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Full-Text Articles in Education
How Do We Educate Children That Live In A Water Rich Environment About The Need For Water Conservation?, Theresa Marie Vermeersch
How Do We Educate Children That Live In A Water Rich Environment About The Need For Water Conservation?, Theresa Marie Vermeersch
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this curriculum development Capstone was to create a unit of lessons to address how we educate children that live in a water rich environment about the need for water conservation. The curriculum contains lessons in a kit that educate children about water cycles, water sheds, water run-off, water pollution, and water conservation. Methods of teaching include hands-on lessons, small and large group activities that incorporate literature. The overall goal is to create curriculum that would foster a sense of water conservation stewardship in students. Included with this curriculum are copies of handouts, assessments, and literature.
Teaching Environmental Education To Elementary Aged Home School Students At Nature Centers: An Analysis Of Best Practices, Ronald P. Wodtke
Teaching Environmental Education To Elementary Aged Home School Students At Nature Centers: An Analysis Of Best Practices, Ronald P. Wodtke
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, what are the best practices for teaching environmental education to elementary aged home school students at nature centers located in a large metropolitan area in the Upper Midwest? This study, analyzes the best practices used by several nature centers that offer home school programs, and are located in the seven counties that comprise the physical limits of the study. A nature center is a designated community space where trained professionals guide and facilitate visitors in their exploration of the natural world, and in developing a relationship with nature. Additionally, this experience should …
How Can Science And Literacy Be Integrated In A Fifth Grade Cirriculum [Sic]?, Kathryn J. Hellen
How Can Science And Literacy Be Integrated In A Fifth Grade Cirriculum [Sic]?, Kathryn J. Hellen
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this capstone was, How can science and literacy be integrated in a fifth grade curriculum? This capstone describes current research in science education, reading motivation and engagement, and the science and literacy connection. The goal of this capstone was to create a unit that would captivate students’ interests in science and use that interest as a catalyst to grow their literacy skills. This unit is designed to be used in a 5th grade Spanish immersion classroom centered on the themes of life science and non-fiction reading. The accompanying curriculum utilizes the Concept-Oriented Reading Instruction (CORI) …
High School Water Quality Curriculum For Rural And Urban Areas, James David Mesik
High School Water Quality Curriculum For Rural And Urban Areas, James David Mesik
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this curriculum development Capstone was to create a unit of lessons to address the topic of water quality for high school students in an agricultural class focusing on natural resources. The curriculum contains lessons that tackle issues related to both farmland and nonfarm related water quality issues. Methods of teaching include hands-on lessons, a field trip and a guest speaker. Specific issues are confronted and potential solutions to water quality problems are presented. The overall goal is to create curriculum that would foster a sense of water quality stewardship in students. Included with this curriculum are copies …
The Impacts Of Classroom Stem¬-Themed Environmental Investigations On Middle School Environmental Literacy, Megan Alece Heitkamp
The Impacts Of Classroom Stem¬-Themed Environmental Investigations On Middle School Environmental Literacy, Megan Alece Heitkamp
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this research study was to answer the research question: How does integrating STEMthemed environmental investigations in the middle school classroom impact environmental literacy? In order to understand the various aspects of this research question, a literature review was conducted for the topics of middle school learners, STEM learning and environmental literacy. The study utilized a mixed methods approach and 131, 7th grade students participated in the study; students took the Middle School Environmental Literacy Survey (MSELS) as a pretest and posttest. Between these surveys, students participated in four learning investigations that applied STEM learning, environmental problems, inquirybased …
A Text Analysis Of How Passive Voice In A Biology Textbook Impacts English Language Learners, Karli Jo Neilson
A Text Analysis Of How Passive Voice In A Biology Textbook Impacts English Language Learners, Karli Jo Neilson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
With so many ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers currently co-teaching, it is important to investigate how academic text interferes with the general understanding of the text for ELLs (English Language Learners). This study examined the use of the passive voice in a biology textbook in a high school co-taught biology ESL classroom. The general research questions were: how often does the use of passive voice occur and what does the use of passive voice look like in Biology (Nowicki, 2008); what types of issues can passive voice cause for teachers and students, including classroom expectations of using the …
Environmental Education In A Dual Immersion Classroom, Annaka Marie Larson
Environmental Education In A Dual Immersion Classroom, Annaka Marie Larson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, how can environmental education curricula be implemented in dual immersion classrooms? It describes how the author used a unit planning framework designed for dual immersion to adapt lessons from the environmental education curriculum Project WILD for her first grade Spanish immersion class. Both curriculum design and action research were incorporated into the project. She details the process of modifying the lessons, what happened when she implemented the lessons in her classroom, and how the lessons improved students’ content knowledge, language abilities, and appreciation for the environment. She concludes that environmental education can …
Claims, Evidence And Reasoning: A Framework For Evidence-Based Writing On The Subject Of Evolution, Tami Lynn Limberg
Claims, Evidence And Reasoning: A Framework For Evidence-Based Writing On The Subject Of Evolution, Tami Lynn Limberg
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The aim of this qualitative research was to explore how students presented reasoned arguments supported by evidence and reasoning after receiving constructivist-based instruction. The author documents the details of the results and uses related research literature to construct meaning and validate constructivist pedagogy and the evidencebased writing instruction. The progress of twenty students’ ability to write a claim, give specific evidence and reasoning was followed throughout the investigation. Three themes emerged from this investigation: students showed a steady trend of intellectual growth over time, students benefitted when they constructed their own learning, and students struggled with written reasoning and connecting …
How To Develop And Support The Academic Writing Of Our Students In The Science Classroom, Hannah Rose Hermanson Rivard
How To Develop And Support The Academic Writing Of Our Students In The Science Classroom, Hannah Rose Hermanson Rivard
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was how can we develop and support the academic writing of our students in the science classroom? A resource guide was created, designed for general education teachers in upper elementary classrooms. It uses the Teaching and Learning Cycle, created by Rothery, to incorporate the writing of procedural recounts into pre-existing science curriculum.
How Does Composting At School Change The Way Middle School Students Perceive Their Ability To Positively Impact The Earth?, Katie Lynn Pangborn
How Does Composting At School Change The Way Middle School Students Perceive Their Ability To Positively Impact The Earth?, Katie Lynn Pangborn
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project is: how does composting at school change the way middle school students perceive their ability to positively impact the earth? The motivating factor for this capstone was the lack of awareness middle school students seem to have in regards to the waste they create and how to handle their waste. This capstone delves into the impacts of service learning combined with environmentalism. Since service learning is most impactful when it is student-led, students brainstormed ideas around waste management at their school and concluded that composting should be part of the plan. Students designed, …
Student Use Of Cell/Smartphones Integrated In A Field-Based Science Curriculum, Cynthia Ann Hougo
Student Use Of Cell/Smartphones Integrated In A Field-Based Science Curriculum, Cynthia Ann Hougo
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
Cellphones are a growing concern for teachers in schools across the country. Should we ban them or use them as a technological aid in the classroom. This research explores the results of integrating cell/smartphones in a field-based curriculum in a alternative high school science class. The research focused on the question, “How many functions and/or applications do students use on their cell/smartphones when it is integrated in a field-based curriculum?” Students used their cell/smartphones to document, take pictures, research and send assignments during the course of one quarter. The study used a qualitative action research design. Data was collected using …
Case Studies Of Innovative Science Teacher Professional Development Programming At Biological Field Stations, Sarah Rose Johnson
Case Studies Of Innovative Science Teacher Professional Development Programming At Biological Field Stations, Sarah Rose Johnson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
This capstone research study was motivated by a desire to find ways to narrow the relationship gap between scientists and educators by creating avenues for cross communication for both professional communities to access each other. The overall purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to look at innovative teacher professional development programs at biological field stations to inform the future development and facilitation of science teacher professional development programming. The study included questionnaires, interviews, and site visits to four field stations across America collecting data based on innovative criteria. New themes for facilitating innovative teacher professional development emerged including: …
Benefits Provided To American Indian Youth Through Gidaakiimanaaniwigamig Stem Camps, Kyra Jo Paitrick
Benefits Provided To American Indian Youth Through Gidaakiimanaaniwigamig Stem Camps, Kyra Jo Paitrick
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
American Indian youth face many adversities. Suicide rates are among the highest in the country. High school graduation rates are the lowest in the country. Many American Indian youth grow up in foster care and some find themselves in juvenile detention centers or gangs. Furthermore, tribal communities are experiencing a shortage of American Indians in the workforce who are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to fill essential positions that sustain the natural resources that are important to the tribe. There are many efforts in Indian Country to be proactive with American Indian youth, providing them with supports …
A Nature Adventure Chapter Book For Early Readers And How It Can Influence Children's Interest In And Desire To Explore The Natural World, Keith Marshall
A Nature Adventure Chapter Book For Early Readers And How It Can Influence Children's Interest In And Desire To Explore The Natural World, Keith Marshall
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
With the increase in screen-time, children are spending less and less time outside in nature. Many studies are finding significant negative impacts upon their mental, physical and emotional well-being. The author attempted to develop an age-appropriate fictional story based upon accurate and appropriate nature and science lessons. The book, The Adventurers…Journey to the Crooked Forest was created to test if children would be more interested in going outside in nature as well as if the book could increase children’s knowledge of nature and science topics through storytelling. The effectiveness of the book was tested on fifty 1st -3 rd grade …
Utilizing The Next Generation Science Standards As A Framework To Create A Climate Change Curriculum, Jenna Totz
Utilizing The Next Generation Science Standards As A Framework To Create A Climate Change Curriculum, Jenna Totz
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research question addressed in this project was, how can the Next Generation Science Standards be utilized as a framework to create a climate change curriculum? It documents the creation of the middle school climate change curriculum, Next Generation Climate. The curriculum integrates experiential education, argumentation, and modeling all using the most current climate change science. This curriculum was created out of the need for more resources that aligned with the NGSS and to provide educators with the tools to correctly provide climate literacy to their students. The author documents the details of writing the curriculum and uses research literature …
Adverbial Clauses In 4th Grade Science Textbooks: A Structural And Functional Analysis, Nicole Renee Tuchscherer
Adverbial Clauses In 4th Grade Science Textbooks: A Structural And Functional Analysis, Nicole Renee Tuchscherer
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations
The research questions in this Capstone address the use of adverbial clauses in 4th grade science texts including their frequency, position within the sentence, and meanings. The researcher also did a comparison across texts to find differences and similarities in use between publishers. The research was conducted through a functional language analysis of four textbooks. Results indicate that although the use of adverbial clauses varies greatly from text to text, they do occur in 4th grade science texts and should be addressed by educators in order to help increase students’ scientific literacy.