Final Project Blog partnered with alaskaZgal

How can digital resources and effective teaching methods be used to integrate Alaska Native ways of knowing and Western scientific methods in order to create greater understanding of, and interest in, geosciences for students?

Final Project

In the past, Alaska indigenous people always used their resources effectively so that there was little waste. They believed what came from the Earth should go back to the Earth. By ensuring that there was no waste, Native cultures were spiritually at peace with Mother Earth.

Through research and observations, Western scientists came to similar conclusions. They found the Earth to be a fine balance of functioning entities; atmosphere, cryosphere, oceanic, geological and biological systems.

Now both indigenous people and Western scientists are aware of the fragile conditions that the human footprint has created, especially in the North.

Our mission: We realize that humans will participate more readily in more environmentally responsible habits if it is made simple and friendly. Our final project will focus on that concept. Our plan is to reach our students , through the use of Teacher's Domain (TD), as well as other digital resources, how to develop global awareness and Earthly concerns. In turn our students, will work toward establishing a community recycling center which will include several large receptacles placed on school property of recycling for the Fairview Loop community. Hopefully, this process will help them become more aware of good conservation habits to practice at home.


Goal 1- Educate students about climate change and take action


Objective 1: Use TD http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource.ean08.sci.ess.earthwyw.sanature, "Take Action Nature and Your Community", Steps 1-7 Other resources that we plan to use which are designed as interactive kid friendly presentations include: http://www.childrenoftheearth.org/, www.pbskids.org/eekoworld, www.epa.gov/epawaste/education, http://www.clear-air-kids.org.uk/


Step 1- "What's your relationship with the Natural Environments, we will brainstorm the questions with the group. Step 2-"Climate Change in the Arctic", we will watch the video. Step 3-"Scientific Research", we will first watch the video. Then brainstorm answers to the questions together. Step 4-"The Value of Observations", teachers will have answers prepared for student review and discussion. Step 5-'Making Use of Both Native and Western Perspectives", we will first view the video, and then brainstorm questions together. Step 6-"Getting Involved", we will watch a flash interactive. Step 7-"Identify Community Concerns", we will show pictures of environmental concerns in our area, one by one, and offer discussions

Objective 2: Use TD http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource.ean08.sci.ess.earthwyw.sanature, "Take Action Nature and Your Community", Steps 8-12Again, other resources that we plan to use which are designed as interactive kid friendly presentations include: http://www.childrenoftheearth.org/, www.pbskids.org/eekoworld, www.epa.gov.epawaste/education, http://www.clear-air-kids.org.uk/

Step 8-'Research an Environmental Issue", here, we plan to steer the focus to recycling. Step 9-"Brainstorm Solutions", we will watch kid friendly, digital, interactive videos and cartoons shown above to improve the students understanding of recycling. Step 10- "Take Action", here will make a plan. Step 11-"Take Action". here, we plan to put together a play/presentation that the children will take part in and which will be recorded with appropriate releases signed by using a digital camera. We are hoping to, at some point, put this video onto our schools website for parent viewing. Step 12-"Further Exploration", we will use additional websites if needed.

Goal 2- Researching and Raising Money for Recycling Receptacles

Step 1: Contact Valley Community for Recycling (VCR) to find out what we can recycle in our area and how it should be prepared for easier recycling or pick up. Contact VCR through email to request their Recycle Curriculum Kit which includes an informative video on recycling in our state.

Step 2: Contact Alaska Waste to inquire about the cost of having receptacles placed on our school property, as well as the cost to receive at least monthly pick up. Make a plan to fund raise for the amount that we need to cover it.

Step 3: Begin a sales campaign to sell Chico Bags to our parents, parents friends, staff and staffs friends. If it works out to have a fundraiser outside of school, that will be considered as well.

Step 4: Hopefully, with good sales we will have regular recycling being dropped off by community members into our new recycling receptacles which will be placed in our parking lot and regular recycling pick up service being funded.

Goal 3- We are still formulating this plan. Lisa Zanetti aka alaskazgal has contacted an educator in Cooktown, Queenland, Australia. This small community on the east coast north of Cairns. It is populated by indigenous peoples of Australia. Our plan is to communicate with a group of students and community members through the use of digital technology to find out about their environmental issues and concerns. Our students will participate in the process in order to help them to gain information about global concerns on a Southern Hemisphere continent that shares the same large ocean body as Alaska.