Teacher Field Trip: Exploring Hobbs State Park

Virginia Rhame, NWAESC Science Specialist, vrhame@starfishnw.orgShawna Williams, 4th Grade Sci Teacher, swilliams@farmcards.org

• Welcome/Introduction• Goals• Agenda• Food for Thought• Split into 2 groups

Source: mandatory.com

Source: mandatory.com

Source: mandatory.com

Source: mandatory.com

Source: mandatory.com

Source: mandatory.com

Source: mandatory.com

Source: mandatory.com

Source: mandatory.com

Reflect

• Re-visit Anticipation Guide• Did this morning help you better understand

any of your SLEs or give you some experiences or examples to relate to your students? If so, which or how?

• Materials/Lessons

Formal vs. Informal Learning Environments (ILE)

• “science learning that takes place outside the traditional, formal schooling realm. . .”

(Dierking et al, JARST, 2003, p 108)• What makes this experience today different from a

typical day or lesson in your classroom?• Why is it important that students have a chance to

explore ILE such as the visitor’s center?• How can we help students get something out of ILE?

(Handout: “Transforming a Field Trip into an Expedition” by Morris)

Informal Learning Environments• What attributes of this IFE (Hobbs Visitor’s

Center) should we mimic in our classrooms?• Handout: “Interactive Word Walls” by

Jackson, Tripp, and Cox

Developing a Rationale for Spending Time in Nature

• Why is it important that students spend time outside?

• Why should we make sure some lessons take advantage of the outdoors?

“Today, Kids are aware of the global threats to the environment—but their physical contact, their intimacy with nature, is fading. . . A kid today can likely tell you about the Amazon Rain Forest– but not about the last time he or she explored the woods in solitude, or lay in a field listening to the wind, watching the clouds move” (p.10).

“Numerous studies have shown that spending time outside leads to healthier children, both mentally and physically” (p.8).

“In the past, the field trip was frequently suggested as the way to support science instruction outside the classroom. However, we now understand that the most effective science instruction only occurs when students and teachers to the widest number of resources available. These resources may continue to include field trips, but should extend much farther .”

--William McComas, “Science Teaching Beyond the Classroom”, The Science Teacher, Jan 2006.

“. . . the classroom is a is a limited environment. The school science program must extend beyond the walls of the school to the resources of the community.”

--NRC, National Science Education Standards, 1996

Ted Talks

Wrap-up the Day

• Resources: PLT, NSTA• Any questions/comments/opinions?• Revisit Goals• Van Winkle Trail Directions• Survey