Project+Background

An effective interdisciplinary project incorporates multiple subject areas with three basic elements: content, an essential question or theme, and opportunity for students to exhibit or explain their work. Investigating a single concept through different lenses creates intersections for quality learning across disciplines.

Sustainability is the focus of this interdisciplinary. What is more sacred to our national heritage and in need of sustaining than a National Park? Each National Park is its own geological and ecological marvel entwined with an important historical legacy. the geology of the Grand Canyon’s rock layers to the molecular biology of Yellowstone’s hot springs, our National Parks connect science to real world as we are in constant struggle to find a balance between their preservation and the will of man. The geologic wonders and the historical importance of our National Parks provides a theme for our interdisciplinary project with many possibilities.

For many American youth, traveling to a National Park may be a far-reaching idea. Several years ago I polled my class before I implemented this project, only three out of thirty students had ever been to a National Park. As our population continues to grow, our land and resources continues to shrink, we need to teach students to be global citizens that understand the consequences of their actions to the environment and of these sacred archeological sites. Through this project, students began to conceptualize sustainability and see how their actions and behaviors affect the planet in the short-term, as well as, in the long-term.

Building a bridge between historical content and scientific inquiry is important because research, analysis of data, and snythesis of information building critical thinking skills. The content learning for the project is based on standards for grade 6-8 science, history, English and visual arts. However, this project can span multiple grade level and content area standards. Ultimately students will present possible causes, effects, and solutions to sustaining our Natural Park system in an effort to raise awareness in the summative public awareness campaign project. By designing a slide show and presenting to the public, students will have the opportunity to send their messages out into the world via technology and make a real life impact on the future.