The Prairie Science Class is a formal partnership between the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Prairie Wetlands Learning
Center and the Fergus Falls Independent School District 544.
Its mission is to use the local prairie wetlands ecosystem as an
integrating and motivating context to engage fifth-grade students
in science, math, and writing through real world, fieldbased
learning experiences. A formative program evaluation
was conducted during the first year of its implementation to
document program outcomes and areas for program
improvement. A variety of quantitative and qualitative evaluation
tools were used. The results of this evaluation suggest
positive cognitive and affective outcomes, including concept
attainment and skill development in science and writing; perceived
learning in math; perceived skill growth in problem
solving, technology, and working and communicating with
others; and positive influences on students’ motivation toward
learning, attitudes toward the prairie wetlands environment,
and stewardship ethic.
Relation:
Journal of Interpretation Research 10(1), pp.59-66
