This project invites students to explore the driving forces behind preserving the natural world and their communities through immersive, hands-on experiences. By engaging with community partners like The Nature Collective and participating in activities such as a Yosemite field trip and local service work, students will connect scientific concepts with real-world applications. Through reflective practices, including Socratic seminars and persuasive writing, students will critically examine their roles in environmental stewardship and community engagement, culminating in a public exhibition that showcases their learning and advocacy efforts.
Learning goals
Students will explore the driving forces behind environmental and community preservation through hands-on experiences and critical discussions. They will develop persuasive writing skills by crafting essays to petition local governments for environmental action. Students will engage in self-directed learning by reflecting on their service work with community partners and participating in Socratic seminars. They will utilize critical thinking and problem-solving skills to design and evaluate solutions that reduce human impact on ecosystems, meeting NGSS standards. Through documenting their service work using cyanotyping and digital photography, students will connect scientific concepts to real-world applications.
Standards
[Next Generation Science Standards] HS-LS2-7 - Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
[Next Generation Science Standards] HS-LS2-7 - Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
[Next Generation Science Standards] 5-ESS3-1 - Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth's resources and environment.
Competencies
Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.
Products
Students will create a multimedia presentation documenting their service work with the Nature Collective, utilizing cyanotyping and digital photography to capture their experiences. They will compose a persuasive essay petitioning local government for environmental action, incorporating their reflections and research. The final exhibition will include a Socratic seminar where students present their findings and engage in discussions about the importance of preserving natural and community resources.
Launch
Begin the project with an immersive "Nature and Community Day" at a local park or community center, where students engage in interactive stations. These stations include hands-on activities like building mini-ecosystems, identifying local flora and fauna, and discussing the importance of natural resources with a representative from The Nature Collective. This day sets the stage for the project by sparking curiosity and fostering a sense of connection to their environment and community.
Exhibition
Students will host a community exhibition showcasing their journey of preserving the natural world and their community. They will present their service work documentation through a digital gallery of cyanotype and film photography. The exhibition will feature a live Socratic Seminar, where students discuss the importance of environmental preservation and community engagement, inviting local officials, community members, and families to participate in the dialogue. Additionally, students will display their petition essays, offering insights into their proposed solutions for local environmental challenges.
