Guide for a core curriculum in conservation education for junior high schools

Abstract

Scope of Study: Conservation is a way of life. It must be introduced to students at a young age if it is to be a part of our educational program. A study, therefore, was made of the existing guides from the various states. A new guide for Conservation Education was written for junior high schools to use in the modern core curriculum as one unit of study. There was a need for an integrated program that would show the relationships among Conservation, Science, Social Studies, English, and Mathematics. Since few teachers are familiar with Conservation Education, there was also a need for a detailed guide for faculty and administration.

Findings and Conclusions: A new guide was written for Conservation Education. A complete introduction and purpose was given in the study, along with a history of Conservation Education, to acquaint the faculty and administration to the subject. The guide contains suggested in-service training for personnel, educational objectives, and evaluation of objectives. The course work is broken down into weekly objectives and suggested activities for Mineral Resources, Land and Soil Resources, Water Resources, Plant and Forest Resources, Wildlife Resources, and Human Resources. For each week, suggestions for an integrated program for Science, Social Studies, English, and Mathematics are outlined. The objectives in each case was to show relationships with a transfer of learning, and to develop a more democratic and conservation-minded youth. The very existence of man as a species, or his ability to hold dominion over all the rest of the animal kingdom, may well depend upon how efficiently our youth is educated toward a conservation-directed culture.