Outdoor Education Commons^™

A Central Park Curriculum, Jessica Gruber Wise

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Presents an interdisciplinary curriculum on New York City's Central Park for five and six year olds. Focuses on both natural and man-made environments in the park, and explores the ways in which people and the environment interact. The goal is for children to broaden their view of Central Park from being a backyard playground to that of a community recreation center. Contains lesson plans and activity guides.

Project Grow: A Plan To Grow An Edible Garden In A Poverty-Affected School To Improve Parent Involvement And Increase Student Knowledge Of Nutrition, Wendy Michelle Wickersham

All Graduate Projects

Growing an edible garden in a poverty-affected school serves multiple purposes. It provides a way to increase parent involvement at the school while increasing student knowledge of nutrition. This comprehensive plan prepares a school to implement a school garden run solely by teacher, students, parents, and community volunteers. The potential results are that parents will get involved at their child's school while the students can learn about nutrition along with their families.

Opinions About Challenge By Choice Held By Undergraduate And Graduate Students In Outdoor Education Academic Programs At Georgia College & State University, Ryan L. Sharp

The Corinthian

A primary concern when discussing the concept of Challenge by Choice (CxC) is defining it and identifying how it is used. This study is a survey of students in the outdoor education academic programs at Georgia College & State University. The primary objective of the study was to compare graduate and undergraduate student opinions about the meaning and use of CxC. It was hypothesized that graduate students would have different opinions about the concept then undergraduate students. Twenty students responded to an eight item online survey. Data was analyzed using a chi-square test. No statistical significance at the alpha .05 …

A Tree Study Curriculum For Second Grade, Deborah Blankman

Graduate Student Independent Studies

A TREE STUDY: For Second Grade, was designed to give students the opportunity to experience and explore first-hand the life cycle of a particular tree in Central Park. Trees are a natural topic for young students to study. They are part of the basic life cycle here on earth. Children are familiar with them having seen or been around them since birth. In my case, because of my school's close proximity to Central Park, the students had the luxury of being able to basically go out in their own backyard any time they wanted a first hand view of what …

A Neighborhood Curriculum For Kindergarten And First Grades, Kathy L. Rubin

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper is a curriculum study of a school neighborhood designed for children ages 5 through 7. The goal of this study is to provide an opportunity for students, who at this age are beginning to expand outward from the roots of their homes and families, to understand their next immediate neighborhood (their school). They will have a chance to meet people who work in the neighborhood, learn about how we get around and from where things come. And then, from that vantage point the students can begin to broaden their perspective and view of their world.

This study is …

Going Beyong The Third Grade Science Kit: An Integrated Thematic Approach, Michele D. Wiederspohn

All Graduate Projects

A project has been developed to aid in the design of a third grade science program and/or to be used as a supplement to any existing third grade science curriculum. The project has been organized into fourteen lesson plans. Each lesson plan includes an overview of the lesson, student learning objectives matched to the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements, activities, a list of required materials, an outline of instruction, and the name of a trade book to compliment the lesson. Current literature and research regarding the topic of integrated curriculum were explored.

An Integrated Fire Ecology Curriculum For The Eastern Slopes Of The Cascade Mountain Range For Grades 4-7, Amy E. Starkovich

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to create a curriculwn to increase the opportunity for young people in Central Washington to receive fire ecology education which will allow them to gain fundamental knowledge of how the Central Washington forest ecosystems work as well as develop a sense of stewardship toward our local forests. An integrated fire ecology curriculum aligned with the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements was created. The curriculum includes teacher and student information, lessons, activities, resources, and recommendations to increase student understanding of the wildfires which impact many communities in Central Washington every summer.

Why It Is Important To Keep Recess In Schools, Mary Lou Mcgee Cushing

Graduate Research Papers

Recess is a common part of most elementary school schedules yet its benefits are often not clearly articulated. As a result recess may be thought to be expendable from school curricula as school districts adjust already full schedules in an attempt to accommodate every necessary component.

This research review explores the relationship of recess to school schedules, time allotments, activities commonly observed at recess, and developmental (social, cognitive, and psychomotor) aspects of recess in schools. Also addressed are common criticisms of recess in schools.

A Guide For Extending Nature Lessons At The Yakima Arboretum, Kathleen D. Brown

All Graduate Projects

The importance of providing a hands on natural environment curriculum was examined. Sources from 1938-1996 were found supporting the importance of such a curriculum. A search was conducted on the availability of a natural habitat curriculum that used a local resource. The search discovered the Yakima Arboretum had seven areas of interest along with a packet of brief lesson suggestions. These lessons were extended to include classroom activities that would provide students with background knowledge prior to a field trip to the Arboretum.

A Guide For Extending Nature Lessons At The Yakima Arboretum, Marilou Cori Kinder

All Graduate Projects

The importance of providing a hands on natural environment curriculum was examined. Sources from 1938-1996 were found supporting the importance of such a curriculum. A search was conducted on the availability of a natural habitat curriculum that used a local resource. The search discovered the Yakima Arboretum had seven areas of interest along with a packet of brief lesson suggestions. These lessons were extended to include classroom activities that would provide students with background knowledge prior to a field trip to the Arboretum.

Wilderness Survival Basic Skills: A Model Seventh Grade Science Curriculum With Integrated Math Concepts, Layne B. Hutchins

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to design and implement a model 7th grade science program with integrated mathematics concepts using an outdoor survival theme. The developed program focused on mathematics and science topics related to exploration and survival in the wilderness and enjoyment of the outdoors in order to connect mathematics and science concepts with real life experiences. Current research and literature on integration and multiple intelligences, integration of mathematics and science as well existing outdoor programs was reviewed. Finally, section overviews, student learning objectives, learning activities and teaching strategies were adapted and developed.

Educational Programs For School Groups Visiting The Cathedral Church Of St. John The Divine, New York City, Nancy S. Kovaleff

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper outlines three educational programs for the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City. The vast setting of the Cathedral and the variety of its contents suggest a wide range of possibilities for educational programming. The programs described here are designed to meet the developmental stages and curricular needs of the three different age groups: 5-7, 6-9, and 10-13. Each program includes pre-visit and post visit activities as well as material for the actual visit to the Cathedral/ Appendices include a needs assessment for middle school groups and a resource guide for students and teachers.

A Student Handbook For The Environmental Education / Outdoor School Program In The Middle School, Robert Charles Kenck Jr.

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this project was to develop a student handbook that can be used from the onset of an environmental study through the inter-active field study. Students will use the handbook as they begin to study environmental education in the classroom. The handbook will continue to be used as each student attends a three day outdoor school to study firsthand their environment through field activities. The handbook will remain the property of the students.

Discover Uptown: Using The Built Environment To Interpret Local History, Linda C. Bohannon

Theses and Dissertations

The downtown commercial district of Columbus, Georgia, becomes an outdoor classroom in this project which uses the built environment to interpret local history. Developed for use by the Columbus Museum Uptown as а guide for a walking tour by eighth-grade students, the project surveyed selected blocks of buildings in downtown Columbus. The structures were examined for their architectural, historical and aesthetic significance. The information was organized into "tour stops" in which students participating can see the unique features of downtown Columbus as it is today and visualize what it might have looked like over the past century. The project was …

A Proposed Associate Of Science Degree In Recreation, Paul H. Todd

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

An applied project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Education Specialist at Morehead State University by Paul H. Todd on August 3,1981.

Summer Enrichment Program For Academically Talented Students, Michael D. Gray

Masters Theses

This field study is written to serve as a guide for a summer enrichment program for academically talented students. The program as presented can be used in part or as a whole.

The study is presented in five chapters and appendices. The first chapter is the introduction. The second chapter is the research supporting the values of a summer enrichment program. The third chapter is the curriculum for the program and the fourth chapter is the finance needed to run the program. The fifth chapter is a conclusion. The appendices contains worksheets that can be used in the curriculum, letters …

A Study Of The River : Social Studies As The Core Of The Curriculum For Five And Six Year Olds, Carol Yahr Tucker

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Using social studies as the core of the curriculum is an effective educational framework for five and six year olds. When this curriculum starts with the children's life experiences and goes on to study some aspect of their community or environment, children can begin to understand the interconnectedness of the adult world. Young children feel the excitement of learning when they immerse themselves in a study; they find that learning can be a vital process related to their needs and experiences, rather than a dry transfer of skills and pre-existing bodies of knowledge.