TRANSFORMING WAIʻANAE INTERMEDIATE'S SCIENCE CURRICULUM THROUGH INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE (Invited Presentation)

Waiʻanae Intermediate School is located within the ahupuaʻa of Waiʻanae on the island of Oʻahu. Home of the Jr. Seariders, kumu (teachers), at Waiʻanae Intermediate are using the Nā Hōpena Aʻo Framework and the Next Generation Science Standards and infusing them with indigenous knowledge to provide a more culturally-sustaining, place-based STEAM curriculum. The goal of integrating place-based knowledge in geoscience research and education is to provide a model for haumāna (students) to connect Hawaiian cultural and Western science. This curriculum provides interactive, hands-on learning experiences that emphasize Hawaiian culture, geoscience, and ecology. New curricular activities created by the kumu include: 1) phenology studies, 2) bioblitz, 3) ArgGIS monitoring with story maps 4) cross grade peer activities; and 5) water and soil monitoring. Students data has shown positive responses to the new program academically, personally, and culturally.