Project Grant 02F59801

DESCRIPTION:THIS PROJECT PROVIDES FUNDING TO GALVESTON BAY FOUNDATION TO IMPLEMENT ITS PROJECT, WHICH WILL DESIGN, DEMONSTRATE, AND DISSEMINATE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PRACTICES, METHODS, AND TECHNIQUES, THAT WILL SERVE TO INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND ENCOURAGE BEHAVIOR THAT WILL BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT IN KEMAH, TX. THE RECIPIENT WILL DO THIS BY CREATING A FOCUS GROUP OF TEACHERS, GALVESTON BAY FOUNDATION EDUCATORS, AND PROJECT PARTNERS THAT WILL ADAPT ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES TO THE LOCAL ECOSYSTEM AND CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES; THAT WILL CREATE A MENU OF ACTIVITIES FOR FIELD TRIPS; AND THAT WILL PLAN RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO IMPLEMENT AT THE GALVESTON BAY FOUNDATION EDUCATION CENTER. TEACHERS WILL PILOT THE ACTIVITIES AT THE EDUCATION CENTER AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK. THE PROJECT WILL CULMINATE WITH A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP FOR TEACHERS.ACTIVITIES:THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN KEMAH, TEXAS, AND PROVIDE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND TO TAKE RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED DURING THIS PROJECT PERIOD INCLUDE: CREATION OF A FOCUS GROUP OF TEACHERS, GALVESTON BAY FOUNDATION EDUCATORS, AND PROJECT PARTNERS; ADAPTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES TO THE LOCAL ECOSYSTEM AND CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES; CREATION OF A MENU OF ACTIVITIES FOR FIELD TRIPS; DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO IMPLEMENT AT THE EDUCATION CENTER; COMPLETION OF A PILOT OF THE EDUCATION ACTIVITIES AT THE EDUCATION CENTER; AND COMPLETION OF A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP FOR TEACHERS.SUBRECIPIENT:GALVESTON BAY FOUNDATION WILL PROVIDE A SUBAWARD TO UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON-CLEAR LAKE TO CONSULT ON THE FOCUS GROUP, ATTEND MEETINGS, PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE RESOURCES TO TEACHERS, AND FACILITATE DISCUSSION ON FIELD TRIP ACTIVITIES. GALVESTON BAY FOUNDATION WILL PROVIDE A SUBAWARD TO RICE UNIVERSITY TO CONSULT ON THE FOCUS GROUP, ATTEND MEETINGS, AND RECRUIT TEACHERS FOR THE FOCUS GROUP AND TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP. GALVESTON BAY FOUNDATION WILL PROVIDE THREE SUBAWARDS TO ELIGIBLE RECIPIENTS NOT YET IDENTIFIED WHO WILL PROVIDE FIELD TRIP ASSISTANCE IN CONNECTION TO THE PROJECT, ASSIST WITH TEACHER TRAVEL TO CONFERENCES, AND PROVIDE CLASSROOM SUPPLIES.OUTCOMES:IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THIS PROJECT WILL RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING DELIVERABLES: FOCUS GROUP CREATED; ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CURRICULUM ADAPTED FOR THE LOCAL AREA; FIELD TRIPS CONDUCTED; STUDENT RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES DEVELOPED; PILOT OF EDUCATION ACTIVITIES WITH STUDENTS COMPLETED; ONE TEACHER DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP COMPLETED; AND ONE TEACHER DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP OR CONFERENCE PRESENTATION COMPLETED. EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE PROJECT INCLUDE IMPROVED STUDENT ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND KNOWLEDGE OF HOW CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECTS THE GALVESTON BAY ECOSYSTEM, AN INCREASE IN STUDENT SCIENTIFIC PROBLEM SOLVING, AND AN INCREASE IN RELEVANT FIELD SCIENCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE TEACHERS WITHIN THE HOUSTON, TEXAS REGION. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND FORMAL AND NONFORMAL EDUCATORS WITHIN THIRTY MILES OF KEMAH, TEXAS.