USING SOILS TO EXCITE KIDS ABOUT SCIENCE
The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE; www.globe.gov) Program is a K-12 international science and mathematics program that brings students together virtually from around the world in understanding their local environment by collecting and analyzing data. Data are entered via the Internet into a global database. Students and scientists from around the world can access this information.
St. Catherine University (SCU) is a GLOBE partner and uses the program in its elementary educator preparation program. It is used in the science content courses that the students are required to complete as part of their preparation program.
Also, in partnership with local schools, SCU faculty has trained the teachers to use scientific protocols to collect information in 4 areas: atmosphere, hydrology, land cover and soils. In addition, SCU elementary education majors go to the partner schools to help the teachers teach various scientific concepts and protocols such as soil characterization to their elementary students. SCU faculty observes the elementary education majors in teaching science to the elementary students and offer feedback to them.
This partnership, called Eco-STARS (Eco-as this teaching occurs in the natural environment; STARS-Students, Teachers And Real Science), has been extremely successful for SCU elementary education majors in giving them a comfort level in teaching science. It has also excited the elementary students about science. For the elementary teachers, it has meant additional professional development in science and having the elementary education majors with them in teaching science has been extremely beneficial.