SGU/TRESTE REPORT
2006-2007 ACADEMIC YEAR
Fall 2006--Prairie Ecology

Prairie ecology
centered around
prairie dog issue
 Student debate initially
from personal
experience and
emotion
SD Prairie Dogs

AP News story
 Word file

Prairie dog lesson plan
 Word file

Soil ecology lab
 Word file

Soil moisture lab
 Word file
PROCESS


Students brainstormed what information
they would need to know to make an
informed decision on the prairie dog
problem.
Concept map created matched to instructor
identified essential content
ANIMALS
CLIMATE
FIRE
PEOPLE
PLANTS
PRAIRIE
POLLUTION
SOIL/LAND
WATER
POLITICS
Incorporation of Material from
2006 TRESTE Workshop



Climate observations power point
Paleoclimate data
Climate trends
 Month precipitation totals for SD

Soil temperature lab
 Measurement of surface temperatures with
infrared “gun”
RELATED STUDENT
PROJECTS



Medicinal plants survey
Microclimate in prairie dog towns
Water flow in Little White River
 Water quality
 Chemical
 Aqautic

life
Soil chemicals current and abandoned
prairie dog towns
MARS ROVERS--SPRING 2007
Wanted:
Mechanic familiar with electric cars to service and winterize
The Rover Spirit and the Rover Opportunity currently located on the
planet Mars.
Prefer a team of individuals who will train in the South Dakota Badlands
for this mission. Will need a team member capable of flying the
spacecraft.
Please apply at JPL in Pasadena, California.
STUDENT IDENTIFIED
CONTENT







Mars geology and topography
Electricity
Alternative energy sources
Robotics
Solar system bodies
Survival in space
Flight and rockets
TEACHER-IDENTIFIED
CONTENT

Kinematics
 Dynamics
 Weather principles
 Heat energy

Basic optics
 Principles of flight
 Satellite imagery
 Surface features
CONCEPTS TAUGHT

Mars place in space
 Solar system relatives
 Physics of orbits

Satellite imagery Mars surface features




Topography
Geology
Problem: evidence of water on Mars
Problem: landing site on Mars
CONCEPTS TAUGHT(Cont.)

Force and motion
 Collisions
 Impact craters
 Problem: landing safely on Mars (egg drop)

Energy
 P.E. and K.E.
 Energy transformation
 Alternative energy sources
 Solar
 Wind
CONCEPTS TAUGHT (Cont.)

Heat energy
 Basic elements of weather

Robotics
 Simple machines
 Problem: a model rover made with K’Nex

Flight
 Newton’s Laws of Motion
 Kites
 Rockets
Student projects

Rover looking for
magnetic materials
MISSION REPORT

In lieu of final exam,
students prepared a
mission report
summarizing what was
accomplished and
what ;further things
need to be
investigated.
What Students Like




Some choice in how the curriculum is
chosen
Projects to demonstrate learning instead of
exams over lecture and textbook material
Opportunity to solve authentic problems
Collaborative work
Curricular issues



Designing a problem that will incorporate
essential concepts
Designing valid authentic assessments
Group members who are absent--how to
help them learn the content
FINAL COMMENT



It’s more work to plan and set up
Love the high level of student engagement
Ability to apply science concepts in real-life
situations