School and Community Summer 2024

Figure 3: Students work through their student book recording each step of the Engineering Design Process as it relates to their specific problem to solve as a small group. Students then conduct the final step by evaluating and sharing their results as a group.

DNS Second Grade: Life and Land in Missouri Teacher Guide

• In the third to fifth grade Nature Unleashed curriculum, students learn about Worms in School as they design and build a worm bin. Students can try different types of worms and see what solution most effectively turns their food scraps into soil to grow native plants. • Middle school curriculum Nature Unhooked students explore all aspects of water including Water Purification Engineering as they work to clean water that both looks dirty and smells. Extensions of this lesson encourage students to identify designs that are the smallest, cheapest and most durable. • High school curriculum Nature Unbound allows students to address Invasive Invasions , problem-solving how to address invasive species that negatively impact Missouri native plants and animals. All teachers can easily order any of these materials free of charge. First, you will need to create your account or log-in on the MDC Teacher Portal at education.mdc.mo.gov . Once your account is created, if you are a Missouri teacher, you can order your free classroom materials including a teacher guide, student books and student science notebooks. There are no shipping costs and materials will arrive within 7-10 business days to the mailing address provided. You can also register for free MDC teacher trainings. Certified teachers who attend trainings are eligible for classroom grants and

There are several engineering lessons incorporated throughout the Discover Nature Schools curriculum! Engage all students to behave as an engineer solving problems by building or designing a solution. You can find additional engineering lessons in the following DNS curriculums, which are free and available on the MDC Teacher Portal webpage (education.mdc.mo.gov). • For pre-K students, Nature Revealed curriculum is an approved supplemental curriculum by DESE. In one of the winter lessons, Melt the Ice Cube , students brainstorm and work together testing their ideas of how to quickly melt the ice cube in the plastic bag . In Spring lesson What Goes in the Wind? students create something that will move or travel in the wind. With all engineering challenges, there’s the opportunity to improve on the original design and improving the results. • DNS Kindergarten: Bears Through the Seasons includes fall lesson Finding a Den where students create a den site a bear could find. To test the quality of the den built, the students test three factors: wind, rain and snow using a fan, spray bottle and flour. • DNS First Grade: Exploring Missouri includes Inspired by Animals where students research native Missouri animals and apply their new knowledge . The lesson How Animals and I Stay Warm has students utilizing various strategies animals use designing something to keep themselves warm as well.

Figure 1: Lesson 1F Seed Engineers Student Book lesson introduction page.

travel reimbursement if you are teaching any of the DNS curriculum! Connect with your local Conservation Educator through the contact link to learn about all MDC programs available free to your school. Get your students outside into nature while practicing engineering and science skills. Make it hands-on and make science come to life in your classroom!

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