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A monthly publication about conservation in Missouri. Started in 1938, the printed magazine is free to residents of Missouri.
KIRKWOOD, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites teachers to attend a Discover Nature Schools (DNS) teacher workshop for Nature Unhooked, the newest instructional DNS unit designed for grades 6-8. The workshop will be held Tuesday, July 23 from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Kirkwood. The workshop is free of charge for educators. Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center is located at 11715 Cragwold Road, near the intersection of I-270 and I-44.
Teachers will receive free training in using Nature Unhooked to connect authentic learning experiences and aquatic education in their Missouri classrooms, home-school classes, or youth groups.
Nature Unhooked is aligned with the Missouri Learning Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards. Emphasis of this unit is on student-centered and collaborative investigations of the properties of water, water cycle, biotic energy flow, biodiversity, and human impacts on aquatic ecosystems. A project-based learning component is also included in this unit. This workshop will cover lessons and activities from the unit as well as an outdoor, experiential approach to student learning. All materials will be provided.
Participants in this workshop will become eligible to participate in the non-competitive grant program for equipment and field trips that support effective implementation of the unit. Portions of this workshop will take place outdoors. Participants should dress for the weather and bring a sack lunch.
MDC’s DNS program provides no-cost curriculum units to teachers and schools in the state of Missouri. Curriculum units are available for preschool through 12th grade and are aligned with Missouri Learning Expectations to help teachers and students meet required learning standards. The Discover Nature Schools program continues to be very popular and is being used within every school district in Missouri.
Space is limited, and participants must register to attend the workshop. To register for the workshops, visit the Teacher Portal at https://tinyurl.com/ydz6q5fo, create an account and complete the online registration form.
For questions, contact David Bruns at David.Bruns@mdc.mo.gov, or 314-301-1506, ext. 4212. For more information about MDC’s Discover Nature Schools program, visit www.mdc.mo.gov/education.
