Authentic Learning Communities
Authentic Learning Communities seeks to combine the strengths of formal and informal learning in a seamless learning experience at the higher elementary level.
The rationale includes:
- MST Standards stress the topics of communities, interrelationships, cycles, energy flow and change.
- These topics provide the context and overarching themes to integrate social studies themes with science topics while providing the necessary connection back to the real world where students are able to see science concepts readily applied.
- Through direct hands-on exploration and involvement with the natural communities, this project strives to create citizen scientists who will use the project as a springboard for continued real-world action and involvement.
- Document-based questioning skills and hands-on science skills are assessed at this level.
Authentic Learning Communities offered through BOCES's Cultural Enrichment Program
Authentic Learning Communities is a packaging of programming offered to school districts exclusively through BOCES Cultural Enrichment Service. It combines the natural and human communities as a unifying concept to engage learners utilizing authentic specimens, artifacts, research, and experiences. Authentic Learning Communities is customized programming which combines field trips to the Museum and/or Tifft Nature Preserve with outreach to your school and/or schoolyard, and Distance Learning opportunities. This programming helps to support the New York State MST Standards as well as curricular needs.
For more information, contact Karen Wallace, Director of the Center For Science Learning at (716) 896 5200 x 392 to learn more about this customized program.
Customized Program
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| Let us design and customize a program to fit your needs that will engage learners utilizing authentic specimens, artifacts, research, and experiences. | |
Invasive Species
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| Students will study aquatic ecology, plant and animal adaptations, and cultural history while examining an invasive species and its impact on wetlands in Western New York. Through a diverse series of activities and investigations, students will explore the biology and natural history of purple loosestrife in North America within the context of Tifft Nature Preserve's model wetland ecosystem. Students will utilize web-based technologies and resources in addition to traditional information gathering methods to research and develop an appropriate plan of action to contribute to the control of purple loosestrife in their area. | |
Biodiversity
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| Students will discover the spectacular variety of life on Earth and the critical interdependence among living things as they explore the interactions of plants, insects, and other arthropods. As students explore the ecosystems at Tifft Nature Preserve and their schoolyards, they will acquire scientific and inquiry skills and develop a sense of stewardship for both the local and global environments. | |
Urban Ecology
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| Students will study industrial archaeology, ecology, and cultural history while examining the impact of human activity on ecosystems. Through a diverse series of activities that include outdoor investigations, classroom activities, and distance learning with a scientist, students will explore the industrial heritage of Tifft Nature Preserve to understand the human impact on natural ecosystems while discovering ways to be more sustainable in the future. | |
Ice Age Dig
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| From mastodons to giant Ice Age beavers the size of black bears, students will examine 14,000 years of environmental change in the Western New York region. They will have the opportunity to learn and apply paleontological digging and recording techniques in the field and lab. They'll even have the opportunity to test their own theories on the Paleoindian way of life by examining tools and artifacts from more than 10,000 years ago. |
CUSTOMIZED LEARNING COMMUNITIES
Programs for those not BOCES eligible
Receive discounts and or packaged programming prices for booking multiple programs for an entire grade level, school, or schools.
Programs can combine field trips to the Museum and Tifft Nature Preserve along with Outreach to your school and Distance Learning opportunities and help to support the New York State MST Standards as well as curricular needs.
Customized Program
Grades K – 12
Let us design and customize a program to fit your needs that will engage learners utilizing authentic specimens, artifacts, research and experiences.
Design Your Own Program
Grades K – 12
Design a program yourself by selecting several programs from our wide selection in the Educator’s Guide that will suit your needs.
