Lincoln Environmental Middle Sch

Lincoln Environmental Middle School

The overarching theme for our program is sustainability. Our curriculum is based on a 3-year rotation of major themes – “Rivers, Forests, and Mountains”. The curriculum is thematic and project-based and uses current district materials. We emphasize the integration of science and art in all subject areas.

The Three “R”s

Our three “R”s have been developed in conjunction with the “Framework of 21^st Century Learning”.

“R”	Description	21^st Century Skills
Role	Promoting sustainability in our community	Communication Creativity and innovation Leadership and social responsibility
Relevance	Knowledge base needed for the future	Critical thinking and problem solving Contextual skills Information and media literacy skills
Relationship	Life skills needed to exist in a connected world	Collaboration Personal responsibility Ethics

Environmental Studies

Our program emphasizes scientific field work. Most Wednesdays find us out in the field studying the geologic and natural history of our area or doing community service learning projects. Students do sketching and take notes in their field journals. Each month they choose one aspect to focus on for a finished field journal which they bind into a book at the end of the year. The following is a list of field trips for the 2007-08 school year:

Willamette Park field journaling	OSU Engineering Lab	OSU Physics Lab	OSU Physics Lab
Wave Lab	Iron Mountain hike	Outdoor School – 3 days	Willamette Park Ivy Pull
Mary’s Peak geology	Salmon Watch	OSU Soil pits	OSU Core Repository
Finley Wildlife Refuge bird watching	Owens Farm service project	Rainbow Dance theater	Majestic Theater
First Alternative Coop	Valley Landfill	EE Wilson Wildlife Area	4-H Wildlife Stewards Summit
Owens Farm planting	Raindance Ranch	Finley Wildlife Refuge planting	OMSI Science camp – 3 days
Newton Creek/Rock Creek

Curriculum Overview

“Mountains” (Year A – 2007-08)

Projects/Presentations

Science/Field Studies

Humanities

Literacy

Math

Sustainability projects in the school and greater community ; RARE: Growing and outplanting Nelson’s checkermallow (partnership with Institute for Applied Ecology)

Geological history of Oregon; sustainability within a closed system; physical science

History Alive! 6^th grade curriculum: World Geography

6^th Grade H.M.

7/8 integrated thematic novels and nonfiction materials

(Use standard middle school math curricula)

Math is integrated into science curriculum as well.

“Rivers” (Year B)

Projects/Presentations

Science/Field Studies

Humanities

Literacy

Math

Willamette Park interpretive trail (partnership with City of Corvallis); Green School Initiative

Physical science and ecology: Invasive species,

Water and invertebrate sampling

History Alive! 7^h grade curriculum: Ancient Civilizations – how rivers impacted human development

6^th Grade H.M.

7/8 integrated thematic novels and nonfiction materials

6+1 Writing Traits

(Use standard middle school math curricula)

Math is integrated into science curriculum as well.

“Forests” (Year C)

Projects/Presentations

Science/Field Studies

Humanities

Literacy

Math

School wide science for Lincoln K-5

Understand basic science processes –Life and Biological Science

History Alive! 8^h grade curriculum: Economics/Civics/US history

“Build a business”

Raise plants and animals for district science kits.

6^th Grade H.M.

7/8 integrated thematic novels and nonfiction materials

6+1 Writing Traits

(Use standard middle school math curricula)

Math is integrated into science curriculum as well.