Math & Science Graduate Fellows in K-12 Education

Fellow: Rachel MaKarrall, M.S. graduate fellow in Biology
Teacher: Diane Podgornik, Jedlicka - Proctor Middle School, 7th grade Life Science

Diane Podgornik has been teaching science at Jedlicka Middle School in Proctor, MN, for twelve years, and is especially interested in environmental and ecological issues.  Rachel MaKarrall, a graduate student in the Biology Department at UMD, is working on a project to develop new learning tools for studying insect anatomy in undergraduate biology courses.  As a GK-12 teacher-fellow pair, our main goals were for Diane’s 7th grade Life Science classes.  We both believe strongly that students can have valuable learning experiences outdoors, so we decided to plan an outdoor activity at least biweekly for the entire school year.  In addition, Minnesota’s middle schools are in preparation for their first standardized science tests this spring, so we hoped to integrate our outdoor lessons with the state standards.  A final goal was to incorporate some of Rachel’s specialized knowledge as an entomologist and scientific illustrator into the classroom.

These goals helped shape our major projects throughout the school year.  Students drew and identified insects and other invertebrates as part of a larger stream study.  They learned about nutrient cycling, energy flow, and invasive species while collecting and experimenting with earthworms.  Students also had the chance to sample plant populations as field ecologists would.  Looking for animal signs in winter helped students understand biological adaptations, and tied in with a food web building activity.  Special days devoted to science illustration gave students a chance to hone their close observation skills and work toward making their drawings into informative tools.

Teams in Action

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Curriculum