Term

Summer 2018

Capstone

Capstone Project

Degree Name

MAED: NSEE

Facilitator(s)

Patty Born Selly

Content Expert

Pam Welisevich and Teresa Root

Abstract

The area of focus addressed in this capstone project was a curriculum on raptors, specifically raptors found in Minnesota. It documents one naturalist’s creation of a science-based unit that implements different aspects of students’ learning styles. Pedagogical concepts used in the development of this curriculum included the North American Association of Environmental Education’s (NAAEE) guidelines (NAAEE, 1996) as well as Understanding by Design – the second part of the framework: “backwards design” (Wiggins & McTighe, 2011). The author uses related literature to construct meaning and justification to the study to help support the details of the unit. She focused on birds of prey for this curriculum for a few reasons. One, was to bring an awareness and understanding to children about raptors found throughout Minnesota. Two, because of their part in the ecosystem both as a keystone species and as a biological indicator; and three, because of their presence in cultures past and present. This curriculum is designed to be used in a formal school setting as well as a non-profit conservation-based organization specializing in education. The lessons that make up this curriculum address science standards only, but this curriculum is multidisciplinary, touching on different subjects throughout.

Project Type

Curriculum

Keywords

environmental education, raptor, biological indicator, keystone species

dc_type

text

dc_publisher

DigitalCommons@Hamline

dc_format

application/pdf

dc_source

School of Education Student Capstone Projects

Included in

Education Commons

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