Updates Entry
March 29, 2019
2019 Missouri River All Stars After-School Program
Every student dreams of being on an All-Star team.
In this after-school program, 100 Columbia Public School 4th graders and 8 teachers will have the opportunity to learn about the Missouri River ecosystem and the impact that humans have on the river.
About the Program
In the spring of 2019, Columbia Public Schools is collaborating with the University of Missouri and Missouri River Relief to offer 4th graders and teachers the opportunity to learn about the Missouri River ecosystem and the impact that humans have on the river. This will be done through an after-school program and teacher professional development called “Missouri River All-Stars After School Program" between the month of April-May 2019.
Selected Schools
Columbia Public Elementary Schools and teachers were selected in early spring of 2019 and include:
- Midway Heights Elementary
- Benton STEM Elementary
- Battle Elementary
- Fairview Elementary
Program Curriculum
Missouri River All-Stars will provide 25 students in each of the selected schools with four, after-school programs and one on the river experience on Sunday, May 5th to support their understanding of how various groups (i.e. scientists and farmers) perceive and experience environmental issues. These lessons follow a Missouri River theme that includes:
- Lesson 1: Discovering the Missouri River
- Lesson 2: Structure and Behaviors of the Pallid Sturgeon
- Lesson 3: Forces that Shape the Pallid Sturgeon Decline
- Lesson 4: Recovery Plan for the Pallid Sturgeon: On the River Experience
- Lesson 5: Debate for the Fate of the Pallid Sturgeon
Teacher Curriculum Development
During the program, two teachers at each of the selected elementary schools will be supported to draw on their Missouri River All-Stars experience to develop NGSS aligned environmental science and engineering based lessons. They will then implement these lessons in their own classrooms. These lessons will be compiled in a curriculum pack that will be made available to other teachers.
On the River Experience
ReCap of Missouri River All Stars
2017
- Click here for photos from Missouri River All-Stars on the river.
- Click here for photos from Missouri River All-Stars in the classroom.
- Click here for a blog post from Missouri River All-Stars.
2018
Missouri River All-Stars Staff
Kristen Schulte, Education Director
The Missouri River All-Stars is managed by Kristen. She is responsible for the planning, designing, and implementation of the Missouri River All-Stars. She had over nine years of experience in environmental education and a Master of Science in Natural Science Education fromTetonScience Schools Residential Graduate Program. In addition, she has been certified for over seven years as a Wilderness First Responder. In her role at Missouri River Relief, she works to advance our mission of connecting people to the Missouri River with an emphasis on education.
Benjamin Herman, Assistance Professor at the University of Missouri College of Education
The Missouri River All-Stars unique research component is overseen by Ben. He is responsible for providing a research focus to the planning, designing, and implementation of the Missouri River All-Stars. He holds a Ph.D. in Science Education with a minor in Statistics from Iowa State University. He has an extensive background in science and science teaching with a B.S. in Animal Ecology, an M.S. in Wildlife Resources,anM.A.T.in Science Education and experience as a certified science teacher in Iowa and Florida. His research addresses how sociocultural factors and epistemological beliefs about science and technology impact socioscientific decision-making, particularly regarding environmental issues, and how science education can better prepare people to critically engage in those issues.
Blake Romaker, Program Instructor
The Missouri River All-Stars is instructed by Blake Romaker. He is responsible for delivering classroom lessons. Blake is a graduating senior from the University of Missouri with a degree in Secondary Education-Earth Sciences. His passion for place-based education and connecting kids to nature started in Missouri and has brought him to Alaska and Northern Ontario. He has been a part of the Missouri River Relief crew for nearly 4 years, and also organizes stream cleanups as the leader of Sustain Mizzou's Stream Team.
For any questions, e-mail or call 573.443.0292.
Missouri River All-Stars Quick Links
Partners
Missouri River Relief is proud to be a part of Columbia Public School District’s Partners In Education Program and is partnered with the Columbia Public Schools Science Department to offer this program.
This program is supported by the City of Columbia: Office of Sustainability-Stormwater Education Program
Missouri River Relief is partnered with University of Missouri School of Education to conduct the research component to this program.
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