EcoTeam  

EcoTeam Lesson Request Form for Elementary School Teachers

Environmental Education is essential for our growing population.  In order to help foster positive attitudes about the environment, the undergraduate students at North Carolina Wesleyan College would love to come visit your school and meet with your 3rd or 4th grade students to conduct a project called “EcoTeam”.  The idea is for college students to interact with grade-school children in order for both groups to learn and develop their academic skills.  A pair of college students will come to your classroom and present a topic on environmental issues for a one-hour period (see below).  After an introductory session with the students, an activity occurs where the topic can be explored more fully.  After this activity, the college students gain feedback from the children and summarize what was learned.  Additional ideas and future projects can also be discussed at that time.  In addition to the environmental learning, activities are designed to reinforce basic character traits, which will lead to good teamwork.

EcoTeam was first established by Warren Wilson College in 1997, with Units 1-7  largely developed and modified by students majoring in Environmental Education.  North Carolina Wesleyan College adopted EcoTeam in 2000 and added two more units that are designed to specifically target issues pertaining to Eastern North Carolina (Units 8 - 11).  We plan on continuing with this effort by adding more units on such topics salt water intrusion and erosion of shorelines. 

Before any of our students come to your classroom, they receive training.  Our students are either interested in the environment, interested in teaching as a career, or both.  We hope that you will be as excited about this opportunity as we are!

Environmental Topics and Units (character education objective)

  1. Ecosystems: the garden party & web of life (dependability),
  2. Air: every breath you take (industriousness),
  3. Habitat: how many bears can live in this forest? (sharing),
  4. Water: the water cycle boogie (cooperation),
  5. Pollution: food chain foul-ups (leadership),
  6. Endangered species: the rainforest connection (initiative),
  7. Environmental ethics: ethi-thinking (responsibility),
  8. Water Quantity Issues: wetlands & flooding (cooperation),
  9. Water Quality Issues: eutrophication & hog farming.
  10. Beach Erosion
  11. Soils

Please contact Dr. Erica Kosal at (252) 985-5156 or ekosal@ncwc.edu for more information