Imaginative Approaches to Science Education

Abstract

Can an outdoor education curriculum promote environmental awareness and address the needs of children from diverse backgrounds? In what ways can a science curriculum founded in environmental awareness engender inclusivity and help students embrace the idea of life-long learning? Drawing from many different outdoor education curricula and current “best practices,” my research shows the overwhelming need for positive experiences in nature. It is through the use of natural curiosity and wonder that children can develop pro-environmental habits of mind. When a child sees snow melting into a drain on the side of the road they begin to question where that water is going and the impact the chemical residue left on the road may have on its final destination. Environmental stewardship comes from positive experiences in the natural world and a clear understanding of how each and every ecosystem is interconnected. The primary part of my project is a 5th grade curriculum, which aims to encourage exploration and student driven inquiry in order to better understand the world and its systems and to develop a love of learning and the natural world.