Improving Scientific Literacy to Assure Natural Diversity

ISLAND was established in 1993. Each classroom program consists of three ninety (90) minute lessons taught on three consecutive days focusing on Natural History, Research as an educational tool and Problem Solving. Teachers can choose between six different overarching themes for the three day period. These topic include:

• Beaver
• Bears
• Carnivores
• Birds of Prey
• Pronghorn
• Hoofed Mammal Adaptations (elk, deer, antelope)

In 2006, Teton Science School and the Wind River Math Science Partnership teamed up to bring the ISLAND program to the Wind River Indian Reservation. Both organizations felt it important to expose ISLAND graduate students to reservation schools and the Native Ways of Knowing program. Happily, the program is coming to the reservation six (6) times during the 2006-2007 school year.

Graduate students will spend their first week working in a classroom using the standard ISLAND curriculum, activities, and resources. That weekend they will participate in a Native Ways of Knowing mini seasonal camp. The next Monday, grad students will revise their lessons and activities incorporating Native Ways of Knowing practices and philosophies and then go back into the classroom for another three days. This approach forces grad students into revising their teaching and then immediately putting those revisions into practice.

06-07 Schedule:

October 3-5, Arapahoe School
October 6-7, Native Ways of Knowing Fall mini camp, Lander Community Center
October 10-12, Wind River School

January 9-11, Wyoming Indian Schools
January 12-13, Native Ways of Knowing Winter mini camp, location TBA
January 16-18, Arapahoe School

May 1-3, Fort Washakie School
May 4-5, Native Ways of Knowing Spring mini camp, location TBA
May 8-10, St. Stephens (tentative)