Welcome!
Schoolyard Ecology Explorations seeks to increase
student and teacher expertise in ecological research, natural history and sustainability.
Through summer workshops, curriculum and schoolyard garden grants, teachers gain
the skills and the tools to lead their student to investigate the natural world.
Please click on the links on this page to learn more about our program, or email see@monarchlab.org to ask questions.
Objectives:
- Study Ecology - Learn about the study of ecology at University of Minnesota's
Long Term Ecological research (LTER) station at Cedar Creek, thus increasing teacher
(and student) exposure to and interest in science.
- Conduct Research - Learn how to conduct ecological research with their
students in schoolyard nature areas using observation skills and practicing scientific
inquiry methods.
- Frameworks - Better understand the interconnecting framework between ecology,
science and sustainability by utilizing the SEE curriculum.
- Partnerships - Form partnerships between educators and the researchers
at Cedar Creek LTER station.
To learn why outdoor education is so important, click to view two articles from
our 2007 MITC Newsletter ("Kids
for a Sustainable Future" and "Schoolyard Attitude is Key!").
News and Updates
New Product: Schoolyard Ecology Explorations Curriculum Guide!
The lessons in this science inquiry-based curriculum are designed to increase the student’s connection to nature through observation and experimentation. Many of the lessons can be implemented on any school grounds, including urban schoolyards where access to nature may be limited. Furthermore, many lessons can be adapted to suit grades K-12 because of their experimental nature. The guide is divided into six sections: Experiments in the Schoolyard, Recording Natural Cycles, Observing Organisms, Investigating Ecology, Discovering Biodiversity, and Seeking Sustainability. Each lesson includes key concepts, an objective, and background information; 239 pages with teacher and student handouts.
Schoolyard Garden Grants
Online applications for SEE garden grant awards in January 2010 are currently being accepted. Applications must be submitted by Tuesday, December 01, 2009. Click here for more information on how to apply. Register or Login.
Archived News