DISCOVER NATURE SCHOOLSGROWTH REPORT 2011

DISCOVER NATURE SCHOOLS (DNS)WHAT IS IT?

• Science, Biology, and Ecology instructional units

• About Missouri habitats and species

• Aligned with MDC mission

• Aligned with DESE Grade-Level and Course-Level Expectations

DISCOVER NATURE SCHOOLS (DNS)WHAT IS IT?

Each unit includes:• Student book

• Teacher guide with outdoor activities

• Local outdoor component is key• Improves physical and mental health• Improves academic performance• Encourages familiarity with the outdoors

DISCOVER NATURE SCHOOLS (DNS)WHAT IS IT?

Each unit includes:• Free training by MDC Education Consultants

• Grants for outdoor field experiences

• Grants for outdoor exploration equipment and outdoor classroom supplies

DISCOVER NATURE SCHOOLS (DNS)WHAT IS IT?

Inquiry-based hands-on learning• Observation• Field investigations• Testable question• Data collection and analyzing• Hypothesis• Conducting experiments• Checking results with hypothesis• Reporting

DISCOVER NATURE SCHOOLS (DNS)GOALS

• Helps us achieve MDC mission and vision• Students and teachers “learn about fish, forest, and

wildlife resources” and become active participants in the outdoors.

Familiarity OwnershipAppreciation

Participation Empowerment Stewardship

DISCOVER NATURE SCHOOLS (DNS)GOALS

• Helps teachers teach DESE Standards• Closely aligned with GLEs and CLEs• Covers material in state standardized tests

• Connects students with nature close to home

DISCOVER NATURE SCHOOLS (DNS)ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

• Creates a new learning environment• Collaborative work• Information exchange• Active, exploratory, inquiry-based learning• Critical thinking and decision-making• Proactive, planned action• Real world context

Elementary Unit

• Grades 3-5

• Pond, forest, and prairie habitats

• Activity example: Students build bird feeders, observe birds, and complete data sheets

Middle School Unit

• Grades 6-8

• Aquatic Ecosystems

• Activity example: Students make observations about their school’s watershed, erosion, and potential non-point source pollution.

High School Unit

• Grades 9-12

• Ecology/Wildlife management

• Activity example: Students record examples of organism interactions with cell phones or digital cameras. Groups make observations, record data, and make presentations to the rest of the class.

K-2 unitDNS grew 227% in 2010!

DNS CURRENT RATE OF GROWTH

2006 2007 2008 2009 20100

50

100

150

200

250

300

030

242

030

76113

193

032

Elementary Middle High

# of

Sch

ools

By Each Unit

DNS CURRENT RATE OF GROWTH

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010050

100150200250300350400450500

030

76143

467

All Units

# of

Sch

ools

All Units Combined

What’s coming up?

• Unit for Kindergarten – second grade

• Unit for early childhood

• DNS training at MSU as part of a conservation education minor for education students

Conservation Education = Conservation