Term
Fall 12-8-2015
Capstone
Thesis
Degree Name
MAED: NSEE
Primary Advisor/Dissertation Chair
Karen Moroz
Secondary Advisor/Reader One
Rebecca Detrich
Peer-Reviewer/Reader Two
Diann Rastetter
Abstract
The question for this research is: how can the relationship between climate change and the coast redwood forest be incorporated into fifth and sixth grade environmental education programs? Climate change is a real, global problem, and this capstone is intended as a resource for environmental educators to incorporate climate change into their programs. It includes a literature review of scientific research on climate change impacts on coast redwood forests and presents a lesson plan for teaching climate change in the redwood setting. The lesson plan covers basic climate science, dendrochronology, and carbon footprints, and was conducted at Westminster Woods, a residential environmental education program in Northern California. Ninety-nine fifth and sixth grade students participated, and learning was measured using pre- and post-questionnaires. Data analysis, including a mean thirty-one percentage point increase in scores, showed that the lesson plan was successful in increasing student knowledge of climate change in the redwood forest.
Research Methodology
Curriculum Development, Field Study, Program Evaluation, Survey
Keywords
Environmental Studies, Science, Environmental Education
Recommended Citation
Martin, Dorea Eve, "How Can the Relationship Between Climate Change and the Coast Redwood Forest Be Incorporated into Fifth and Sixth Grade Environmental Education Programs?" (2015). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations. 257.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_all/257