Ed (Education) 2301
Environmental Science and Place-Based Education (96749)
(Envt; 4.0 cr; Carol Marxen)

Course Description
This course provides a practical framework for using the environment as an integrating context for teaching elementary aged students. Learn how to use the outdoors as a classroom and gain knowledge about the prairie and wetland ecosystems through hands-on experiences. Students will partner with environmental specialists to explore topics, issues, and concepts of environmental science and place-based education.

Course Information
This course will take place at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) Prairie Wetlands Learning Center (PWLC602 State Highway 210 East, Fergus Falls, MN). The Prairie Science Class (PSC) is a formal partnership between the USFWS, PWLC and Fergus Falls Independent School District 544. The 5th grade class from Fergus Falls Middle School spends two hours each day at the PWLC. In addition to the 5th grade class, elementary school students from the region come to PWLC for day field trips to learn about the wetlands from environmental education specialists.

Students will team with the PSC teachers and PWLC education specialists to create and teach lessons, and facilitate groups for PSC and PWLC student groups; read required texts; meet with the instructor and PLC teachers daily for dialogue; write reflective journals including field logs (pedagogy and content knowledge), teacher logs (student learning), and personal discoveries; write a summary paper to analyze, symthesize and evaluate their learning.

Goals
Goals for the course include:

1. to explore the topics, concepts, and issues in environmental science and place-based education
2. to discover ways to translate students' place-based learning about the cultural and natural history of wetlands into projects and activities
3. to provide a practical framework for using the environment as an integrating context for teaching
4. to acquire practical teaching strategies to nurture students' sense of place, their commitment to practicing stewardship, and their enthusiasm for school-community relationships

Schedule (tentative)
May 19-23 PWLC
May 27-30 PWLC
June 2-6 UMM Classroom (complete projects)

May 19-30 the class will meet at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Prairie Wetlands Learning Center (PWLC602 State Highway 210 East, Fergus Falls, MN). Students will stay in the dormitories at PWLC.

June 2-6 the course will take place in the Education building (room 102) on the UMM campus for debriefing and project completion.

Textbooks/Materials
Leslie, C.W., Tallmadge, J., & Wessels, T. (1996). Into the Field: A Guide to Locally Focused Teaching. Orion Society.
Louv, Richard. Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
Sobel, David (2004) Place-Based Education: Connecting Classrooms and Communities

Program Costs
Tuition plus textbooks, lodging ($15/night), meals (on your own), cooperating teacher consultant fee ($50/student)

Faculty - Carol Marxen
Department: Education
Location: 208 Education
Phone: 320-589-6417
Email: marxence@morris.umn.edu