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MOSAICA: MAKING OUTDOOR SCIENCES AVAILABLE IN CLASSROOMS

4-H & Youth

Theresa Friday
ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE EXT FACULTY II
University of Florida/IFAS
MILTON

Abstract

MOSAICS: MAKING OUTDOOR SCIENCES AVAILABLE IN CLASSROOMS\r\n\r\nFriday*, T.L.1 , Mullins, V.2\r\n\r\n1. Extension Agent, University of Florida/IFAS, Santa Rosa County, Milton, Florida 32570\r\n2. Extension Agent, University of Florida/IFAS, Santa Rosa County, Milton, Florida 32570\r\n\r\n Educators are constantly looking for better ways to teach science and offer real-life experiences in the study of the environment. In Florida, classroom teachers must narrow their educational focus and place increased emphasis on student performance as measured by the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test®. Teachers have less time to provide hands-on experiences. To enhance students’ exposure to the “outdoor” sciences, Extension faculty, 4-H staff, and Master Gardener volunteers provide monthly workshops. Mosaics’ mission is to connect youth and elders to investigate the “mosaics” of natural resources. Program goals include providing a set of resources and activities that combine science learning and intergenerational mentoring to Santa Rosa County youth, teaching a program that integrates “local knowledge” of gardeners with scientific knowledge, and utilizing the 4-H “learn-by-doing” approach to teach new knowledge. For the last two academic years, the program has been taught to all 7th graders (approximately 345 youth annually) at the Woodlawn Beach Middle School in Gulf Breeze, Florida. Agents use experiential, reinforcement and integrative teaching methods and activities to deliver education to the targeted audience using a non-formal structure. Types of educational methods include field days, games, role playing, worksheets, skill-a-thons, and discussions. Pre/post tests document significant improvement in students’ knowledge of natural resources. Authors: Friday, T.
  1. Friday, T. Environmental Horticulture Ext Faculty Ii, University Of Florida/ifas, Florida, 32570