This project was funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.    

Keys Kids in Nature is an attempt to help 4^th grade students in Monroe County learn more about the natural world that surrounds them. The program is specifically designed to help new or experienced teachers incorporate these lessons without having to forgo other important learning mandates. Lesson questions are FCAT formatted and tied to Monroe County as well as Sunshine State standards. Lessons are cross-disciplinary. Field trip locations are close by to keep costs down.

Developed by a graduate student from Antioch University on behalf of the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges, the Keys Kids in Nature program also received crucial help from local 4^th grade teachers, ensuring absolute usability.

Designed as a three-week odyssey, each lesson builds on the next, bolstering student knowledge and confidence. The first week is teacher driven, incorporating at least 5 lessons to introduce the students to the subject matter. The second week is Refuge staff and volunteer driven, consisting of two program days: 1) A __ minute PowerPoint presentation/activity, and 2) A 3-hour field trip. The third week is student driven, asking them to incorporate their learning into meaningful projects to be shared outside their class.

In addition to the academic theme, the program incorporates individual and team-building opportunities. On field trips, each instructor works with a teaching group of approximately 8-10 students and one school chaperone.

In total, the "Keys Kids in Nature!" program hopes to provide the tools with which students will develop a sense of place that will inform them and guide future learning and decisions.

The goal of "Keys Kids in Nature!" is to:

• Develop students' knowledge and skills in math, writing, and science through an integrated, field-based study of the local Refuge ecosystems.
• Increase student motivation and engagement through the use of authentic projects, field-based learning experiences, and a relevant local context.
• Develop students' technology, problem-solving, and communication skills through research projects involving gathering, organizing, processing, and communicating information about the Florida Keys environment.
• Develop students' character skills and foster a stewardship ethic and a sense of civic responsibility, as the local environment becomes the avenue for emphasizing attitudes of respect, responsibility, and cooperation.

Last modified: Thursday, June 19, 2008

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