School and Community Fall 2022

M eeting all science standards can be daunting for teachers, but fret no longer! The Missouri Department of Conservation’s newDiscover Nature Schools (DNS) Kindergarten curriculummeets all Missouri Learning Science Standards and Next Generation Science Standards. All lessons are inspired by local Missouri nature phenomenon. This taps into students’ natural curiosity to understand the world around them. Lesson framework is based on the 5EModel of learning: engage, explore, explain , elaborate and evaluate . By engaging students’ interests and accessing their background knowledge, teachers can quickly build excitement. Here are some examples of how students can explore different scientific concepts: · Earth and Space Sciences: Digital thermometer temperatures are taken to understand how the sun warms the earth, impacting black bears and their different color phases. · Engineering, Technology and Applications of Science : Students use materials in the schoolyard to build a shelter protecting the bear puppet from possible severe weather, engineering a site a bear might find and use as a den. · Life Sciences : Using observation skills, students draw, record and count plants and animals in their schoolyard. · Physical Sciences : Students experience forces while learning how black bears push branches away and pull food toward them to eat. Finally, evaluation is built into each lesson along with each unit through formative assessments built in. Order your materials today! Simply visit education.mdc.mo.gov/ Kindergarten . From the Teacher Portal, you can order both the Teacher Guide and Student Guides. You can also sign up for Teacher Workshops provided by your local Conservation Educator. The training allows you the opportunity to learn more about the curriculum and how to engage your students in your schoolyard. Training also qualifies classrooms with the opportunity for transportation reimbursement for field experiences and long-term loan agreements for DNS Teacher Kits, supporting hands-on learning. For additional information contact Wendy.Parrett@mdc.mo.gov or MaryBeth.Factor@mdc.mo.gov. The First Grade Discover Nature Schools curriculumwill be available later this school year and provides all the same benefits as DNS Kindergarten. Check science off your classroom list by knowing that students will be engaged in hands-on, real-world learning. Feel good knowing students are learning all the science content required by grade level standards. This is a win for both your school and your students!

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