Project Description: 

The goal of the project is to reimagine the traditional 3rd grade social studies experience that is centered around Michigan History and Geography while creating meaningful connections and learning experiences beyond the classroom. In this project, students will engage with the challenge of being geographers and finding ways to share about the community we live in using authentic tools of mapping, arcgis, story maps and cameras. A large portion of the project will build off the mission of the ODC in supporting the mission of helping people know about our beautiful places so we can engage in conservation and protection of our land and water. Students will take on the role of experts in sharing their findings.

Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:

At the foundational level, providing students a chance to deeply develop a relationship with our natural spaces and learn about them will lead to love, care and protection of our amazing land and water. This project is designed for intense, ongoing interaction with our local ecosystem.

Partners:

Holland Outdoor Discovery Center, MiSTEM West Michigan Region

Teachers:

Erica Slenk, 3rd Grade, General Education; Natalie Boer, 3rd Grade, General Education; Chris DeZwaan, 3rd Grade, General Education

Students:

16

Funder:

MiSTEM

Showcase Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-fiPELi2wI&list=PLV2DqaYFEsPwEUUHkVf4EWeARMMgZa9NL&index=14&ab_channel=GroundswellMichigan

Project Description: 

Pine Ridge Elementary School students were the scholars working on this project. The goal of the project is to reimagine the traditional 3rd grade social studies experience that is centered around Michigan Geography while creating meaningful connections and learning experiences beyond the classroom. In this project, students will engage with the challenge of being geographers and finding ways to share about the community we live in using authentic tools of mapping, arcgis, story maps and cameras. A large portion of the project will build off the mission of the ODC in supporting the mission of helping people know about our beautiful places so we can engage in conservation and protection of our land and water.

Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:

At the foundational level, providing students a chance to deeply develop a relationship with our natural spaces and learn about them will lead to love, care and protection of our amazing land and water. This project is designed for intense, ongoing interaction with our local ecosystem.

Partners:

Outdoor Discovery Center

Teachers:

Natalie Boer, 3rd Grade, All Subjects; Christine DeZwaan, 3rd Grade, All Subjects; Erica Slenk, 3rd Grade, All Subjects;

Students:

59

Funder:

The Baldwin Foundation

Showcase Video: https://youtu.be/WrLxiSvqVQI