Science Curriculum Within An Alternative Education Setting?, Stephen N. Szczodroski

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

At-risk students come with a history of failure in school. The mainstream classroom setting has not worked for them in the past; therefore, educators must think outside the box and get students doing as many hands-on, experiential lessons as possible. Generally, these students do not have the opportunity to experience many experiential activities. This new curriculum helped students get outside learning new skills, and lured them away from chalkboard lessons. A major component with the curriculum was coordinating with the local parks and recreational system, to create a program where students are involved in using and maintaining local natural areas …