Teachers from all LCSD elementary schools met at the Oregon Coast Aquarium last week with community science partners to design place-based, experiential field trips in students’ local communities. Each grade level will work with partner organizations to connect classroom curriculum with authentic, real-world application of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Expectations.
LCSD is partnering with numerous community organizations to make these experiences possible, including:
Oregon Coast Aquarium
Oregon Parks and Recreation
Lincoln County Master Gardeners Association
US Forest Service
Seven Capes Bird Alliance
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Cascade Head Biosphere Collaborative
Oregon Shores
Yakona Nature Preserve
Cape Perpetua Collaborative
Oregon Sea Grant
Bureau of Land Management
Midcoast Watershed Council
These experiential learning field trips will incorporate NGSS elements such as observational journaling, student-driven data collection and analysis, while highlighting interdisciplinary connections between social and ecological systems.
"By bringing our science implementation team together with local science organizations partners, we were able to plan rich field experiences that nurture students’ sense of place and help students see how science lives in the natural spaces of their own communities," said LCSD Elementary Math Specialist Dana Spink, The district is excited to work with these community partners to provide amazing learning experiences that bring science curriculum to life for LCSD students.