North Lakeland Elementary School Water Education Project-Fall Lakes Week Project
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NORTH LAKELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WATER EDUCATION PROJECT-FALL LAKES WEEK PROJECT by Janice B. Watras A Project Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTERS OF SCIENCE (Natural Resources for Elementary and Secondary Teachers) at the College of Natural Resources University of Wisconsin-Steven's Point. August 1996 APPROVED BY THE GRADUATE COMMTITEE OF: ~t.e~~ Professor of Environmental Education TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract............................................................................ m Ackn.owledgement........................................................... v Llst ofTables ......... .......... .............................. ...... ... .... ... VI Llst ofAppendices......................................................... vii I. The Problem and Its Setting Statement ofthe Problem................................... 1 The Sub problems................................................. 1 The Hypothesis..................................................... 1 TheDelimitations ................................................. 2 TheDefinitionof'rerms ........................................ 2 Abbreviations......................................................... 2 Assumptions........................................................... 3 The Importance ofthe Study............................. 3 TimeLine ................................................................ 5 II. Llterature Review In.troducti on............................................................ 6 Importance ofTeacher In.servicing .................. 6 Program Planning and Evaluation..................... 7 Key Elements of a Successful Program ............ 8 Aquatic Ed, CUITiculum Development............... 9 Student Development /Activity Selection......... 9 ill. Project Methodology In.troduction............................................................ 11 Treatment ofSub problem One.......................... 12 TreatmentofSubproblem Two •......................... 12 Treatment ofSub problem Three....................... 13 Treatment ofSub Problem Four......................... 14 N. Results Introduction............................................................. 1 7 Treatment ofSub Problem One.......................... 18 Treatment ofSub Problem Two.......................... 18 Treatment of Sub Problem Three...................... 19 Treatment ofSub Problem Four....................... 20 Hypothesis............................................................ 21 V. Conclusions futroduction ............................................................ 22 Treatment ofSub Problem One......................... 24 TreatmentofSubProblem Two ......................... 25 TreatmentofSubProblem Three...................... 25 Treatment ofSub Problem Four........................ 2 5 VI. Recommendations.............................................................. 2 7 VII. Bibliograhpy........................................................................ 30 VIlI. Appendices ........................................................................... 3 3 Abstract North Lakeland Elementary School (N.L.E.S.) is located in the heart of the Northern Highlands Lake District of Wisconsin. Many of Vilas County's 1300+ lakes lie within the four townships (Boulder Junction, Manitowish Waters, Presque Isle, Winchester) in the North Lakeland Elementary School district. The North Lakeland Elementary School district covers 260 square miles with a student population of about 280 students in grades K-8. The region is sparsely populated, and the lakes are generally considered pristine. Since northern lakes are an integral part of the lives of North Lakeland Elementary School students and the economic base of their communities, it is appropriate for the school to integrate lake studies into the general curriculum. Since these northern lakes are also under increased human pressures from development and tourism, it is important that young citizens develop solid and effective stewardship skills based on sound knowledge and personal experience. This will be a key element in preserving and protecting the resources for future generations. The purpose of this project is to develop an integrated K-8 Lakes Curriculum that will enhance the current Outdoor Education Curriculum while preparing students to make sound decisions about their natural resource conservation as adults, specifically with respect to lake protection in Northern Wisconsin. In an interdisciplinary program extending from grade K-8, students will learn about the ecology and societal value of northern lakes and they will translate this knowledge into positive lake protection measures for their community. iii This project will be implemented three times a year during the regularly scheduled Outdoor Education week. Three days will be spent in the classroom studying lakes while two days will be spent out on the lakes collecting data and observing changes on the lake. Community members will be asked to participate by sharing their expertise with students and by helping to provide boats, bathrooms, lab space and meeting places. The Lakes project at North Lakeland Elementary School will serve as a pro-active model for other school districts in Wisconsin who would like to develop and implement a Lake Studies Project in their School System. lV ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This project taught me quite a bit about life, people and the environment. I am grateful to the staff at the University of Wisconsin Steven's Point for providing such interesting, fun and challenging course work. Thanks also to the support staff for always being there to answer my many questions. Without the financial support of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Lakes Planning Grant staff would not have been trained and the student's would not have acquired the higher skills necessary to monitor and care for their lakes. A special thanks to Bob Young for ensuring that all aspects of the Lakes Planning Grant came to fruition and for answering my numerous questions. The project was enhanced greatly by the terrific staff at U.W. Extension, they provided endless resources and advice as well as excellent in servicing for the staff. (Libby McCann, Irene Grossman, Bob Korth, and all of the people involved in U.W. Extension.) Thanks also to the Staff at the University of Wisconsin Trout Lake Station for your support and advice on water chemistry and water quality testing techniques. Thanks to Sue Treb and Christy Dicka and the Staff at North Lakeland Elementary School for all of your efforts to apply for grant money and develop a Lakes Curriculum. that would work for the Student's at NLES. Thanks to Dennis Yockers for being so enthusiastic and for providing such wonderful, exciting, informative, in-services for our staff. Thanks to the students who participated and learned and who will continue to work to protect their lakes. Thanks to Brian Pierce for sharing his enthusiasm for the environment with me by being my very first Environmental Education Instructor. I would also like to thank Corky McReynolds, my advisor, for the extra hours that he devoted to make this project a success. Thanks to my Mother and Father for encouraging me to continue my education and for their continued support during my endeavors. My final thanks is to my husband and partner in life Carl Watras for helping NLES apply for grant monies, for sharing his knowledge about lakes with myself and the students at NLES, and for his support at home during the many hours that I was away at school and working on this project. V LIST OF TABLES Table #1 Staff Survey 263 Table #2 Student Pretest 264 VI LIST OF APPENDICES AppendixA Grant Proposal 33 AppendixB Inservice Agendas and Newsletters 46 AppendixC Resources 61 AppendixD K-4 Fall Lakes Week Curriculum 73 AppendixE 5-8 Fall Lakes Weeks Curriculum 105 AppendixF Outdoor Education Lakes Curriculum 156 .AppendixG School Wide Activities 243 AppendixH Lakes Data Collected 246 AppendixJ Staff and Student Surveys 256 vii Chapter I THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETrING The statement of the Problem What strategies will significantly increase the use of area water resources for development and implementation of an integrated Environmental Education curriculum by North Lakeland Elementary School teachers in grade 5-8? The Sub Problems How will funding for implementation be secured? How will teacher and administrative support be secured? What type of training will staff need to develop curriculum and implement the Lakes Project successfully? What strategies will be involved in promoting the use of water resources for infusion into the existing Environmental Education Program at North Lakeland Elementary School? The Hypothesis The first hypothesis is that a successful water resources program, integrated into all subject areas at the K-8th grade level, will increase the extent of Environmental Education infusion by North Lakeland Elementary School K-8 grade teachers. 1 2 The second hypothesis is that students, community members and teachers will feel empowered to take positive community action for protection of lake resources for future generations as a result of a water resources program. The Delimitations The teachers will need to develop an extensive background in water resources in order to implement the activities into their curriculum. The teachers will need to be supportive and interested in water resources in order for the program to be successful. The Definitions of the Terms Water Resources- Lakes and Rivers within the boundaries of the school